{"id":786,"date":"2011-11-15T17:12:21","date_gmt":"2011-11-15T22:12:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/goodnews\/?p=786"},"modified":"2011-11-15T17:12:21","modified_gmt":"2011-11-15T22:12:21","slug":"six-hours-after-being-rescued-from-being-euthanized-hercules-saves-his-new-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/goodnews\/2011\/11\/six-hours-after-being-rescued-from-being-euthanized-hercules-saves-his-new-family.html","title":{"rendered":"Six hours after being rescued from being euthanized, “Hercules” saves his new family"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hercules, a massive\u00a0St. Bernard, was only hours away from being “put down” by the local dog pound. He\u00a0had been\u00a0found by hikers on Halloween. He was bloody, dehydrated and malnourished. He had been attacked by coyotes and was in such bad shape that the hikers initially didn\u2019t think he was alive.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Hercules<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For economic reasons — and due to his very poor condition — animal shelter officials had him on the list to be euthanized.<\/p>\n

But Lee and Elizabeth Littler\u00a0saw something in\u00a0the animal, reports Beliefnet’s\u00a0Donna Calvin<\/a>.\u00a0They took him home, “but had no intention of keeping him. They only planned to help him get back to health and then find a permanent home. They already had four other dogs.”<\/p>\n

\n

Shortly after arriving home, Lee was going to take Hercules for a walk when the dog began to growl and lunge forward.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was really unusual because he hadn\u2019t barked, growled or made any noises up until that point. Next thing I know, he\u2019s ripping free of my hand and going through the screen door, onto the back porch,\u201d said Lee.<\/p>\n

Hercules saw what Lee had not \u2013 a man wearing dark clothes coming up from the basement, but now\u00a0running for his life with an angry\u00a0St. Bernard hot on his heels.<\/p>\n

Hercules hurtled toward the man, grabbed his ankle and pulled him down, but the would-be home-invader broke free and scrambled over the fence.<\/p>\n

When police responded, they\u00a0found that the Littler\u2019s phone and cable lines had been cut. They had been targeted for a home invasion burglary.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo have adopted a dog 6 hours before the incident and have him already defending you with that resolve, it\u2019s amazing,\u201d says Lee.<\/p>\n

\u00a0And yes, Hercules now has a permanent home — with the Littlers.<\/p>\n

He earned it, they say.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/object><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hercules, a massive\u00a0St. Bernard, was only hours away from being “put down” by the local dog pound. He\u00a0had been\u00a0found by hikers on Halloween. He was bloody, dehydrated and malnourished. He had been attacked by coyotes and was in such bad shape that the hikers initially didn\u2019t think he was alive. 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