Benny sat in his kennel at the Carson Animal Care Center in Gardena, California, watching people walk by day-after-day –but never going home with them. He tried everything he could do to charm them.
Just look at this face!
When he arrived at the shelter the male pit bull was approximately 8 months old – far too young to be in a shelter!
And despite his enthusiasm for life, it took him about a month to get adopted.
He required an in-person temperament test with anyone willing to adopt or foster him and those who helped place dogs from the kennel were concerned he could be put down at any time.
Luckily, someone stepped forward to help him out thanks to the attention Benny got from the Saving Carson Shelter Dogs group.
They posted videos and photos of the little guy and made sure he got the attention he deserved so he could be saved.
Thankfully, Benny’s day finally came!
And when his new family approached his kennel door it’s as if he knew he was going home.
His ears perked up, his tail was wagging, and gone was the sad face of a puppy behind bars.
It’s like he can already taste those welcome home treats!
Trying desperately to be a good boy while overcome with excitement, he was literally bouncing with happiness.
He wasn’t entirely sure what to do as they held his leash in front of him, but he figured it out and slipped his head through, trusting that he was going to a good place.
How sweet is this moment when he looks up at his new family for the very first time?!
Is someone cutting onions in here?
“Brings tears of joy to my eyes. His little paws padding in anticipation! sniff” said one of the millions of viewers of Benny’s video.
The next few minutes are even more heartwarming as Benny takes his “freedom walk” – that’s what they call the walk from the kennel to the car when an animal finds their forever home.
Benny’s freedom walk was more like a skip-scamper-jump-for-joy.
In fact, he’s a blur!
He did quickly stop to say goodbye to some friends and wish them well, but it was clear he wanted OUT of there before anyone changed their mind.
It’s amazing how dogs can sense that something good is happening.
This dog had never had a real home and yet he seems to know he’s getting a family.
Of course, no matter how eager a dog is to get somewhere, the idea of sniffing the first greenery they see is still more compelling.
But after being locked up, Benny deserves some time to stop and smell the flowers (or the bushes and grass, in this case).
Just look at this thankful face Benny gives his new family right before he gets into the car – it’s so sweet!
Watching Benny’s video brought out lots of emotion in viewers, but also thanks – and reminders to adopt, not shop.
“This made me so emotional… happy to see this sweetie be out of the loud environment. I hope many more experience the same thing. We must support these angels from shelters/pounds and give them a loving place for life,” said a commenter.
We got pretty emotional too. And we hope Benny lived happily ever after with his new family.
Watch his walk out of the shelter in the video below.
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