When Daniele, a rescuer with Jersey Pits in New Jersey, overheard animal control talking about a dog trapped on a cliff, she didn’t hesitate.
She rushed down the street, climbed the steep hill, and began searching for the pup. Once she spotted him, she called out, trying to coax him down. But the frightened dog didn’t respond.
From his lack of reaction, she knew this rescue wasn’t going to be simple.
A Risky Rescue On The Cliff
Determined to save him, Daniele pushed further up the rocky slope. But as she neared the Pittie, his fear only grew.
“He was so disconnected, he was shaking like a leaf. Every time I would get near him he would actually back up more. So he was getting closer to the ledge,” Daniele told The Dodo..
She finally managed to corner him, blocking his path to the drop, though he was still trembling and distressed.
“So, luckily, I had my cell phone with me, and I called animal control. And I was like ‘I have him in a spot where I could probably get him but I need help’,” she recalled.
Help arrived quickly, and together they secured him with a catch pole before leading him carefully down the cliffside. He was taken straight to animal control for safety.
A Shaken Pup At The Shelter
At the shelter, the Pit Bull was clearly traumatized. He refused to move, sitting pressed against the kennel wall, trembling constantly.
Staff scanned him for a microchip but found nothing.
“Since he is a stray, he legally, in New Jersey, had to go on a seven-day stray hold,” Daniele explained.
But he wasn’t left alone during that time. Daniele visited him daily, walking him and talking to him, slowly building trust.
Over the week, the dog started to soften, even hugging Daniele whenever she arrived.
Once his stray hold ended, he was ready for foster care. Fortunately, a couple stepped forward, offering him a temporary home.
The pup, now named Benny, entered his foster home with plenty of energy.
“He threw himself everywhere. He was energetic. We noticed right away that he had really bad separation anxiety,” said Jessica, his foster mom.
Benny struggled with house manners at first, tearing up their office and testing boundaries. Their other dog, Sky, wasn’t impressed either.
“She just kept looking at him, and then looking at us like ‘When is he going home? This guy is crazy!’” recalled Veron, his foster dad.
But over time, the two dogs adjusted. Eventually, Benny and Sky were napping side by side, showing just how far he had come.
A Heartbreaking Diagnosis
Not long after, Jessica and Veron noticed changes in Sky’s behavior. A vet visit brought devastating news: she had osteosarcoma, an aggressive bone cancer.
Benny seemed to sense the shift in the household.
“He just gave us little laughs. His high energy changed a little bit, because I think he was starting to understand that Sky was going through something very difficult,” Veron said.
When Sky eventually crossed the rainbow bridge, Benny became a source of comfort, helping his grieving family carry on.
By then, it was obvious: Benny wasn’t just a foster dog. He had become part of the family.
A Forever Home At Last
Through their grief, Jessica and Veron were grateful for Benny’s presence.
“We are so happy that he came at the right opportunity. We feel like that was part of Sky’s cosmic energy. All the stars aligned for him to be with us during this difficult time,” Jessica shared.
From a terrified pup stranded on a cliff to a beloved family member, Benny’s journey was nothing short of incredible.
He filled a hole in his foster parents’ hearts while honoring the memory of the dog who came before him.
Benny, you’ve shown courage, love, and resilience beyond words. Sky is surely watching proudly, knowing you’re keeping her family strong and loved.
Good boy, Benny.