Sometimes you find your dog. Sometimes your dog finds you at the tennis courts wearing a bow tie, and that's that.
For the Horiuchi family in Ballantyne Country Club, Lucas arrived the way the best pets do — unexpectedly and irresistibly. They first spotted him at the BCC tennis courts, a dappled, spotted pup in the cutest bow tie anyone had seen that week. Their other dog, Addy, had been adopted a year earlier and was lonely at home. The family had been thinking about a second dog. Lucas made the decision for them.
His original name was Hershey Kiss. The family wanted something with the same ending sound so he'd still respond, and they landed on Lucas. It stuck.
Lucas is a dog of clear preferences. Favorite treats: grilled chicken, dental hygiene bones, and training treats. Favorite activities: tug of war, fetch, chasing soccer balls (though he tries to bite them, which limits the game somewhat), and running in the snow. Favorite thing of all: naps and blankets. His pillow devotion exceeds Addy's, which is apparently the higher bar in the Horiuchi household. His favorite person is Emma. Addy's favorite is Mom. The family has accepted this division without dispute.
Not long after joining the family, a disk in Lucas's back ruptured. He went into emergency surgery, and the veterinary team wasn't sure he'd walk again. After the procedure, his back legs were paralyzed. The recovery was slow — trouble walking, running, jumping onto the couch, navigating stairs. He's made real progress since, but he still carries limitations from the injury.
It hasn't changed his disposition. Lucas is still happy. He still plays. He still bounds toward Emma every time she comes downstairs or walks through the door — which she describes, correctly, as the best part of her day.
He has his quirks. He struggles to wake up in the mornings and sleeps in while Addy handles the early outdoor shift. He refuses to go outside when the temperature drops below sixty or when it's raining. He surprised everyone this winter by loving the snow — leaping around with genuine enthusiasm — before abruptly deciding the cold was too much and bolting back inside. He is also, despite his size, an excellent guard dog. The bark is large.
Lucas has been one of the best additions to the Horiuchi household. Silly, easy-going, and endlessly affectionate, he's the kind of dog who makes sure there's never a dull moment — and who reminds you that sometimes the best things in life show up at the tennis courts, already wearing a bow tie.
Lucas is the April 2026 Precious Pet for Stroll Ballantyne Country Club. Story adapted from an original piece by Resident Reporter Emma Horiuchi. To recommend a pet, email Delia at ballantyne@strollmag.com.
Update, May 2026: The Precious Pet column continued in May with Tobe Solosky, the mini goldendoodle formerly known as Rocky.