Benny, an eight-year-old Labrador retriever from Last Vegas, won the award for Exemplary Companion Dog at this year’s American Kennel Club’s Humane Fund Awards.
Five canines were awarded in total, but Benny — well, Benny can ice skate. And we think that’s pretty adorable.
(Stock Picture Credit: Johnny Johnson/Getty Images)
Officials from the American Kennel Club report to FOX5 that their awards “celebrate loyal, hard-working dogs that have significantly improved the lives of their owners and communities.”
For this year’s celebration, the club received nearly 1,000 nominations. How you narrow that down, I have no idea. For me, it would be like choosing between children.
Meet Benny, The Ice-Skating Pup
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Benny is one of the five dogs selected from that massive number of nominations. In Vegas, he’s certainly a fan favorite at Golden Knights hockey games. He skates across the ice with his very own hockey stick and custom skates.
When Benny isn’t dazzling during hockey games, his ice skating skills come in handy with other worthy endeavors. He skates with a program dedicated to children with autism and disabilities.
Along with his mom, Cheryl DelSangro, Benny hangs out with the kids on the ice, playing games and doing fun stunts.
DelSangro rescued Benny from a kill shelter and fashioned his first pair of ice skates herself. It’s a pretty stellar transition for a pup. You just never know what these rescue dogs are capable of! They might be able to ice skate!
Benny’s Award & Causes
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For Benny’s service to his community, he’s been named the Exemplary Companion Dog of the year.
Each of the five winners received $1,000 to donate, at their discretion, to a pet-related charity, plus, a year’s supply of premium dog food and a lovely, little, engraved sterling medallion.
Benny’s winnings went to the Nevada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA). He even held an ice-skating event in their honor this week. Two dollars from every skate rental went towards Benny’s favorite charity.
If you’d like to donate to the NSPCA like Benny, then you can visit their website here!
Have you ever seen a dog ice skate before? Are you glad to see Benny getting this award and making a donation to help other animals in need? Let us know in the comments below.
