140-Pound Great Dane Insists on Hugging Every Shelter Volunteer Before Leaving for Forever Home

Some goodbyes are harder than others. And when you're a 140-pound Great Dane who's spent a month being loved by an entire shelter full of people, you don't just walk out the door. You make sure everyone knows how much they meant to you.

That's exactly what Zeus did.

🫂 The Sweetest Goodbye

In late January, staff at the Michigan Animal Rescue League (MARL) in Pontiac braced themselves for a big goodbye—literally.

Zeus, a gentle giant who'd spent a month at the shelter, had been adopted. But before he could leave for his forever home, he had one final mission: to hug every single person who'd cared for him.

One by one, Zeus stood on his hind legs and wrapped his enormous paws around shelter volunteers and staff members, towering over many of them. In a video MARL posted on Facebook, you can hear volunteers calling him "baby boy" despite his massive size.

"Zeus is the epitome of a gentle giant. He's quite a bit bigger than most dogs he meets, but he's always been kind and respectful with all of his friends."

— Tommy Sanfilippo, MARL Content Coordinator

💕 Physical Touch Is His Love Language

Beyond his loving disposition, Zeus became known around the shelter for three things:

• 🫂 Leaning on people (all 140 pounds of him)
• 🐾 Begging for pets (constantly)
• 💙 Giving hugs to anyone who'd accept them

"Physical touch is definitely one of Zeus' love languages," Sanfilippo explained. "He's got a lot of big feelings in that big body of his, and he always wants his people to know that he loves them."

That emotional intelligence isn't something you can train. It's who Zeus is—a dog who feels deeply and expresses it openly.

❄️ From Cold Outdoor Life to Shelter Warmth

Zeus's journey to the shelter began when he was rescued from a life outdoors in the cold. For a dog his size, living outside in Michigan winter must have been brutal.

But Zeus didn't let his rough start define him. He acclimated beautifully to shelter life and learned how to socialize with people and other dogs.

He even became best friends with a small puppy named Billy Jo. The two loved romping around and playing together, with Zeus always acting like a perfect gentleman around his tiny pal.

Watching a 140-pound Great Dane carefully navigate playtime with a small puppy? That's the definition of gentle giant.

🏡 Finding His Forever Family

Zeus's outgoing personality captured the hearts of his new family quickly. They met with him several times before taking him home for good—because choosing a dog isn't just about falling in love; it's about making sure it's the right fit for everyone.

And for Zeus (now renamed Henry), it was perfect.

"His new mom has sent us several updates, and they've all been really positive," Sanfilippo said. One video of Zeus—now Henry—doing zoomies in his living room "encapsulated the pure joy of a dog who realizes that he's found his family."

These days, Henry:

• 🏠 Lives in a warm, loving home (no more cold Michigan winters outside)
• 🎾 Attends doggy day care
• 🐶 Plays with other former MARL friends
• 💕 Gets all the hugs and pets he could ever want

🐾 Why This Story Matters

Every year, millions of dogs enter shelters. Many of them—like Zeus—end up there through no fault of their own. Maybe their owner lost housing. Maybe they were found as strays. Maybe someone couldn't afford to care for them anymore.

But dogs like Zeus remind us that:

• ✅ Second chances change lives
• ✅ Shelter dogs are incredible (not "damaged goods")
• ✅ Big dogs can be gentle (size doesn't equal aggression)
• ✅ Dogs remember kindness (Zeus's goodbye hugs prove it)
• ✅ Adoption saves lives (and fills homes with love)

Zeus didn't just get adopted. He got a family who saw his big heart, his gentle nature, and his capacity for love—and chose to give him the life he deserved.

💙 The Power of Shelter Workers

Let's talk about the people Zeus hugged goodbye: the shelter volunteers and staff who showed up every day to care for dogs like him.

They:

• 🧹 Clean kennels
• 🍖 Prepare meals
• 💉 Administer medications
• 🚶 Walk dogs in all weather
• 💕 Give love to animals who've been abandoned
• 😢 Say goodbye when adoptions happen (even though it hurts)

Zeus's goodbye hugs weren't just adorable—they were his way of saying thank you. Thank you for seeing me. Thank you for caring. Thank you for not giving up.

"I think Zeus understood that his chapter at MARL was ending. In typical Zeus fashion, he wanted to make sure that we all felt the love. He'll obviously be missed, but nothing outweighs the rewarding feeling of seeing a shelter animal get the happily-ever-after that they deserve."

— Tommy Sanfilippo

🌟 How You Can Help

Inspired by Zeus's story? Here's how you can make a difference:

🐕 Adopt, Don't Shop

Shelters are full of incredible dogs waiting for their Zeus moment. Visit your local shelter or check out Petfinder.com to find adoptable pets near you.

💰 Support Shelters Like MARL

Can't adopt right now? Donate to organizations like the Michigan Animal Rescue League. Your contribution helps feed, shelter, and care for animals until they find homes.

🙋 Volunteer Your Time

Shelters need volunteers to walk dogs, socialize cats, help with events, and more. A few hours a month can change an animal's life—and yours.

📣 Share Adoption Stories

Stories like Zeus's inspire others to adopt. Share them on social media, talk about them with friends, and help change the narrative around shelter pets.

💕 A Happy Ending Worth Celebrating

Zeus—now Henry—went from living outside in the cold to being hugged by dozens of caring people to finding a family who adores him.

That's not just a happy ending. That's proof that love, second chances, and a little patience can transform lives.

And somewhere in Michigan, a 140-pound Great Dane is probably doing zoomies in his living room, leaning on his new family, and giving out hugs like they're going out of style.

Because that's who Henry is. And the world is better for it.