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Jessica Williams couldn’t wait until her birthday in November to have a dog. She was overjoyed! Jessica’s boyfriend Jared finally caved after they moved into their pet-friendly apartment. Jessica only had to wait a few more months. But she couldn’t stop herself. She only needed to browse online to see what her future dog would look like.
That is when she noticed him. A dog in desperate need. Her heart was broken by the saddest little face she’d ever seen.
Photo Credits – Respective Owner
Benji was a stray picked up in Los Angeles and taken to a large, loud city shelter. He was a timid little boy with a flea allergy, so he lost most of his fur.
“He was at the shelter for 10 days and wasn’t handling it well,” Jessica told The Dodo. “He’d snarl and snap at those passing by. I’d never seen a sadder dog, and I knew we couldn’t leave him there.”
The couple felt Benji needed them, so they decided to make the 6-hour drive from their Sacremento home to Los Angeles.
The staff was taken aback when the couple arrived at the Shelter and expressed their want to adopt Benji. They were well aware that the dog required much care and training. The staff tried to talk them out of adopting Benji, but Jessica and Jared were unconvinced.
“The shelter also warned us he wasn’t sociable and refused to take us into a peaceful waiting area to get to know him because ‘he wouldn’t be a dog that would come over to us to be cuddly,” Jessica said. We knew he would be euthanized and didn’t want him to die.”
Meeting Benji confirmed what the pair already suspected. They would adopt Benji and welcome him into their little family. They signed the documents and then returned home.
Benji was frightened during the vehicle ride, but Jessica and Jared realized that was completely natural. When they arrived home, though, Benji began acting just how the shelter personnel predicted. He was withdrawn and seemed uninterested in his new owners.
But then, after a few days, something spectacular happened.
Benji thought he was finally safe. The puppy that no one wanted—the dog with the saddest little face—began to PLAY! He didn’t only play; he began to love life!
“He loves to come up and lick our faces and play with his toys,” Jessica added. “He’s such a goofball now!” He has wild zoomies after a bath. He’ll also start barking as soon as we get in the car as if to say, ‘We have to get moving!’ ‘Let us go!'”
Benji has only been a part of the family for three weeks. He enjoys going on new adventures with Jessica and Jared.
Benji’s story serves as a reminder that ALL shelter dogs, no matter how they appear, need to be given a chance. A million things can change after they leave the terrifying shelter environment. Since being given a real chance with a real family…
The saddest shelter dog hasn’t stopped smiling!
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