08/30/2026
This one is for my Benny. ❤️
I've been thinking about how to introduce a new service we're offering at Barkuterie Shop, and I realized I can't really explain the what without first explaining the why. Last night, I received so many inquiries from new people. And so, I thought I would share why this new service is so close to my heart.
It starts with a little 13-pound dog named Benny.
I met Benny on January 2, 2011, and adopted him a few weeks later. He was believed to be some wonderful little combination of Chihuahua, Pomeranian and terrier.
Benny was also incredibly reactive to the outside world. Don't get me wrong. He had a wonderful life. He had dog siblings at home whom he loved and played with, and he was loved beyond measure.
Going to the vet meant being muzzled. Going through a drive-through meant Benny screeching so loudly that the person taking my order couldn't hear me. Public outings simply weren't something Benny could do. Something as simple as taking him through the McDonald's drive-through for chicken nuggets wasn't possible. Of course, I could bring chicken nuggets home to him and I did 😬.
But he couldn't experience *going* to get the chicken nuggets.
And for my fellow pet owners, you know there's a difference. 😪
When I started Barkuterie Shop with our little golf cart, Benny was already an old man, and on quiet days he could ride around the neighborhood with me.
Then came the Barkuterie bus. Benny was about to turn 17 by then and had mellowed considerably. I remember thinking that maybe, finally, he could come along to events sometimes. He could sit inside the bus, watch the world from somewhere he felt safe and actually be part of these adventures with me.
We never got that chance.
I said goodbye to Benny back in March. He got to sit inside the Barkuterie bus, and I have pictures of him there that I will always treasure. But my very first event with the bus was the day after I said goodbye to him.
And that has stayed with me. Because somewhere out there is another Benny.
🐾 There's a dog who is deeply loved but can't handle a crowded farmers market.
🐾 There's a dog who can't walk into a pet store or comfortably be around unfamiliar people or dogs.
🐾 There's an adopted dog whose family may never know what happened before they came home or why certain things frighten them.
🐾 There's a family who has worked and worked to build their dog's confidence, only to realize that sometimes the outside world may simply always be a little too much.
Those dogs still deserve adventures.
They still deserve birthdays and Gotcha Days. They deserve special treats, ridiculous pictures, celebrations and memories.
They deserve to experience a special social moment of their very own before they head to the Rainbow Bridge.
And that's why Barkuterie Shop is introducing Benny's Day Out, a private Barkuterie experience created for dogs who need the world to be a little quieter.
♥️ We'll bring the bus to you.
♥️ Your dog can enjoy their experience from our service window or come aboard the bus with you. And if your dog isn't comfortable interacting with me, that's okay, too. We'll prepare everything and give you the space to enjoy the experience privately together.
No crowds. No strange dogs. No expectation that your dog has to suddenly be okay with something that frightens them. Just an experience built around their needs.
Benny's Day Out can be a birthday celebration, a Gotcha Day, a bucket-list adventure, a special milestone or absolutely no reason other than wanting to give your dog a really good day.
I can't go back and give Benny his outing. But maybe, because of him, another dog gets theirs.
This one's for you, Benny. ❤️🐾 I miss you so much. May another dog smile because of you.
Barkuterie Shop
Celebrating the Moments That Matter Most.
