From Alone to Home: Benji's Story

Pet's name: Benji
Adopted by: Regan Landreth

From: SPCA of Texas, Dallas, Texas

Regan, who blogs at The Canary Diaries, sent this story of Benji, her Chihuahua/Dachshund mix.

I was lucky enough to adopt Benji almost eight years ago. I was a college student with no idea of how being a dog owner could change your life for the better. I had grown up with several different pets, all of which were either rescued from shelters or wandered into our yard and stayed permanently.

Like many people who end up finding a fabulous pet, my then boyfriend (now husband) and I went into the SPCA to “look.” There were so very many dogs, as there are in so many shelters across the country. Benji’s cage was one of the first I went to. An owner who could no longer care for him surrendered him to the shelter. He had such sweet brown eyes and such a calm demeanor. I took him out of his cage and sat on the floor with him. He promptly curled up in my lap and looked up at me. I came to know this as his signature move later. He is a true lap dog. His name at the shelter was Barney, but he was already so serious looking that we wanted to give him a name that had a bit more spunk. I think even then we knew he had more to his personality than he let on.

At first, Benji was very timid. He would bark at everyone, and as he is a Chihuahua and Dachshund mix, he was very territorial of me. But gradually, as he got more accustomed to life with us, he became a little less serious and a little more joyful. He would carefully approach people and lean in for a pat on the head, endearing himself to pretty much anyone he met. Benji loves going for walks, wearing sweaters, snuggling, and playing fetch. He now has a brother and a sister and is a wonderful role model for both of them.

He is the greatest companion, the sweetest dog, and the truest friend. He has taught me responsibility, selflessness, and unconditional love. I say this a lot and my friends laugh, but it’s true, he is one of the best things that ever happened to me.