Fort Worth's "spokespup" is retiring, and you're invited to give him a big sendoff.
Henry is a 14-year-old Labrador mix who was brought into Fort Worth's animal shelter in very bad shape.
"13 years ago, Henry was running with a pack of aggressive dogs over on the east side; and over time, he became dehydrated and malnourished, and he just gave up the gusto," says Brandon Bennett, Fort Worth's code compliance director who also became Henry's handler. "He was in such poor condition that he was scheduled to be euthanized later that afternoon."
But Bennett had other ideas.
"I happened to be walking through the shelter that day," Bennett recalls. "I saw Henry and said, 'You know, we're euthanizing way too many dogs, and today is going to be the day we change that.'"
So Henry was nursed back to health so that he could live a full, productive life.
"We felt that we could demonstrate to the public and the business community that with a little bit of love and time that we could save more animals like Henry," says Bennett.
Henry spent the next 13 years proving to be an invaluable member of the city.
"Henry went from being just a demonstration pup for the medical treatment ward to being an animal that went in during the holidays to homeless vets and nursing homes to give them a little cheer during the holidays," Bennett says. "He's been involved in every single major incident the city has been involved in in the past 13 years.
"During the pandemic, he was the dog that was in the joint emergency operation center providing some stress relief and a little extra care for the workers," Bennett continues. "During hurricanes, Henry would provide comfort and companionship to people that were evacuated from the coast."
Henry was also a prolific fundraiser for the city, helping raise $1 million for the Medical Treatment Ward and $3.8 million for additional welfare programs.
His story also helped the animal shelter greatly reduce the percentage of animals it euthanizes, at one point going from 70% down to 3%.
"Probably the thing that Henry enjoyed most over the years was going with Mayor (Betsy) Price and with animal control staff to elementary schools across the city, raising awareness or the need to be responsible pet owners," says Bennett. "And if you're going to be a pet owner, make sure you come to the shelter as your first choice."
You can wish Henry a fond retirement Saturday afternoon from noon to 2:00 p.m. at the Chuck & Brenda Silcox Animal Care & Control Center, 4900 Martin St., Fort Worth.
"We have free adoptions (that afternoon), and that's what Henry has been about for 13 years: doing everything that he and we and everybody else can to get animals out alive," Bennett says.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Tell your Smart Speaker to "PLAY 1080 KRLD"
Sign Up to receive our KRLD Insider Newsletter for more news
Follow us on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube