27 August 2015 ~ We are very sorry to have to update this page with the news that Benji passed away yesterday, at the grand old age of 19. Our thoughts are with his foster family, who have taken such great care of our boy over the last 4 years. Sleep tight little one.
We will leave Benji’s fundraising page open for anyone who would like to make a donation to Oldies Club in Benji’s memory.
Benji is a beautiful old boy, who enjoyed daily five-mile walks into his sixteenth year. He is a Corgi/Shih Tzu Cross, who came into Oldies Club care because his eighty-one-year-old owner, whom he loved since puppyhood, passed away.
When Benji arrived in foster care, he was shut down. His owner had died and he had been living with neighbours for three weeks, and he was stressed. His coat was in poor condition and he had some worrying lumps on his body – namely one that would have eventually caused him blindness in his left eye and another on his rear end that caused him problems when going to the toilet.
Though having never lived with other dogs or a cat, Benji adapted quickly to a life with other four-legged companions. Within a few weeks of being in foster care, Benji perked up and began devouring his kibble, as well as bouncing around the house each time he saw the leash come out. Unfortunately, after a necessary surgery to remove the problematic lumps, Benji took a downturn and his foster parents worried he may not live much longer. For some time after surgery, it seemed Benji was senile–unable to recognize his location or new family. However, happily, Benji eventually returned to his previous exuberance–placing the leash in his mouth each time it was time go, saying, “I can walk myself!” Benji truly lives for walking!
Despite his happy-go-lucky temperament, Benji does not hear or see very well. He has grown so accustom to the route of the walk through the woods and fields that he sometimes gets “lost” when he does not hear or see that something has changed. He does not recognize his foster parents unless they are within approximately eight feet of him. He also is frequently surprised when after having been out, his parents return, as he does not hear the door open. Given his declining sight and hearing, as well as his occasional senility, Oldies Club has allowed Benji to remain a permanent sponsor dog. The rest of his days shall be filled with fields and trees welcoming the walking, trotting, and dancing Benji!
If you would like to help us care for little Benji, please consider taking part in our sponsor scheme.