GOOD BOY, BEEMER
By Denise Scott
An Ashburn family’s nearly 20-year-old Jack Russell terrier has caught the eye of the food brand they credit for giving him a second lease on life.
A crew from The Farmer’s Dog recently came to the home of Don and Renee Ventrice in the Broadlands to film their dog, Beemer, to use in the company’s social media campaigns – and possibly more.
Beemer joined the family as a young puppy – a gift for their son, Gino, on his 8th birthday back in 2006. Gino had hoped for a Jack Russell, and after attempts to find one via adoption fell through, his father made a covert trip to a reputable breeder two hours away.
In a room brimming with Jack Russell puppies, it didn’t take long for him to find the right one.
“All but one of these adorable puppies were hyper, climbing the fence they were in, scratching my arm to shreds as I petted them,” Don said. “And then there was that one sitting in the middle of the pen, looking at me, calm and adorable. I called him over, he came straight to me, sat down. I petted him as he kept looking at me, and I knew from that moment that he was our new dog.”
The Ventrices attribute Beemer’s longevity to multiple factors.
“Lots of yard time when he was younger, healthy, organic food and no table food… except for food he stole when we let our guard down,” Don said.
But despite his healthy lifestyle, Beemer’s health declined last summer. He suddenly couldn’t stand or keep his food down. After consulting with their vet, the family began to make final arrangements.
The next day, a sample of food from The Farmer’s Dog arrived. Beemer began to eat out of Renee’s hand. Within two days, he had rebounded, and she wrote a letter thanking The Farmer’s Dog for saving Beemer’s life. She also started tagging them in posts on Beemer’s Instagram page (@beemerthejackrussell). That led to the crew’s visit in mid-March.
“Beemer handled all the equipment, excitement and attention like a seasoned veteran,” Don said. “After thoroughly sniffing the crew and all of their gear, he laid in his bed at our feet while they interviewed us.”
Then it was Beemer’s time to shine. “We went out to our backyard where, much to our surprise, he decided to show off by chasing a tennis ball over and over, which at his age was heartwarming to see,” he said.
The Farmer’s Dog is expected to share the interview on its social media channels by late spring, just before Beemer turns 20 on July 1. The couple doesn’t know yet if any footage will make it into a TV commercial.
“We are really excited to see it and share it,” Don said. “I think it’s awesome, and he deserves to show off and be recognized. He is a great companion and integral part of our family.”
UPDATE
The video with Beemer appeared on The Farmer’s Dog Instagram page on May 1. Here is a link to that post.