‘Sweet’ shelter dog ‘shut down’ after owner died. Now, he needs a new home
A “sweet” shelter dog “shut down” after his owner died.
Now, Benny the pup is opening up and is ready for a second chance in Virginia.
“Benny is looking for a calm home environment to help him relax and get used to his new normal,” the Lynchburg Humane Society wrote Sept. 1 in a Facebook post.
Benny is up for adoption after he landed at the shelter in July. The 5-year-old pup had “spent pretty much every second of the day” with his previous owner, shelter spokesperson Claire LeFew told McClatchy News in a phone interview.
“His owner passed away, meaning Benny lost his best friend,” the humane society wrote. “Benny and his owner were inseparable since he was a puppy.”
After the tragic loss, Benny was acting confused and had a tough time adjusting. Someone close to the owner couldn’t keep him and surrendered him to the shelter.
When Benny first arrived, he was shaking and cowered away from people. But over time, shelter workers helped him become more comfortable, according to LeFew.
“He just loves life,” LeFew said. “He’s a little shy at first. He gets a little overwhelmed in the shelter, like most dogs do. But once he gets to know you and opens up, he just loves hanging out.”
Benny, who weighs less than 40 pounds, is known his “short and stout” build. He enjoys taking walks with his favorite harness, which the shelter believes he may have grown up with. The mixed-breed pup also is described as loyal and would do best in a home without young children.
As of Sept. 3, the shelter’s website listed Benny among the dogs waiting for new homes in Lynchburg, a roughly 55-mile drive east from Roanoke. Details about the animal organization’s adoption process can be found at lynchburghumane.org.
“We are hoping that getting Benny into an adoptive or foster home to decompress will help him blossom even more,” the humane society wrote.
This story was originally published September 3, 2025 at 3:12 PM with the headline "‘Sweet’ shelter dog ‘shut down’ after owner died. Now, he needs a new home."
