‘Goofy’ escape artist dog is up for adoption in FL. So is his ‘gentle giant’ dad
An escape artist dog needs a home — and so does his “gentle giant” dad.
Angus and Duke are waiting for fresh starts after they were saved from a backyard breeder. Both of the dogs arrived at Northwest Florida Great Dane Rescue after being sick at a shelter.
“They were in pitiful shape medically and needed veterinary care that they could not provide,” Katie King, vice president of the rescue, told McClatchy News in a Sept. 26 email. “Both boys were emaciated and covered in open wounds and scars, and both were suffering from ear infections, eye infections and skin infection.”
Now, the two dogs are living in Pensacola foster homes as they wait for new owners. Angus, the son, has become known as a “nap buddy who takes up 90% of the couch.”
“He’s Angus, a.k.a. Lugnut, the world’s most lovable, stubborn, 3-4 yr old, 140-pound Velcro Dane,” the rescue wrote in a Facebook post. “Angus isn’t just a dog — he’s a lifestyle. Need a bathroom buddy? He’s already kicking down the door.”
The people-loving dog has a “goofy” side and stops in his tracks to demand butt scratches. But when the pup is left home alone, he may be looking for ways to make a run for it.
“Angus will check any and all escape routes,” rescuers wrote. “Foster mom found this out the hard way when he teeter tottered (picture a hippo in your mind) over a fence and was eyeballing the neighbor’s Ring camera looking for her — she was only gone 5 minutes!”
Meanwhile, his father, Duke, is known for being an “oversized shadow with an oversized heart.” The calm, 5-year-old pup weighs about 150 pounds.
“If you search up ‘Velcro Dog’ online, Duke’s picture will show up,” rescuers wrote in a separate Facebook post. “Whether you’re cooking dinner, watching TV, or just walking from one room to another — expect this big baby to be right behind or beside you, leaning in for pets and gazing up at you with those giant, soulful eyes.”
Duke and his son are up for adoption separately, and the rescue’s website listed both dogs as being in need of homes as of Sept. 30. Details about the animal organization’s adoption process can be found at nwflgdr.com.
This story was originally published September 30, 2025 at 11:13 AM with the headline "‘Goofy’ escape artist dog is up for adoption in FL. So is his ‘gentle giant’ dad."
