There are some souls who enter your life knowing their time is short, but they carry enough love to last a lifetime.
For Meghan and Matt Rogers, that soul was Benjamin, a gentle bully mix who was completely blind, totally deaf, and battling a host of serious medical issues, including seizures.
He wasn’t adopted in the traditional sense; he was a “forever foster,” taken into their care by the Wags & Walks animal nonprofit to receive an abundance of unconditional love at the end of his life.
The couple knew their time with him was limited, but they persevered through the challenges, choosing to make every single day count.
And in doing so, Benjamin became more than a foster—he became family.
The decision to take in a special needs dog is a daunting one, filled with the worry of meeting every complex need.
Meghan admitted to feeling apprehensive at first, fearing they might fail him. Yet, the moment they brought Benjamin home, all doubt dissolved.
As Matt watched Benjamin finally fall asleep, comfortable on his lap perhaps for the first time in his life, they knew the hard work was worth it.
Their love for him grew exponentially, embedding his quiet, sunbathing presence into the very foundation of their home life.
When it came time to plan their wedding, Meghan and Matt faced a crucial choice.
Their original plan was a large, out-of-country symbolic ceremony, but how could they possibly include their sweet, fragile Benjamin, who absolutely hated car rides and crowds?
The answer was simple, and deeply moving: they chose Benjamin over convention.
They scaled back their wedding day into an intimate, small ceremony in their backyard, surrounded only by their immediate family.
This low-key setting ensured their dog could be comfortable, safe, and present.
On the big day, Benjamin looked the part of the perfect family member in his tiny tuxedo bandana.
He wandered around the yard, enjoying the familiar scents and the gentle commotion, unaware of the visual or auditory signals of the ceremony.
But then, as Meghan walked up to meet Matt, the most miraculous thing happened—a moment of pure, raw intuition that brought everyone, including the couple, to tears.
Despite being completely unable to see or hear a thing, Benjamin walked up directly between them.
It was an impossible act, a spontaneous, knowing movement that placed him perfectly in the center of the union, like a spiritual stamp of approval.
He could sense the gravity and the immense love of the moment, positioning himself as their intuitive witness, blessing their beginning.
That perfect, tear-jerking moment was one of the last gifts Benjamin gave his humans.
Just one week after playing his emotional role in their wedding, he passed away.
While the grief was immense, the memory of his final days, culminating in his perfect act of love at their side, provided a profound comfort.
The couple looks back on their decision with zero regret.
They often share advice for anyone considering adopting a senior or special needs pet: “DO IT.”
Benjamin taught them more about patience, perseverance, and enjoying the little things than they could have ever imagined.
He may have been their ‘forever foster,’ but he gave them a forever memory, proving that a dog’s love transcends all senses.
