My name is Benny, and boy do I have a story to tell. I am 6-7 years old, and was turned in to a shelter because my previous owner "had too many dogs". Personally, I don't think that's possible, especially when you are talking about goldens! But, it happened to me and I am so thankful I found SEVA GRREAT. When they picked me up, I was covered in feces and my coat was all matted as if I had dreadlocks. So forgive my bad haircut since I had to be shaved!

I was so weak when I first came into the rescue that I would shake and shiver. Obviously, I am severely underweight but getting better already. My giardia (an intestinal parasite) has been treated, and I am eating much better and gaining weight. I do still have Lyme disease and heartworms, which will require expensive treatment. I am not looking forward to being neutered, but they say that is necessary too. I think I am facing a long recovery, but I know I am in the right place. My veterinarian says we'll have to take things slowly.
I have grown very close to my foster mom who is taking such good care of me. I follow her everywhere, love to eat and am learning about living in the comforts of a nice home. I still don't understand stairs, but will figure it out.

You can see from my sweet face that I am the typical loving golden. Please help me get better by donating through PayPal or sending a check to SEVA GRREAT at P.O. Box 8014, Yorktown, VA 23693. I promise to share updates as I get healthy and look for my new forever home!!!

Well, as promised, here's my first update. Wait till you see how much better I look already -you can barely see my ribs!!!

I've been with my foster mom now for almost a month. Believe it or not, she lets me eat 4 meals a day! Something tells me I'm not going to be allowed to do that forever, so I'm taking advantage while I can. In a few more days, I'll be finished with the medicine for my Lyme disease. I have to gain a little more weight before I can get neutered, and once I've recovered from that, I'll be able to start my heartworm treatment. I still don't think that sounds like much fun, but I know it will help get me ready for my forever family. And I DO like the sound of having a FOREVER family!

In the meantime, I am being spoiled by my foster mom and love my foster siblings. I am really trying hard to learn about the stairs, but they still scare me a lot. For now, I am just concentrating on getting healthy! Thanks for supporting me, and I'll send more updates soon.
Love, Benny

Update from Benny - June 5, 2010
Well it's been a few more weeks and I just couldn't be happier. When I Seva Grreat picked me up I was 50 pounds, and as you can tell from my pictures, extremely underweight. I am glad to announce that I got weighed today and I am a healthy 78 POUNDS!!!! I am really starting to get used to the fact that my foster mom is always going to feed me at least twice a day and she never runs out of water. To think I lived all that time with very little food and water, when I could have been living it up like I am now!!! My foster mom also says I have an amazing personality and any person finds it hard to resist my gorgeous eyes and large smile. I like to play with my foster brother and sister, but would rather hang out around an adult with my head on their lap. I am finally getting used to going in my crate and realize it's not that bad of a place to hang out when mom is at work. My biggest fear was that she would never come home, but she always does! I have added a few more pictures of me and my second favorite thing in the world....MY BALL!! I love that thing and will rarely put it down. Please continue to follow my story as I continue to get healthy.

Well they kept saying it was going to happen and it did, I have been neutered!!! The surgery went well and I am recovering very quickly. I have also started my heartworm treatment. It is going to be a longer recovery then the neutering, but I know it will all be worth it when I am finally better. For right now my foster mom is keeping me calm and when I am outside I spend most of my time on a leash so that I don't get to worked up. She is also working really hard to teach me some basic commands. I am trying my best and know that with time I will learn how to sit, lay, and other commands that will make me the perfect dog! : ) You can also see from my new pictures, my fur is really starting to grow back. When my foster mom picked me up from the vet the other day a woman in the office thought I was a puppy. She said I had such a sweet young looking face and could not believe my actual age. What an awesome compliment!!!
Well I am off to chew on my ball and relax. Thanks for continuing to follow my progress!

 Update from Benny - July 28, 2010
Well I just got back from the vet and they have started my first injections for heartworm. It was a little painful but they say that once I complete the whole process that I will be able to run and swim with all my friends again. Before I started my injections I took a road trip for the 4th of July and had the time of my life!! I learned how to climb carpeted steps and I did awesome when I was left off a leash and stayed very close without wandering. Everyone there fell in love with me and didn't want me to leave. I knew I had to head home so that I could continue to get healthy so I can start looking for my forever home.
As you can tell from my new pictures my hair is growing in very nicely!! My neighbors hardly recognize me anymore because I have a beautiful red golden coat covering my entire body. You can barely tell I was ever shaved! I am working on learning simple commands, but for the most part, I am just taking it easy until I finish up my heartworm treatment. Well I am getting a little tired, so off to take a nap. Make sure to scroll through and look at my new pictures. Thanks for following my progress!!