Benny is an Australian Shepherd with a short stubby nub for a tail and a bit of a weird waddle when he walks. Benny is a rescue from the great state of Kentucky! He was found on the side of the road by a rescue organization after being hit by a car and a truck while running free across the road.
The accident left Benny with a broken back left leg and a fractured hip. When the rescue found him, he was hardly able to move and they figured this dog would more than likely need to be put down. But when they looked into Benny's eyes, they saw the fighting spirit of a warrior that would just not quit. Benny healed up fast and was ready for adoption. But no one wanted Benny because he was older than a puppy and "what good is a sheep herding dog that can't herd sheep?" So a few calls went out to some neighboring rescues to try and find this dog a good home.
That's where, on one busy day at work, someone from the rescue overheard that I wanted to find a dog – and not just any dog, a dog that needed me just as much as I needed the dog. Later that evening I received a text message from the organization with just a picture of Benny and those blue eyes I have come to love so much. The text read: "Heard you were looking for a dog, this little guy needs a home." So without hesitation I called the rescue and told them, "Wherever you need me to go and whatever you want for money, I want to give that dog a home."
The rescue didn't want anything for Benny and were kind enough to gift me a large crate with a bed, some toys, a 40lb bag of dog food, a collar, a leash, medicine to help with a trace of Lyme disease he had gotten from all the ticks, and a harness. I am so very grateful to have been in the right place at the right time. The car ride home with Benny felt like my whole life was starting over from a place that was now filled with adventure and hope.
Benny is 3 years old now. Lyme disease is no longer detected in his tests. His hip healed well but left him with a forever "my pants are falling down" kind of strut when he walks. Benny loves his ball the most. He loves car rides and long hikes. He's only ready to eat his dinner after he gets his 3 kisses, and since that first day when we started our journey together, Benny is right by my side or below my feet – even as I type this very paragraph. So just like Benny is always looking out for me, I thought he would make the perfect Chief Dog Officer for a Federal Benefits Agency that is always there to help you get the most out of your life and retirement.
