| Ben was recused by Echo from the local shelter here in Chipley, FL. on April 29, 2009 Ben is a sweet boy who was so scared in the shelter he was sitting in his kennel facing the corner, tail tucked under him and head hanging. He is skin and bones and has no muscle tone. This poor boy was an owner surrender. He had been at the shelter for a couple of weeks and no one had handled him due to him being so scared. I visited Ben at Echo's request and evaluated him. |
| Ben in quarantine here at FWS. He's so much happier now even being in quarantine. |
| I spent about an hour with him and in that hour we became friends. I slowly earned his trust, got a leash on him and we went outside for a walk. He so enjoyed the outside and enjoyed our time together that day. When I left Ben that day he was a much happier boy, he was laying relaxed in his kennel and smiling. I left him with a good meal of canned food and a toy and left to contact Echo. |
| 4/30/09 It has been several days since I could return to get Ben to his vet appt. after Echo's adoption. I was happy that although he was scared when I first approached his kennel, once inside he seemed to remember me and willingly let me leash him happy to be going outside again. His trip to the vet was uneventful and I am to pick him up tomorrow morning. He will have to be in quarantine for 2 weeks once home though. |
| 5/2/09 Ben is warming up to me more each day. He even came to Tim to be petted today. He's so happy now and smiles almost all the time. Tim fixed up an old horse corral so he could have some place to exercise while being quarantined. He LOVES it! This gives him a chance to stretch his legs, run around, enjoy the sunshine and sniff the air. |
| You can see how skinny Ben is in this picture |
| 5/3/09 Ben is progressing very nicely. He came to the kennel gate to greet me this morning with his tail wagging instead of waiting in the back corner of his kennel for me to go to him. This was a big step for him and shows me he really beginning to trust me and he's beginning to respond to my kindness. He doesn't potty in his kennel, he waits for me to come and let him in the exercise yard. He again today came to Tim asking to be scratched. He ran happily in his exercise pen today, this is the first time he's run to play. He even bowed down with his butt in the air and barked playfully for the first time and wanted to play! He's also now giving me kisses. I sat with him in the exercise yard today for a couple of hours and then left him to enjoy his day outside. When I went back to him this afternoon to feed him, he again came right to me even grabbing the leash in his mouth to play then stood happily for me to snap it on. I took him back to his kennel, which he loves and feels secure in now and sat with him while he ate his dinner. We play wrestled for a little while, he's so gentle and soft with his mouth. He then laid down by me and we snuggled for about 30 minutes and took a little nap on the carpeted floor of his kennel. |
| 5/6/09 Ben now comes to the gate of his kennel jumping and whining to greet me. He's so happy see me whenever I come. He's such a sweet boy. He is also really beginning to play now in his exercise pen. He comes bouncing at me when I slap my legs and jump around. He's no longer afraid of my fast movements, he completely trusts me now. He's beginning to trust Tim fairly well too. However he still worries when Tim makes quick movements. I think Ben would make a great dog & companion for a woman. He's a big baby who now tries to sit in my lap when I sit in a chair. He still hasn't shown much interest in toys. I don't think he's ever had toys to play with. He also shows no interest in the rawhide bones I gave him. He does seem to like peanut butter dog cookies. He also prefers the lamb and rice can food over chicken or beef. |
| 8-19-09 Ben is doing well, though we are still having trouble getting weight on him. He's such a happy boy now! I received a call from a promising forever home for him! I have turned away several people inquiring about him, he's a very special case, he's been through so much in his life and needs to find the perfect home. I have high hopes that this lady is that perfect home. I have been praying hard to find this boy the home he deserves and I think we may have found that perfect home for him! I'm so excited for him! |
| This little butterfly stayed with us through out our walk today while I told Ben about the perfect mom I thought we had for him and how happy he will be in his new forever home... a sign from God...? I think it is! |
| 9-25-09 Ben has been adopted! We'll miss you Ben! You have a wonderful life, you deserve it!! Ruthann's visit |
| Getting to know you... |
| Making friends |
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| September 25, 2009 I have been adopted!! I have my very own mom now, her name is Ruthann! She drove all the way from Upstate New York to Florida to pick me up! I love her very much, she's so nice to me and she loves me too!! I live like a King now!! Below are my photographs from my forever home taken by my mom! Gosh that feels good... "MY MOM, MY VERY OWN MOM"! |
| You can click on any of my smaller photos to view them larger! |
Hi Scarlett,
Just want to update you on Ben's progress. Even though I haven't actually weighed him, I can see that he has gained weight. He's
eating much better, and I'm getting his diet changed to a more normal diet now. He still get about a pound and a half of raw meat in
chicken broth every day, but he's also eating quite a bit of his dry food. He seems to like that a lot---it smells like meat and fish.
