ESPN’s Adam Schefter issues tragic update on pet dog Benny

ESPN’s Adam Schefter has remembered the loss of one of his dogs, 15-year-old labradoodle Benny, who died Wednesday morning.

Schefter posted a lengthy tribute to Benny, revealing his cancer diagnosis last year and that he was supposed to be put to sleep on Wednesday morning, but instead passed away in his sleep during the night.

Schefter has four other dogs, Ella, Bailey, Apple and Brady, all labradoodles.

Several years ago, Benny was first diagnosed with cancer and went into remission after doctors removed one of his kidneys.

After an injury that occurred last February, doctors revealed to Schefter that Benny had torn his ACL, had liver cancer and other growths that spread to his lungs all at once.

He was given two to three months to live and survived for almost a year.

Schefter revealed Benny’s long health journey and his battle with liver cancer since February

Schefter has four dogs to mourn with: Ella, Bailey, Apple and Brady, who are also labradoodles

“This was a day we knew was coming since February of last year, and yet there is still an overwhelming sense of sadness,” Schefter said on social media. ‘We were planning to put down our beloved Benny, who was our child for over fifteen years. He had liver cancer that had spread, he could barely stand and he stopped eating.”

‘We had a vet come to our house at 11am today and cried all Monday and Tuesday for Benny. And when we woke up this morning for the day we dreaded, Benny was gone. He died in his sleep. We are in shock.’

‘Our lives revolve around our family, our dogs and, for better or worse, my work. But unlike our family or my job, dogs never cause us any annoyance – only love and loyalty. Benny was one of our five labradoodles; but he was truly one of one.”

“He wasn’t a good boy; he was the best boy – and we told him that regularly. Benny never bit anyone, never attacked any of our other dogs when they attacked him, he was such a gentle boy. Once, when he was a puppy, he jumped out of the window of a moving car to chase a pit bull before my wife had to stop and chase him. But other than that, Benny hasn’t caused us any problems, except his health.”

Benny’s death isn’t the first canine tribute from an ESPN analyst in recent months.

Kirk Herbstreit’s 10-year-old golden retriever, who often accompanied him on the road on his assignments, died in November after a battle with leukemia.

Schefter revealed that he confided in another deceased ESPN colleague to help with Benny’s upcoming walk across the Rainbow Bridge.

Benny’s tragic death isn’t the first canine tribute from an ESPN analyst in recent months

“I remember calling my dear friend Chris Mortensen the next week because he was one of the few close friends I had who understood what it was like to love and lose animals,” Schefter continued.

‘I cried to Mort and heard him talk about how much our pets mean to us. He went out of his way to pick me up, and he did so for only a short time – until I got a call a few days later that we had lost Mort too. My last conversation with Mort was all about Benny; now they’re both gone.’

“From the moment we were told Benny had two to three months to live, I counted every time we passed the 23rd day of the month as another victory for Benny. He piled up victories when they weren’t expected, in July, August and September, until he encountered another winter that wasn’t meant to be.’

“There’s a video we posted on our dogs’ Instagram account from September 29 when Benny jumped up and took our daughter’s pizza away and refused to give it up. His energy and fight for someone battling such an insidious disease was so impressive. But from that day on, as the cancer ravaged his body, his decline was severe.”