Nina

Weighing in at 4.5 pounds, Benny the miniature Shitzu is quite the lapdog. Eunice Jaramillo and her husband David adopted Benny in 2018 in Los Lunas as a tiny puppy, and it’s been bliss ever since. “He’s just been such a blessing in our lives,” says Jaramillo. “I wish I could know how to get him to go visit retirement homes because people just love him.” Benny is best described as a people magnet, because wherever Jaramillo takes him, people are drawn to him. Jaramillo works at St. Pius X High School, and he’s the most popular pup in school whenever she takes him to work. “I took him into a classroom and the teacher’s daughter just loved Benny,” says Jaramillo. “Sometimes when I take him to the store, people will say he looks like a stuffed animal because he’s so still in his little pouch.” It’s really his sweet personality that shines, though, and Benny’s bond with David is stronger than steel.

Five-year-old Nina has been a member of Amy McKenzie’s family since June of 2022, and the cattle dog has quickly become an avid adventurer and couch companion in the words of McKenzie. All it took was a short video of Nina posted on Animal Humane’s website to sell McKenzie on what would become her fourth cattle dog. “I wasn’t really ready to jump back into having a puppy,” says McKenzie. “She was five, and it was such a cute video, so the next day I met her and she ended up coming home with me.” 'Outside' is the magic word for Nina, and McKenzie can attest to this. “She’s so cute because she’ll vibrate when she knows she’s going outside,” says McKenzie. “Nina is also a great hiker, and we’re out on the trails all the time. We’re really fortunate that she’s a great dog on leash.”