Every once in a while, you come across a story on the internet that restores your faith in the world, warms your heart, and actually makes you happy to have gone on the internet that day. It is a very rare thing, but it exists. This is one of those stories.
This is the story of Hank the hero dog. I do not want to give away how Hank becomes a hero because the reveal is so good. It really is a roller coaster of a story. It will thrill you, it will scare you, it will make you go, "Awwwwwww good boy!" Hank is not only a hero, but he is also an adorable Golden Retriever. And like any good internet story, the responses are plentiful and incredible. So many people chimed in with pictures of their own Hanks and other pets to tell Hero Hank that he did a great job.
This is Hank six years ago.
I want to tell you a story about Hank, and I want you to know that it has a happy ending. This is Hank 6 years ago. https://t.co/YLXcJYAw9C— Ulysses S. Cocksman (@Ulysses S. Cocksman)1553371995.0
Because it's definitely an emotional roller coaster. But first...
My wife got a reminder yesterday that 6 years ago Hank ate her brand new slip on Vans. Look at that guilty pup. Come on, Hank.— Ulysses S. Cocksman (@Ulysses S. Cocksman)1553372085.0
Hank's family was reminded of his indiscretion on the same day that he became a hero.
Within a few hours of that reminder, at midnight last night, Hank started barking from the living room. My wife and… https://t.co/Lc5LbBh2E9— Ulysses S. Cocksman (@Ulysses S. Cocksman)1553372219.0
But it turns out Hank had a good reason.
So I dragged myself off the couch and went out to the living room to make him stop. As soon as I came around the co… https://t.co/FHBM02aKi4— Ulysses S. Cocksman (@Ulysses S. Cocksman)1553372328.0
It gets worse:
The very large wooden work shed full of gasoline, paint and God knows what else was blazing. The oaks were on fire.… https://t.co/Uh34s1vmHQ— Ulysses S. Cocksman (@Ulysses S. Cocksman)1553372443.0
The whole family sprung into action and got everyone out of the house.
We got everyone up, 911 on the line, the whole family and both dogs out front in what felt like a few seconds. The… https://t.co/KL7H8ROs7Q— Ulysses S. Cocksman (@Ulysses S. Cocksman)1553372584.0
And it turns out, they got out just in time.
The fire spread to the back of our house the same minute the firefighters got the hoses to it. A minute or two more… https://t.co/yq2S5jM066— Ulysses S. Cocksman (@Ulysses S. Cocksman)1553372744.0
They were able to call the fire department and get people there ASAP to stop the flames.
The firefighters were absolutely amazing. It was windy, so they had to contain and deal with this for two adjacent… https://t.co/kVERRAQkLk— Ulysses S. Cocksman (@Ulysses S. Cocksman)1553372855.0
Of course, none of this would have been possible if Hank hadn't started barking.
So Hank. That dog.— Ulysses S. Cocksman (@Ulysses S. Cocksman)1553372885.0
So he barked.
He barked, and he saved everyone. Not to mention, he also probably saved the house. If he didn't get his family's attention when he did, we'd be telling a much different story right now.Needless to say, Hank can eat all the shoes he wants now. He is the goodest of good boys.
While you’re here, go check your smoke detectors right now, because we don’t all have a Hank. And do something nice… https://t.co/0xEaTpnu8l— Ulysses S. Cocksman (@Ulysses S. Cocksman)1553387078.0
Obviously, the whole internet could not get enough of Hank the Hero dog.
@USCocksman OMG I’m crying for Hanks goodness. https://t.co/d9Nxsa5qNa— Mad Wine Chemist 🍷 (@Mad Wine Chemist 🍷)1553376345.0
I know that we all want to meet Hank now, but that won't be possible for most of us.
@USCocksman HANK YOU ARE INDEED A VERY GOOD BOY HANK THE GOODEST OF HANKS ❤️— JV☄️ ⁷ (@JV☄️ ⁷)1553376150.0
To make the story even better, other people started sharing pictures of their own Hanks.
