In June, a woman walking along a Tampa, Florida street made a heartbreaking discovery.
She noticed a frail and thin poodle standing by a window of a house, prompting her to report the situation to animal control after recognizing the dog’s severe condition.
Debbie Goldsberry, founder of Senior Paws Sanctuary, relayed to The Dodo that the woman, even from a distance, could see the dog was nothing but skin and bones.
When animal control officers gained entry to the home, they were met with a tragic scene—three dogs were found starving, and though rescued, two could not survive. The poodle, who had been at the window, was barely clinging to life.
This nine-year-old poodle, later named Beni, was taken to a local shelter. Unfortunately, Beni was in dire health, suffering from extreme malnutrition, diabetes, a tumor on his foot, a skin infection, and significant hair loss.
Due to his severe condition, the shelter scheduled Beni for euthanasia, but before that could happen, an email about him caught Goldsberry’s attention.
“If a rescue did not take him, he wasn’t going to make it out,” Goldsberry explained. Responding swiftly, she rallied volunteers and arranged transport to bring Beni to Fort Myers, hoping to save him.
Under her care, Beni was immediately taken to a vet, but his survival was uncertain. “He didn’t know how to eat anymore,” Goldsberry shared. “He would put food in his mouth but didn’t know how to swallow or process it.”
Remarkably, Beni began to recover against all odds. Once released from the vet clinic, he found a home with Goldsberry and her 26 other rescue dogs at her sanctuary. Despite ongoing health challenges, Goldsberry kept a close eye on him.
“We fed him carefully because he would vomit,” she explained. “He also refused water, which is unusual for diabetics, but Beni had no thirst.”
Nevertheless, each day at the sanctuary marked a small victory for Beni. “He started to understand people cared for him,” Goldsberry said, noting his gradual return to eating and drinking.
Goldsberry devoted time to comforting Beni, reassuring him he was now safe and loved. “He had endured so much,” she said. “To see him wag his tail for the first time and play with a toy was incredible.”
Beni’s health improved dramatically as his diabetes stabilized, and he grew a beautiful, shiny black coat. He also gained confidence. “His tail never stops wagging now,” Goldsberry said fondly. “He’s friendly to everyone he meets.”
Yet, when Beni underwent surgery to remove the tumor on his foot, the vet discovered he had terminal cancer at stage three. Despite this, Beni remains joyful in his new life, with Goldsberry determined to keep him happy.
“We try to make each day special for our little ‘blessing,’ and he will be cared for and loved for the rest of his life,” Goldsberry commented.
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