Evie and Leslie Benson were driving home after a day of back-to-school shopping when they noticed a car swerve around a small brown object in the distance. Soon they saw him—a dog froze with fright in front of an oncoming 18-wheel truck.
“We closed our eyes and were afraid we would see this dog get hit by a car,” Evie Benson told The Dodo. “Fortunately, the dog got out of the way in time.”
Having witnessed such a close call, Benson knew what she had to do.
“My fight or flight started when I jumped out of a moving car,” Benson said.
Soon the grateful dogs are sitting safely in their backseat.
He was dirty and thin, but no matter what his condition, the puppy’s tail never stopped wagging.
“It breaks my heart just thinking about what this dog went through and how scared and alone he felt,” Benson said. “It was easy to drive. Eventually, he fell asleep in my hands, and that’s when I started crying. I wanted him to know that he was finally safe.”
They took the dog to the Goochland County Animal Shelter and Adoption Center, where it was quickly adopted.
The next day, Benson came back to check on him. She wasn’t sure if the puppy would remember her, but as soon as she arrived, it jumped into her arms.
“We were sitting in the room with him, and that’s when the emotions exploded,” Benson said. “My mum and I both started crying…I was lying on the floor with him and he was curled up in my lap, content…he even lay on top of me and hugged me.”
Soon Benson came up with the perfect name for the dog – she started calling him Wags because he was always wagging his tail no matter what.
Benson still can’t believe so many drivers saw Wags and didn’t stop to help, but she’s glad he’s finally getting the care he needs. Even though she’s going to college in the fall and can’t adopt him, she knows Vargas will find his family soon.
“It breaks my heart that I can’t adopt him,” Benson said. “The SPCA has been getting a lot of calls and messages about Wags…I know he won’t have a problem finding a house.”
Benson knew she’d always remember the puppy on the road – and of course, Wags would always remember her.
“We made a lifelong bond and I love him so much,” Benson said. “I’m glad I was able to save him and bond with him.”
