When Hugo had a brush with death, it was his family’s love that saved him.
Helen Janke is a Shepparton-based vocal and acting coach, and her love of Hugo, the 11-year-old bichon frisé, has been passed on to many of her students, making him “a local legend”.
Mrs Janke’s students have been told about his calm nature and ability to take on anything that comes his way.
“He is a placid boy. He just accepts anything and everything,” she said.
So when this good boy went through some trouble, there was a city-wide holding of breath.
Hugo was hit by a car in 2021 and was in bad shape, Mrs Janke said.
“We found out while I was at work that he was hit by a car,” she said.
“He was pretty much dead on arrival at the vets. They thought he couldn’t see, had brain damage.”
When Mrs Janke and her husband, Dale, arrived at the clinic, Hugo perked up.
“Then when he heard my voice in the foyer, he started crying out for us. From that point, he just started to pick up,” she said.
“The vets said that it was Dale and I’s visits every day that helped Hugo pull through.
“He wasn’t ready to go yet.”
One of Hugo’s front legs had to be amputated after the incident, but that didn’t break his stride.
“It was an expensive process, but it was worth it,” Mrs Janke said.
“The only thing he can’t do is jump on the bed, but he can get to the couch just fine, so he’s happy.”
Nowadays, Hugo is back to his old lifestyle, waiting for Mrs Janke and barking for walks.
“I think he has a watch, ’cause every day at exactly 5am, he starts calling for his morning walk.
“After that, he spends the rest of the day waiting for me to come home.”