Fort Worth has never lacked for local legends, but every now and then one shows up on four feet instead of two — and in Henry’s case, with a tail that seemed to sweep the whole city into his orbit. According to information from the City of Fort Worth’s website, the black Lab with the velvet gaze and famously gentle manner spent more than a decade serving as Fort Worth Animal Care & Control’s most trusted public face, a canine diplomat whose quiet presence spoke louder than any press release ever could.
Henry’s story began in 2011, when he arrived at the Chuck & Brenda Silcox Animal Shelter in rough shape. He was thin, sick, and out of second chances — until Brandon Bennett, then the City’s Code Compliance Director, spotted him and sensed something worth saving. What followed was a slow, steady restoration — the kind of recovery only patience, medical know-how, and a stubborn belief in possibility can achieve. By the time Henry grew strong enough to trot comfortably across a room, he had also formed a bond with Bennett that would last the rest of the dog’s long life. They even retired side by side earlier this year.
Once healthy, Henry threw himself into public service with the sort of earnest devotion Texans tend to appreciate. He padded through special events, delighted schoolchildren, joined former mayor Betsy Price on community visits, and became the shelter’s most persuasive advocate for the animals left waiting behind its doors. He wasn’t merely a mascot — he was a working dog with a mission, guiding Fort Worth toward a deeper understanding of the needs of its homeless pets.
With the help of generous local donors, Henry helped raise more than a million dollars to build a dedicated medical treatment ward at the Silcox center — a facility that opened in 2014 and changed the shelter’s ability to save sick and injured animals. As his reputation grew, so did the scale of his impact. Supporters eventually rallied nearly $5 million in additional funds to construct that treatment ward and, later, secure a bond package for a modern shelter. The city’s live-release rate soared, earning Fort Worth recognition as one of the most pet-friendly communities in the country…