Big Ben finds a home
Displaced pet gets new family
Wanda English Burnett - Editor

A set of unusual circumstances has landed a displaced dog in a fabulous home in another state.

The day Tracy Zeller walked into the Ripley County Humane Society she fell in love with Ben. "He had such a sad face," she nearly cried as she told the story. Ben's family, from Milan, had to move into a trailer park that was actually dog friendly. They just weren't prepared to be friendly to a dog as big as Ben - he weighed 158 pounds.

Big Ben had to find another home. His owners were devastated. They took him to the humane society with heavy hearts. However, he wasn't destined to stay at the shelter and was only there three days.

When Zeller, who is a member of the board of directors for the humane society, saw Ben, she knew he shouldn't be living at the shelter. She asked to take him home and foster him until a home could be found.

Zeller and her family were leaving for a trip to Arizona. They left Ben with a dog-sitter and made the trip. The trip would prove to have a lasting impact on Ben.

As they traveled, Zeller saw a pet shop. Now, while she doesn't typically go inside, this time she decided to check out the pets. There the conversation revolved around Ben and soon the ladies were checking out his breed. Zeller would find out that he was a Anatolian Shepherd.

Then another chain of events was in place and the lady from the pet shop knew a friend who worked for an animal rescue group that specialized in placing Anatolian Shepherds in homes. What are the chances? Zeller was estatic. "It was like it was all meant to be," she noted.

Excitement built as one phone call led to another, and by the time Zeller returned to her Batesville home, Ben had a family waiting to take him in all the way in Massachusetts.
Now the problem was how would they transport Ben? Zeller noted that she and her mother, Shirley Blanken from Oldenburg, made the trip and took Ben to his new home on a 28-acre horse farm in Stow, MA.

Ben was welcomed with open arms and home, as Claire Sparks opened her heart to this beautiful creature. She had been looking for this particular breed of dog and was thrilled to have him live with them. "He was thrilled too," noted Zeller, who said she witnessed the relationship between Ben and his new family.

To date this year 178 dogs have been transported to rescue groups and placed in homes just like Ben. "They have been placed with families who are desperately wanting a pet," noted Zeller. Some states have alter laws and unless you're a certified animal breeder, you have to have your pet spayed or neutered. This creates a shortage of pets and people from those states are anxiously waiting for the transport vans full of animals when they arrive.

The Ripley County Humane Society has been successful in connecting people with the animals of the county that need homes. Some adoptions are made to people in Ripley County, but many are taken out of state to loving homes.

The Ripley County Humane Shelter is located off US 421 three miles south of Osgood on County Road 150. Hours of operation are weekdays from 4-6 p.m. and weekends by appointments. People are
welcome to visit the shelter during operation hours.

For more information you can visit the RCHS's website at www.rchumane.org where you can look at animals available for adoption. If you would like to make a cash donation, it can be sent to 1202 West County Road 150 North, Osgood, IN 47037. You can also call the shelter for additional information or to volunteer at 812-689-3773.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Pictured left is: Evan Prunty, 9, Ben, and Nick Vodjak, 9, both of Batesville. The boys enjoyed playing with Ben while he stayed at the Zeller residence before he was transported to his new home in Stow, MA.