If you’ve ever wondered what life with a rescue dog really looks like from the dog’s perspective, I think about that a lot. I mean, a LOT. And honestly, if Benji could talk, I’m pretty sure he’d say it’s a pretty sweet gig. He came to me at around 7 years old from Rescue Village in Ohio, and four years later? I think he’s figured out that he landed somewhere good.
He is the Official Sun Chaser of This Household
First things first: Benji is my little ball of sunshine, and mostly because he is obsessed with actual sunshine. The boy has a gift for finding every warm patch of light in the house and planting himself directly in the center of it. I’m pretty sure my second full-time job is rotating his beds to follow the sun throughout the day. And at night? He must be completely covered or the whining begins. Yes, I tuck my dog in. No, I am not ashamed.
My Constant Companion (Yes, Even in the Bathroom)
Benji is what I lovingly call my delicate little flower. He is right by my side no matter what I’m doing, where I’m going, or how mundane the activity. He follows me to the bathroom. He follows me to the kitchen. He follows me from the couch to the chair that is literally three feet away. He is devoted, you guys.
Some of my most favorite things about him: his pure excitement when I’m being silly and singing around the house. The boy goes full party mode. But if it’s a chill, quiet day, he matches that energy too. Need a midday nap? He is absolutely on board for that. He reads the room better than most humans I know.
The Morning Ritual That Is Ours
Every single morning, Benji is right there with me while I meditate and journal. He curls up nearby, completely content, soaking in the quiet. It’s one of my favorite parts of the day because it’s just us, no noise, no rush. I honestly think he looks forward to it as much as I do.
And then there are the eggs. Oh, the eggs. He waits, so patiently, while I finish my breakfast because he knows what’s coming: a little bit of my scrambled eggs and maybe a strawberry. That patient little stare across the table is one of the best parts of my morning.
The Stare. Oh, The Stare.
Here is something I’ve written about before and cannot stop thinking about: Benji stares at me. All the time. I can be deep in work mode in my office, totally focused, and I’ll look up and there he is on his bed just… watching me. Unblinking. Fully committed to the stare.
I genuinely don’t know if it’s unconditional love or if my hair is doing something truly alarming in the back. Either way, it doesn’t matter. That look tells me everything I need to know. He loves me. Probably more than I deserve, honestly.
The Nightly Uncovering Situation
Okay, real talk: does Benji make me a little crazy sometimes? Yes. One specific time: our evening wind-down. We’re both settled, cozy, he’s all tucked in and completely knocked out. And then, for reasons I will never fully understand, he wakes up, wriggles himself completely uncovered, and then just sits there. Staring at me. Whining.
And I get up. Every time. I get out of my perfectly comfortable spot and go cover him back up.
Do I complain? Not really. Because somewhere in the back of my mind, I know there will be a day when I’d give anything to get up and do that one more time. So for now, I cover him up and I’m grateful for every single annoying, wonderful, sweet moment of it.
It's Just Me and Benji, and That's Everything
People ask me sometimes what it’s like to have a dog. And I always want to say, it’s not just having a dog. It’s having a whole little life that runs alongside yours. A creature who just wants to be near you, who finds the sunny spots, who waits for his eggs, who stares at you like you’re the whole world.
That’s what it’s like to be Benji. And honestly? I think he’s doing just fine.
Have a rescue dog at home? I’d love to hear your story! Drop it in the comments below or tag me on Instagram. And if you haven’t read Benji’s adoption story yet, go check it out!
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