@USCocksman Here's my grand-dog, Henry, who I call Hank sometimes. Henry raises a front paw for a "high four." https://t.co/Yorv2f3tRE— Evan A. Chris Miller #TEAMBLUE2020 (@Evan A. Chris Miller #TEAMBLUE2020)1553389100.0
Look at this Hank!
@USCocksman Amazing story. Here is our Hank, six years ago as well. Hanks are pretty awesome. 😍😍😍 (p.s. he's now a… https://t.co/toWewAhq4Z— Lindsay Bell (@Lindsay Bell)1553386810.0
This Hank knows how to hang in the back of a truck.
@USCocksman Great story. Here is my Hank https://t.co/6JNFqi3VSU— Wanger (@Wanger)1553393684.0
This Hank is so smushy!
@USCocksman @BenMontero36 This is my Hank; he sends his admiration at Hank’s bravery https://t.co/hs5CREVDE6— Chairloft🐝🕷 (@Chairloft🐝🕷)1553398125.0
Here's Big Hank!
He's definitely big. I have hereby dubbed him Hank the Tank! I think the nickname suits him.This Hank is giving Hank the Hero dog his undivided attention.
@USCocksman me and my Hank send him many pats https://t.co/7bjb4hH8Ui— Tommy Rhodes (@Tommy Rhodes)1553387141.0
This Hank is adorable.
@USCocksman here’s me other hank he’s not as aware and would have slept through the whole thing but we still love h… https://t.co/yoezxEJROn— trisha! ERIS DAYYY ‼️‼️💓💘💘💓 (@trisha! ERIS DAYYY ‼️‼️💓💘💘💓)1553406501.0
This guy's a Henry.
@USCocksman Even though my dog Henry would have slept though all that and we all would have died, I still love him. https://t.co/Lb5i0TkneH— KPF (@KPF)1553394789.0
A Hank look-alike named Cali also wanted to offer her support for the hero pup!
@USCocksman @GoldensRetrieve Way to go Hank! - Cali https://t.co/s42DcgpV5h— Snacks (@Snacks)1553390722.0
It's super adorable.
@USCocksman My girl KC wants to make sure Hank gets a treat sometimes before dinner, not just after. 😀 KC hasn't sa… https://t.co/m3nRtLf8jQ— Tony Econogov 🇮🇹🇺🇸🏳️🌈 😷👍 👁❤️M👁🐶. (@Tony Econogov 🇮🇹🇺🇸🏳️🌈 😷👍 👁❤️M👁🐶.)1553394505.0
Halo says, "Good job savin' the hoomans, Hank!"
@USCocksman @kazweida Hank is the best boy! Halo says, “Good job savin’ da hoomans, Hank!” https://t.co/EM5BN8SQI2— JenX (@JenX)1553387743.0
Another hero-in-training says hi!
@Howard86112716 @Emi_A_5 @cmerry @USCocksman Otis would love to meet y’all ! https://t.co/MTHXZeNHJT— Scott (@Scott)1553415616.0
Bud is also impressed.
@USCocksman Bud is impressed! https://t.co/oB91Dpr4A5— Marsha (@Marsha)1553447210.0
Dart is also proud of Hank.
@USCocksman Dart , who turned 16 today, said he is proud of Hank. https://t.co/vtru8FH669— Ed Astro (@Ed Astro)1553395415.0
OK, this face is ridiculous.
It's like Roxy was just told a story about a dog who saved his whole family and his house and his neighbors from a raging fire or something.Walter may have a droopy, sad face.
@USCocksman Walter says good job, Hank. https://t.co/k50h2hLE1Y— David Shank (@David Shank)1553398119.0
All this love and support was not lost on Hank's family.
Y’all are the best, and so are your dogs. Thanks. These replies are like an incredible Voltron of Hanks, and I’m in awe of it.— Ulysses S. Cocksman (@Ulysses S. Cocksman)1553401524.0