Milwaukee Brewers' Hank the Ballpark Pup Wasn't a Double After All

— -- The case of the missing mascot has been solved: he was never missing at all.

Earlier this week, rumors surfaced that original Milwaukee Brewers mascot, Hank the Ballpark Pup, had been replaced with a fluffier, shinier model. The team laid those rumors to rest today, confirming that it is the same Hank.

“Through the wonders of advanced technology and modern medicine, baseball and dog lovers around the world can now rest easy,” the Brewers said in a press release. “There is only one Hank, The Ballpark Pup.”

The team enlisted the help of Hank’s veterinarian, Dr. William S. Rice, who has cared for the pup since his arrival in Milwaukee. The vet compared dental records from April 2014 and yesterday. They matched. To confirm the news, Hank’s microchip was scanned and its identification matched Hank’s registration.

Brewers Chief Operating Officer Rick Schlesinger said they wanted to “reassure everyone through absolute proof that there was no Hank double,” though he conceded that there were “dissimilarities” between earlier photos of Hank and more recent ones.

However, those differences are due to love, a good home and a good groomer.

“In Hank's case, it's evident that his transformation is solely due to the loving care he receives from his family,” Anne Reed, president and CEO of The Wisconsin Humane Society, said.

Hank first captured hearts in February 2014, when he found his way to the Brewers training camp in Arizona. He earned the name “Hank” for baseball legend Hank Aaron. After spring training ended that year, Hank the dog moved back to Milwaukee, where he was adopted by the family of Brewers Vice President Marti Wronski. He has been the official team mascot ever since.