Benji, Sewn Together With Love
Stuarts Draft, Virginia

It was an ordinary January morning for Selda King and her five-year old Pomeranian. She let her beloved Benji outside to make his routine rounds. "He never goes far and I can usually see him," Selda told us.

But when Benji came back, he didn't want his treat and he hid under the dining room table. When Selda tried to retrieve him, he snapped at her. Alarmed, she knew something was very wrong.

To coax him out, she put his blanket in plain view. Reluctantly, the little dog ventured out and climbed on it. That's when Selda let out a scream. Benji had a huge hole in his belly. Evidently, a large dog had attacked the Pomeranian. Terrified, she and her daughter carefully wrapped him in a blanket and took him to Clair Park Animal Hospital.

The staff recommended that they go to the emergency veterinarian clinic because Benji's injuries were so extensive. But the news at the ER vet clinic was not good. They recommended euthanasia for the six-pound dog.

Upset, Selda refused to consider that option. Instead, she went back to Clair Park and pleaded with Dr. Parker to help her dog. But once her Pom was safely in their care, Selda wasn't prepared for what she saw.

It was the first time she could really see how severe his injuries were. The little dog was covered in gashes, cuts, bruises and drain tubes. She was stunned.

"I didn't pass out but I had to sit down. I just didn't know it was so bad," Selda said. With three big gashes and a lot of bruising, Dr. Parker tried to stitch up the wound. But it didn't take and the flesh just fell away.

That's when Benji underwent a second surgery to try to minimize the size of the wound. It was a risky procedure, and potentially life threatening. Because the wound was open, Benji would lose fluid and his body temperature could be lowered.

But it's truly amazing what happens when an individual does just one thing to selflessly help another. Knowing how devastated Selda was, friends and family sent thoughtful donations. Benji's plight was posted on Facebook. Donations from strangers trickled in.

Pam and Tabitha, both employees of Clair Park who are good friends with the King family, came by every day to change Benji's dressings. But even with all the generosity, Selda needed more help.

With two surgeries, a three-day vet stay, medications and follow-up visits, Selda's vet bills were more than she could handle. That's when Pam recommended The Mosby Foundation.

When Selda told us Benji's story, we could see the love in her eyes. She was devastated by her error in allowing him outside without a leash. We could see without a doubt that Selda would do anything to make it up to Benji.

That's one of the reasons The Mosby Foundation took on Benji as a special project. We knew his recovery would be long and painful. But Selda had the love and tenderness to give him. She just needed financial support.

The Mosby Foundation hosted a special fundraiser for him. Our volunteers went to work to tell his story, posting flyers anywhere and everywhere encouraging people to donate to Benji's recovery.

And donate they did. The public responded generously to Benji's plight. We responded in turn by paying a significant portion of his veterinary care. But it gets even better. Because of our fundraising efforts, Dr. Terri Sears, of of Tender Care Veterinary Center, saw our flyer. She had just gotten a new laser machine for her practice and volunteered to give Benji free laser treatments.

"Laser not only stimulates healing, but it also decreases scar formation," Dr. Sears told Selda. "It also stimulates the immune cells, and decreases infection, andas well as decreases pain. And because laser works well on skin, muscle, joints and nerves, it's a good treatment of choice for Benji."

Selda was all for it. She knew Benji needed all the help he could get.

And did it work? Yessiree! Benji's healing actually doubled from the normal rate of recovery, which is about .03"per day. Even Dr. Sears was impressed with how quickly the little dog rebounded. Benji, for his part, was feeling so much better, he was "caught" playing with a ball!

Selda's family was also surprised that his hair actually started growing back. "We were afraid he'd look like Frankenstein!" Selda laughed. And for the most part, Benji's new skin is also supple.

Fortunately, Benji's terrible experience hasn't seemed to change him. Selda just beamed. "He's a smart little cookie and just plain rotten." But she's quick to give credit to the community for all their love and support. "Thank you so much," she said, of the fundraiser we sponsored for her little jewel.

"It was just amazing," Selda said with awe. Selda told us how grateful she was to us for making Benji's recovery possible, to her family and friends, to Dr. Sears and to Clair Park, where it all began.

"If it hadn't been for Dr. Parker and all the staff at Clair Park, Benji wouldn't be alive." She's right, of course. But look at the fabric of Benji's recovery. Dr. Parker and his team started it all by believing Benji had a chance. Pam and Tabitha offered their support with daily changes in dressing; Pam referred Selda to The Mosby Foundation. We posted flyers which led Dr. Sears to make her extraordinary offer, each of you made a donation and so on. Each person did just one thing, one action to help Selda and Benji.

That's all it took. It was all sewn together with love and offered with nothing expected in return.

Except we all got just what we wanted-for Benji and Selda to enjoy each other again. "And let me tell you," Selda said emphatically. "I'll only walk him with a leash. I won't let him out of my sight. And we fenced in an area in my yard where he can play."

One compassionate thought followed by one unselfish action offered up in love changed so many lives. You may not see how your touch, your belief and your love impact so many others.

But it does. Just ask Benji.