Rescue Tails / Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and fortunately for Benny, he had more than his share of admirers along the way. He came in as a stray to another shelter on the mainland, was adopted from there and brought to the Keys. Months later he was surrendered to us as his care became too much for his adopter. He had all the problems that his breed typically suffers, plus some. English Bulldogs, like many other purebreds, suffer from the effects of breeding to meet “consumer demand.” They have many congenital health issues that can affect their quality of life. The first thing we noticed about Bennie was his odd way of walking, due to some structural abnormalities and painful arthritis. His teeth were in bad shape, including one that was broken and painful. His initial behavior was also concerning, and entering his kennel came with a risk.

After some diagnostics, we put Benny on daily pain meds for his arthritis and dental issues and slowly got to know him. His behavior improved as his pain lessened, along with the quality of life. We began to take walks but were very careful to keep them short. English Bulldogs are a brachycephalic breed. This means, with their “smooshed in” faces, they often have difficulty with both breathing and thermal regulation in the heat. Consequently, the type and amount of exercise must be carefully monitored for the dog’s safety and comfort. But Benny enjoyed his walks with us. The first day he presented his butt for a scratch, we knew we had created a bridge of trust.

Finding a home for an English Bulldog can be easy because their looks catch everyone’s attention. However, finding the right home for an English Bulldog is not as easy, due to their breed-specific needs. When Spencer stopped by the shelter, he never dreamed we had a Bulldog in need, and we never dreamed he would be the perfect home for Benny. But while speaking to Spencer, we learned his lifetime experience with several other Bulldogs had provided a vast knowledge of and love for the breed. Plus his kindness and respect for dogs was instantly apparent. We envisioned a lifelong match made in heaven. Unfortunately, Spencer’s current situation was better as a temporary foster while we looked for a permanent home. At least Benny would be in the best of hands, and we would learn more about his behavior in a home environment. In addition, Benny was scheduled for dental work, which required monitoring during recovery, and Spencer was perfectly comfortable with that responsibility. We couldn’t have been more grateful when Benny walked out the door with Spencer as his foster dad.

During walks in the neighborhood, Benny got lots of interest from people. But one day a visit to the local Farmers Market proved to be a life-changer for him. Jonathan and his family were regular vendors at the market. Jon had been looking for a dog for over three years—one that he “connected with.” His family was involved in rescue work before moving to the Keys, and they often took in the special needs dogs. They currently had two senior dogs. Benny had met lots of people but when he met Jon, Spencer saw something different. The two “connected.” Multiple visits confirmed that Jon was the right person for Benny. Spencer felt it; Jon felt it; and best of all, Benny felt it!

Saying goodbye to Benny was really hard for Spencer, but he has made it very clear to Jon and his family that they should keep him on speed-dial in case they ever need a pet-sitter or anything else! Benny the Bulldog now has an extended family, filled with loving people and we are grateful to all of them!