Farewell to Benny

 It is with great sadness that we said goodbye to Benny today after a rapid health decline the past few weeks.  He was 15 years old.

Benny joined our family 3 years following the loss of Storm.  Theresa and Anna had been watching rescue sites and convinced Joe that he was the dog.  He was found as a stray in Baltimore and listed as "around 8 years old."  It turns out he was probably 12 years old, but who is counting?  He quickly assimilated into the family, bringing his calm, gentle nature.  

He quickly went to work training his new family.  He got attention for what he wanted not by barking but by staring.  He would stare at his targeted human, usually Joe, for long periods of time until he got what he wanted.  Joe often had a battle of wills with him, but we all knew Benny would wear him down at the end of the day.  Benny was a food enthusiast who quickly taught us that all bread needed to be secured on top of the refrigerator.  He also enforced the "no food in the bedroom" rule for Anna as he would sniff out her stash, even getting into her backpack at times.  He ensured the kitchen floor was spotless.  He loved the backyard and would race out to run the fenceline every time his family returned home, no matter how long they were gone, to let everyone know they were back.  He was a big fan of his dog bed and always wanted it at his favorite spot - next to Joe in the office.  He enjoyed his daily walks and introduced the family to new friends.  He kept a strict schedule and made sure his humans knew his mealtimes, nap times, and nap locations. 

We learned much from Benny, including:

  • A walk always makes you feel better
    Enjoy your food
  • Patience is a virtue
  • Stay close to your family, watch out for them, & celebrate their return

Our time with him was too short, but we are grateful for the time we had.  A special thanks to Laps of Love who made it possible for Benny to spend his final moments at home surrounded by his family.  He will be missed!



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