Blind Missouri Dog Bred To Fight Suddenly Charges At A Stranger, Who Braces For The Worst
A misunderstood Missouri dog spent his early years chained and lost his sight, but his unexpected reaction to meeting a stranger changed both of their lives forever.
A Game Of Hide And Seek
Herman loves a good game of hide and seek in the snow.
Even though he can’t see, he never has trouble finding his favorite person. Relying entirely on his incredible sense of smell, the sweet dog tracks down his dad every single time.
And the reward for winning the game is always the same: a massive, heartwarming hug.
A Heartbreaking History
It is hard to believe that such a joyful, affectionate dog had every reason to be shut down and terrified of the world.
Herman’s early life was filled with unimaginable hardship. He was originally bred to be a fight dog, spending his first years confined to a heavy chain.
Tragically, the trauma he endured eventually left him completely blind.
A Fateful Introduction
Herman’s life finally took a turn when he was taken in by a local rescue.
At the time, his future dad was working with the organization and was asked by the owner to meet a very special dog.
When they brought Herman out, the man admitted he didn’t quite know what to make of the situation. He was still very new to pit bulls and had never interacted with a former fight dog before.
A Terrifying First Impression
Because of the unfair reputation and misinformation surrounding pit bulls, the man felt a wave of hesitation.
He looked at the blind dog and felt deep sympathy for everything the poor pup had endured.
But that sympathy quickly turned into panic when Herman suddenly charged right at him. The large dog leapt up, and the man’s first terrifying thought was that he was being attacked.
The Hug That Changed Everything
In a beautiful twist, Herman had no intention of hurting anyone. He simply wanted to wrap his paws around his new friend.
“He hugs people,” his dad recalled. “He was like, ‘Hi, I’m Herman. Let’s have a hug.'”
In that single moment, all fear melted away. As the man began petting and loving on the misunderstood dog, a lifelong bond was instantly formed.
Opening A Foster Home
Determined to help the sweet dog decompress, the man decided to take Herman home as a foster.
He wanted to work with him and give him a safe space to heal from his traumatic past.
It didn’t take long for Herman’s true personality to shine through. The most surprising part of the journey was discovering just how incredibly gentle the dog really was.
Never Meeting A Stranger
Despite the darkness of his past, Herman held no grudges against the world.
He approached every new day with an open heart and a wagging tail.
He proved that he had never met a stranger. Whether it was a new person or a familiar face, Herman fell completely in love with everyone he interacted with.
Shattering Unfair Stereotypes
Herman’s friendly nature wasn’t just limited to humans. He was also remarkably dog-friendly, eager to make friends wherever he went.
His dad estimates that Herman has met countless other dogs, and he has never had a single bad experience with any of them.
By simply being himself, Herman takes the harmful “fight dog” stereotype and completely turns it on its head.
From Foster To Forever
As the days turned into weeks, it became clear that Herman was already exactly where he belonged.
The man looked at the blind, hugging dog and realized he couldn’t let him go.
“At that point, I wasn’t thinking of him like a foster anymore,” his dad explained. They had become inseparable partners in crime.
Just Getting Started
Today, Herman’s life is filled with snowy games of hide and seek, endless treats, and all the hugs he could ever want.
People often hear his story and express how glad they are that he finally got his happy ending.
But his dad sees things a little differently. “This isn’t the ending,” he proudly shares. “We’re just getting started.”
