The Tale of Hodor: The Discovery of Rocky Mountain Lake's Spiky Hero
In the heart of Denver, under the shade of Rocky Mountain Lake's trees, our special story unfolded. It all started on a warm August day in 2021 when Lindsay, my wife, went for a run to cool off after a small spat we had. She found herself at the park, lost in her thoughts, when suddenly, a dog with no collar and a mischievous glint in his eyes bounded toward her. He was all friendly despite his bristling “heckles”—as Lindsay called them.
She called me, excitement and urgency in her voice. “I found a dog! He’s really friendly but looks a bit wild. Can you bring some treats and water?” Without hesitation, I gathered supplies and hurried to the park.
Together, we spent hours with the dog, trying to contact animal control and any service that could help. By the time we decided to take the dog to Denver Animal Rescue, it was 11 PM. We carefully loaded him into a stainless steel crate and filled out a form, leaving him for the staff to find in the morning.
The next day, we got a call from the shelter. The staff had contacted the dog’s owners, who admitted that the dog, a regular escape artist, had been to the shelter three times in one month. The owners, tired of the runaway, offered us the first chance to adopt him. We were appalled. How could anyone just give him away like that?
So, on Labor Day 2021, I went to the shelter and brought the dog home. We named him Hodor, a name we’d saved for a big, black Labrador. Though Hodor turned out to be smaller than expected, his spirit was huge and his heart even bigger. Lindsay noticed that Hodor had a permanent spike on his back, a quirky feature that made him even more special.
Hodor quickly showed his quirks. He ate remotes. He ruined the A/C condenser and left his mark on memorabilia from our trips. His anxious nature led to some odd habits—marking his territory, choosing strange spots for his business, and playfully nipping at our other dog Arya’s tail. Despite all this, Hodor’s sweetness and good intentions won us over completely.
Now, Rocky Mountain Lake Park is known as ‘Hodor Park’ in our home. Hodor, the playful discovery, brought laughter, chaos, and endless love into our lives. We often wonder about his past and what kind of owners he had before, grateful that he ended up with us.
And so, the story of Hodor, our lovable and mischievous discovery with the permanent spike, continues—a reminder of unexpected adventures and the bonds that form in the most surprising ways.
