Friday
May072010
in loving memory . . . of Benny
Friday, May 7, 2010 at 06:14PM From left to right: Benny with Cathy on the first day we rescued him out of the shelter, Benny with his new parents Ben and Ellen and doggie sister, Benny with his new doggie sister Missy on the day they met.
Benny was a senior dog we rescued in 2008 who was blind. Camp Cocker raised the funds so that Benny could get cataract surgery in his right eye and he had partial sight restored. In March of 2009 he was adopted by Ellen and Ben and their other Camp Cocker doggie, Missy. Benny's partial sight only lasted about six months and over the last year, it became more clear that he was a bit older than we all had hoped for. Benny has just made the trip to doggie heaven or rainbow bridge or wherever it is that all good doggies go.
Benny had spent some time at my house and he was just a little doll of a dog. Every so often, I get quite attached to a dog that comes through Camp Cocker and Benny was one of those dogs. He was sweet, quiet, unassuming, just happy for a little love and to have some company. I was so grateful when Ellen and Ben contacted me to open up their hearts and their home to adopt Benny. As much as I wished I could have kept him, when Benny got adopted, it gave me a spot to be able to rescue another special needs doggie (and that dog turned out to be disabled Maddy).
I thank you Ben and Ellen, I thank you from the bottom of my heart - for giving Benny the best year of his life and to let him know love and safety and kindness. It is always hard to say good-bye, in fact, I don't know that it will ever get any easier. Every dog's life has meaning, no matter how long or short we get to be on the journey with them. I will never remove Benny's video from our website (Benny's Good Day) as it reminds all of us as to why it is we do rescue. It is about dogs like Benny and making a difference one dog at a time.
Benny had a good day. Benny had a good year.
Now run along Benny and meet up with all of our other friends that we know up in doggie heaven . . . they will surround you with love and warmth and show you around so you can feel right at home. You've been a good boy Benny and we love you!
And here he is . . . Benny's Good Day!
Here is what Ellen had to say about her beloved Benny:
I've just said my goodbyes to my sweet Benny - our vet confirmed that he must have had a stroke in his sleep last night which paralyzed his right side. The vet was kind enough to wait until I could get there. I've left him with Ben.
For so long, so many of you followed the antics of sweet Benny from Camp Cocker Rescue – his rescue, his adoption and subsequent return, and his ‘good day’ cataract surgery that allowed him to finally see a little bit. Benny came to live with us a little over a year ago – a happy, proud, independent and stately senior man, with the best of attitudes despite all of his many misfortunes.
We wanted to give Benny a warm and comfortable place to live out the rest of his years – with a mommy and daddy who would love him, and a little sister to play with. He enjoyed many fine meals, cushy places to sleep all over the house, daily walks in the park, and always kept me company in the kitchen. He became my little boy.
A little older than originally thought – our vet estimated Benny’s age at 14 to 15 – and through the pains of old age, Benny’s tail was always wagging. Through numerous ear cleanings, weekly medicated baths for dermatitis, and having to take daily antibiotics – despite being blind in the end, and almost totally deaf, his tail always wagged. And wagged. And wagged.
Benny had a stroke in his sleep last night causing his right side to become paralyzed, as confirmed by our vet today – so very reluctantly, but with our wish for him to be at peace, he went to the Rainbow Bridge this afternoon. We were able to have our goodbyes before he left - I told him how much I love him and always will – I gave him kisses from all of those who have loved him and told him we would see him again. I thanked him for all the joy he brought me. I think he understood.
Rest in peace, my little boy. I will miss you.
We encourage anyone whom has some kind comments or a message for Benny's parents, to click below on the "post a comment" section and contribute. Thank you to everyone whom has been a fan of Benny.
Reader Comments (13)
I'm so sorry you lost your boy :-( Benny's was one of the first Camp Cocker videos that I watched when I found Cathy's site, and it was also one of the videos that made me want to get involved with Cathy. The fact that she rescues the old dogs, the special needs dogs, the expensive-to-help dogs really tugged at my heart, and Benny was one of those dogs. I'm so glad you came along, unselfishly, not knowing how long you would get to have with him, to make a wonderful life possible for him for as long as he had left. What a lucky little guy :-) Bless you for opening your heart to him.
Tracey
I am heart-broken... I watched the video "Bennys' good day" for the first time only two days ago and I even send a link to my Mom and sister. I've lost my baby Dior (a cocker as well) over a month ago to a sudden illness and Benny really reminded me of him, he had some kind of very calm energy, you could tell he was a very sweet and patient boy, just like Dior....
I know the sadness in your heart is very heavy right now, but the good thing is that you two found each other, if only for a short time and were able to make each other happy.
Benny is safe now, happy and healthy and he'll be waiting for you at the Rainbow Bridge. I'm sure he already made friends with Dior!
Take care and thank you for doing such a wonderful thing,
Julia
Ben and Missy and I spent the day together yesterday – in the central valley of California. We enjoyed a beautiful day in the sunshine, and celebrated our life with our little boy. We ate all those human treats we knew he enjoyed, frolicked about, and took a little afternoon snooze. And last night as I drifted off to sleep, Benny came to me in my dreams…happy and carefree, strong and sighted. He jumped into my lap and repeatedly kissed my face. I think he was saying thank you – and I love you.
So – I thank you all for joining in the love of my sweet little boy. He is forever in my heart.
Ellen
Benny is thanking you... he is also trying to show you both how happy he is over the Rainbow Bridge.
If you are interested, try reading this book entitled "All Pets Go To Heaven" by Sylvia Browne. This was an enlightening book we finished reading while we took some time off at the Cliff Resorts together with our newly adopted dog Tobyto (formerly known as Buddy whille at Camp Cocker). There are a number of chapters in Sylvia Browne's book that mentions about what Benny is trying to say.