Bentley
150
votes
Fundraising Goal
Raised
$140
Goal
$300
Entry Category:
Dog
Your Pet's Rescue StoryBentley, joined our family a little over three years ago after having been surrendered by his previous owner. Fortunately, he hadn't endured the abuse many rescue dogs have, but he had been left completely alone most days. For an extremely social dog, this resulted in a lot of anxiety and a serious need for attention and love. We found him at the local Pet Alliance shelter - fearful and scared and unsure of what was happening.
Once we brought him home, he settled in to our (his) home quickly but he always made sure we knew he was there - at all times. He was never more than 2 feet away. You could find him under our feet, on our lap, in our bed, and even following us to the bathroom. Once he even crawled into the bathtub because he didn't want to be separated from his people. After several months, we think he realized he was part of the family and was "here to stay". He still never went far, but did eventually develop some independence.
Bentley was a lover of all people and dogs. I don't think he ever met a stranger and certainly never let anyone leave his path without making a friend. But he most especially loved water and tennis balls. Every morning, he would wait anxiously by the back door just to get access to the pool and immediately jump in for a swim with his toys. He'd play so hard he would wear himself out and need a power nap.
Sadly, in mid-July (just weeks ago) in a 12 hour span, we lost Bentley due to a tragic and rare neurological issue. Never having a previous health issue, he had just turned 4. Doctors tried everything to save him, but just were not able. Our family was and still is devastated, as he truly was our best friend. He completed our family when we rescued him, but the truth is he rescued us. He demonstrated pure happiness and unconditional love.
If love alone could have saved him, we know he would have lived forever. We are however grateful for every moment we had with our fur-ball and entered him to pay tribute to his memory and the incredible impact he had on our lives. Love and light buddy!