A few months ago, Hutch arrived at the Atlanta Humane Society as a puppy with a serious heart condition. And without heart surgery, Hutch only had a few months to live. A generous donor offered to help pay for Hutch's diagnostics and surgery.
But then the Atlanta Humane Society needed to find a family to adopt Hutch, a dog with pulmonic stenosis, which means one of the valves in his heart doesn’t deliver enough blood to his body. Hutch will require special medication, ongoing monitoring of his condition.
Hutch is no ordinary dog.
When Jaime Butler of Hoschton in Gwinnett County saw an Instagram post about Hutch, she knew this bloodhound mix was perfect for her family. Butler’s youngest daughter Page, who is 13 months old, was also born with a congenital heart defect and the same one as Hutch -- pulmonic stenosis.
“When I saw the video of Hutch, and saw that he had the exact same heart defect as Page, honestly I didn’t know dogs’ heart valves work the same as ours,” she said, “I knew this dog was meant to be with our family.”
They brought Hutch home in late September. Before joining the Butler family, the Atlanta Humane Society Shelter Medicine Team took care of Hutch as he recovered from surgery, and he then moved into a foster home to continue healing.
Butler, a former Atlanta Falcons cheerleader, and her husband Ken, a retired NASCAR driver, are parents to four daughters, including Page who is the youngest and Piper, who is the oldest and 9-years old.
Jaime Butler said Hutch is a high-energy puppy.
“He’s getting lots of walks and attention from the kids in the house,” said Butler.
Butler said her daughter, Page, was diagnosed with pulmonic stenosis after birth. Page underwent life-saving surgery just a couple days after being born. She is doing well but will need to undergo regular echo tests (or heart ultrasounds) to monitor the heart valve. She will also undergo a heart catherization during the coming years, and a valve replacement surgery when she is about 15 years old.
Hutch, about 5 months old, will also need to be closely monitored, with the Butler family planning to bring him to veterinary specialists at the University of Georgia.
Credit: Sandra Denmon
Credit: Sandra Denmon
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Page and Hutch even take the same medication, Butler said.
Butler said they also have a 10-year-old Boston Terrier named, “Nash,” who gets along fine with Hutch but, as an older dog, is far more mellow.
“Nash enjoys naps over long walks like Hutch, but they share the same toys and dog bed at night,” said Butler.
About Page and Hutch, Butler said, “We think this is a neat story for them to grow up together and (for our daughter) to relate to going to cardiologists. And of course, we hope for the very best prognosis for the best of them.”
They also have an extended name for Hutch.
“We call him, ‘Hutch the Heart Warrior,” Butler said.
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