Pet Adoption Day to feature Hank the Ballpark Pup

PHOENIX -- Hank the Ballpark Pup is already the star of Brewers Spring Training, and now he's getting into the community relations business. The club announced that Saturday will be "Pet Adoption Day" at Maryvale Baseball Park, a benefit organized by the Arizona Humane Society.

The Society will have animals available for adoption on site at the Brewers-Royals game, and Hank will be on hand to take photos with those who donate to the organization.

Hank, believed to be a bichon frise mix with curly white fur, wandered into the Brewers' lives just as pitchers and catchers reported for camp. A stadium employee named him for former Milwaukee star Hank Aaron and took him to a local vet, who spotted signs of Hank being run over by a vehicle during his journey.

When no one in the neighborhood responded to signs seeking Hank's owner, the Brewers took him in. Third-base coach Ed Sedar feeds Hank each morning, and a different club or city of Phoenix employee takes him home each night. On Wednesday, it was Craig Counsell's turn.

Hank's story has been covered from MLB.com to USA Today to the Fox News Channel to People Magazine and all points in between.

"I'm second banana now," broadcaster Bob Uecker said in a Tweet soon after Hank's arrival.

The Brewers have a plan for Hank at the end of camp, but they have yet to make it public. Spokesman Tyler Barnes said he had received dozens of requests to adopt the pup, and Brewers owner Mark Attanasio said that his wife, Debbie, is on that list.

"I was in Europe this week on business and I had four texts from my wife," Attanasio said when he visited camp for the team's first full-squad workout. "Three of them were, 'What can I do to adopt Hank the Dog?'"