ESPN host Kirk Herbstreit’s service dog, Ben, has died : NPR

ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit and his dog Ben watch players warm up before the start of an NCAA college football game between Tennessee and Arkansas on Oct. 5 in Fayetteville, Ark.

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ESPN host Kirk Herbstreit announced the death of his dog, Ben – a golden retriever who captured the hearts of football fans in appearances alongside ESPN announcers.

“This is really hard to write but so many of you have loved and cared for Ben that I wanted to tell you,” Herbstreit wrote on Thursday the X. “We found out today that the cancer had spread throughout Ben’s organs , and there was nothing left we could do – we had to let him go.”

Herbstreit had told fans earlier this year that 10-year-old Ben had been diagnosed with leukemia, requiring chemotherapy and major surgery. In September, Herbstreit said that Ben had had a “incredible recovery” and had been able to resume the journey with College GameDay chief analyst.

But on MondayHerbstreit told her followers that Ben, who was a certified emotional support animal, had fallen ill again.

“Ben had a 2nd chemo injection on October 23rd and since that day has gotten worse and worse,” he wrote on X. “He has lost the use of his back legs – almost like they are paralyzed. He can almost don’t go. He hasn’t eaten for 3 days.”

Herbstreit said at the time he and Ben were in Pennsylvania seeking treatment from a holistic doctor who used vitamin C to try to treat the puppy.

“I’ve had dogs all my life, but Ben was 1 for 1,” Herbstreit wrote in tribute to Ben. “Always a big smile and a soft wagging tail. He and I could communicate…he and I understood each other and had each other’s backs. He was with me more than anyone else at home and traveled with me to work. Such a relaxed companion. Hard day – but he will live in all of us forever.”

During his time as an honorary sports analyst, Ben was given appropriate titles ranging from “head of happiness in football” to “handling analyst”.

On Herbstreit’s social media pages, Ben’s fans paid tribute to the dog and praised Herbstreit for returning to work even through his grief.

“We love you Kirk,” one person wrote on one Instagram posts shows a tail wagging Ben excitedly walking through a hotel. “This man calls a game the day his dog passes. He loves football, but more importantly, he loved Ben. That dog was truly one of a kind.”