Benny-ADOPTED!!

Update August 24, 2009: Benny is a 4 year old adult Beagle mix who weighs 40lbs. Benny's first 3 yrs. of life were spent living in a dirt pen, never experiencing the love of a human being or the comforts of a home. In foster care Benny has overcome some fears that under-socialization brought his way. He is waiting for his forever family to give him all the love he deserves.

Benny can be very funny; especially when he does his "worm-slide" across the floor! He also goes crazy for his chewies! He knows the commands: no, sit, go lie down, come & leave it. Benny is house trained & does not use a crate.

Benny is terribly scared of shadows, sudden movements, dishes or pans clanged together and flashlights. They will send him running for cover. He is frightened of leash walks so we go for very short ones. He also is still frightened by visitors, car rides & he cannot tolerate crowds. Children make Benny nervous. If he is startled by children he will growl or nip.

Benny is a true beagle barker. He will bark if he is alarmed or scared. He would not do well in an apartment living situation as he can be very vocal. Ben is most happy when his home is quiet & he can cuddle or nap. He is his foster mom's shadow & follows her everywhere.

Benny currently lives with two dogs. He prefers the female who is close to his size. The other male dog is much larger & Ben often shows aggression towards him. Benny also lives with cats. He is quite interested in them, but if told to "leave it" he usually will.

Because he is a nervous boy, Benny would not be a dog for an inexperienced dog owner, a family with children or planning on having children, an active lifestyle or frequent traveler. Ben feels safest with a woman as his primary caretaker, as he looks to his foster mom for comfort. Benny is used to having his female caretaker home with him and he would enjoy the same environment in his future home. Benny truly is an awesome boy with a heart of gold. He will make someone a wonderful companion!

Update 4/18/09: Handsome, affectionate, but somewhat shy guy seeks kind, even tempered, dog-savvy human or humans for forever relationship. We think Benny's little beagle heart has been broken by humans who abandoned him before, and he doesn't want that to happen again!

Benny's ideal home might be with an older couple, where someone is around a lot. His foster mom thinks empty nesters or single adults might be the best match for this adorable beagle, who draws confidence from a steady human presence. He has lots of love to give, and he's a bit a of a couch potato. He'd love to lounge around with you on lazy Sunday mornings and watch TV or snuggle up to you while you read.

Benny spent the first three years of his life sitting in a tiny dirt pen, ignored and often exposed to the elements. He's been in foster care for a few months now and his foster family has done a terrific job bringing this scared pup out of his shell, but his adoptive family will need to understand that Benny, like most folks with a troubled start, comes with fear of the unknown that he'll need to work through with time and kind guidance. Benny isn't a "starter dog," in that we don't think he'd be a great match for a first time dog owner.

Benny is house trained. He's had some experience walking on a leash, but he's not a dog who craves long walks. He does love his nylabone and other toys, and he's very funny tossing them around and catching them. He also does this thing where he slides across the floor and trots sideways when he's happy. Benny gets along with his foster family's resident female dog, but he could do fine as an only dog as well.

Benny is a nice size, weighing in at just under forty pounds, and he's got soulful hound dog eyes that will win you right over. He draws confidence from having the humans around and doesn't relish being left for long spells. He's sweet and loving, and he really wants to be a loyal, happy member of a family all his own.