I wish you could see Ben play. He is so nice to play fetch the ball with. He brings it back and drops the ball at my feet each time, and
waits for me to throw it again. Sometimes I take him out in my back lawn late at night and play with him if he seems to have an
overabundance of energy. He really needs to have several vigorous play sessions each day. He also loves to play with a stream of water
from the hose, and he is just hilarious with it. But lots of days I can't do that with him because it's too cold.
He loves to ride in my truck, and I have found that he prefers to ride on the floor. My seats fold up, and I have cushioned the floor with
blankets, and he loves that. He goes everywhere with me, but when I leave him in the house alone while I am mowing lawn he behaves
perfectly, and doesn't get into any mischief.
I am working on helping him to trust people more, and just today for the first time he let my sister Marty pet him. She went out and
played ball with him, and that helped. He will be going to the groomer in a few days, and that will be a major thing for him to let her touch
him. But she is very good with training dogs, and she's sure she can handle it.
Ben is such a loyal companion already. He has a bed on the floor at the foot of my bed, but when I get into bed he comes to the side of
my bed where I also have a blanket for him, and he lays there where I can reach down and pet him. He wants to be with me all the time,
just like Bruno did. I really love him a lot, and he is thriving on all the attention he's getting. Too bad I don't live closer---it would be so nice
to bring him to see you once in awhile. But we are planning to come to Kalamazoo next June---that will be so exciting to have him see you
and Tim again.
I'll have some more photos for you soon.
With my love,
Ruthann
Just want to update you on Ben's progress. Even though I haven't actually weighed him, I can see that he has gained weight. He's
eating much better, and I'm getting his diet changed to a more normal diet now. He still get about a pound and a half of raw meat in
chicken broth every day, but he's also eating quite a bit of his dry food. He seems to like that a lot---it smells like meat and fish.
I wish you could see Ben play. He is so nice to play fetch the ball with. He brings it back and drops the ball at my feet each time, and
waits for me to throw it again. Sometimes I take him out in my back lawn late at night and play with him if he seems to have an
overabundance of energy. He really needs to have several vigorous play sessions each day. He also loves to play with a stream of water
from the hose, and he is just hilarious with it. But lots of days I can't do that with him because it's too cold.
He loves to ride in my truck, and I have found that he prefers to ride on the floor. My seats fold up, and I have cushioned the floor with
blankets, and he loves that. He goes everywhere with me, but when I leave him in the house alone while I am mowing lawn he behaves
perfectly, and doesn't get into any mischief.
I am working on helping him to trust people more, and just today for the first time he let my sister Marty pet him. She went out and
played ball with him, and that helped. He will be going to the groomer in a few days, and that will be a major thing for him to let her touch
him. But she is very good with training dogs, and she's sure she can handle it.
Ben is such a loyal companion already. He has a bed on the floor at the foot of my bed, but when I get into bed he comes to the side of
my bed where I also have a blanket for him, and he lays there where I can reach down and pet him. He wants to be with me all the time,
just like Bruno did. I really love him a lot, and he is thriving on all the attention he's getting. Too bad I don't live closer---it would be so nice
to bring him to see you once in awhile. But we are planning to come to Kalamazoo next June---that will be so exciting to have him see you
and Tim again.
I'll have some more photos for you soon.
With my love,
Ruthann
