We named him Benny. He is around three years old, and anyone who has spent five minutes with him will tell you he is the kind of dog people dream about finding. A true angel boy.

When staff at the canil examined Benny, they discovered the lump needed surgery. Then came a second, harder discovery: Benny also needed a knee replacement. For a dog with no family and no funds behind him, that could easily have been the end of the story. But we truly try to help every animal we can at Friends of Canil de Portimão.


Benny has now had both procedures. A surgeon travelled all the way from Lisbon to carry out the knee replacement, using a joint made specifically for Benny’s body. It is the kind of care usually reserved for pets with devoted families at home to recover with, instead Benny stays at the canil, where we do our absolute best, but it’s no place to recover.

Benny is currently resting and healing, with the whole team hoping he’ll soon be back on his feet and full of energy again. He is expected to make a full recovery with no further complications. His blood work is great. We write about this boy to of course highlight the need for help to cover the funds used for the cost of his care and surgeries (we are at €1500+) and ultimately, hopefully - find him the home he deserves.


Here is the part that is hardest for us to understand... In six months at the shelter, Benny has had not a single visitor. Not one person has come to meet him, despite his huge interactions when we post him on social media. This is a dog who is gentle with people, well trained, easygoing with other dogs, and utterly deserving of a second chance. Benny isn’t just a dog who needs help. He is a dog who has something to give. Someone just needs to walk through the door and see it. He’s a gorgeous boy with a huge life of love ahead of him; he just needs one more chance…

To support Benny’s recovery or arrange a visit, please contact Friends of Canil de Portimão on social media or WhatsApp: Holly van Deursen, +351 923 525 129.