Forever in our Hearts: Bentley’s Story
When I first started The Ky Collection, I wasn't working alone. If you looked into my basement office back then, you’d always find our family dog, Bentley, right there with me—curled up taking a nap, playing with his favorite tennis ball, or just quietly watching everything I did. He was six years old, full of life, and the quiet force of love that kept me going when this brand was all just a dream.
To know Ben Ben was to know what pure sunshine in dog form felt like. He was a bright, golden light who brought a wave of happiness into every room. He was the sweetest boy with the biggest heart, and his absolute favorite things in the world were swimming, tennis balls, the crunchy end of an ice cream cone, hip rubs, and his momma. He was healthy, vibrant, and so beautifully full of life. We thought we had a lifetime of his sunshine ahead of us.
And then out of nowhere, our world completely shattered.
Bentley was diagnosed with lymphoma on March 9th, 2026 and it didn’t even feel real to hear. It felt impossible to understand. There was no warning, no signs, and zero time to prepare our hearts for what was about to come. Seeing such an aggressive and evil disease steal his energy and strength broke something inside of me that I’ll never get back. We watched our sweet boy fight with everything he had and less than 2 months later, we had to say goodbye. Although lymphoma took his life, it could never take his beautiful soul. The silence Bentley left behind is devastating, but it is a constant reminder of how much love and happiness he filled our lives with. When I think of him now, I try not to picture those final weeks, but instead remember him at his absolute best—swimming in the pool, chasing his favorite toy, and spending his days napping by his momma’s side. That is the Bentley I will carry in my heart forever.
Learning to live in a world without him is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, and I want to live my life in a way that honors the pure, unconditional love he gave us every single day. I never want another family to experience the heartbreak that we did, and that’s why I want to help find a cure.
To honor Bentley’s memory and help other families and dogs who may be in a similar position, you can donate directly to the AKC Canine Health Foundation. Donations can be made to a specific cause, such as lymphoma research, or to the organization as whole. I knew I wanted The Ky Collection to give back to something that means the world to me, and Bentley was my world.
Together, we can make sure Bentley’s bright light shines forever and fight for the dogs who are still battling this disease.