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GENERAL HOSPITAL

GH’s Maurice Benard Rescues an Adorable Puppy!

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Is it possible to fall in love with a dog based on a photo? Apparently so, according to GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Maurice Benard (Sonny)! The actor has a new four-legged furry friend in his life — despite his reluctance to add another dog to his household — and it’s all because his daughter was relentless in sending Benard picture after picture of adorable, adoptable dogs!

You see, it’s been four years since the actor lost his beloved Akita, Cain, and while the family has several other pets (including goats!), there was something incredibly special about the bond Benard had with his furry black and white dog. He often referred to Cain as his protector and bodyguard and was devastated after his beloved dog passed away in 2018. But recently, another black and white pup came into his life, as Benard excitedly introduced his Instagram followers to his new dog, Mr. Vito!

“I didn’t want another dog after Cain died,” the GH star explained in the caption of his post. My daughter, Cassidy, kept sending me pictures of dogs, and I would say, ‘No, no, no.’ But I could not pass up Mr. Vito.”

Included in Benard’s post was an adorable video of him sitting on a chair in an exam room holding Mr. Vito on his lap. “He doesn’t want to be at the vet. Are you sad?” Benard said in the video as Mr. Vito adorably licks his new owner’s face, giving him puppy kisses. And if the name Vito sounds familiar, that’s because it’s after Vito Corleone, Marlon Brando’s character in The Godfather, one of Benard’s favorite movies.

Benard went on to explain that he adopted Mr. Vito from Roadogs Rescue, an organization dedicated to rehabbing and rehoming bulldogs, a breed prone to medical issues, and other dogs with birth defects, which the organization calls “lovable lemons.”

Although Benard didn’t share what Mr. Vito’s medical issue was, previous posts made by Roadogs Rescue back in October and November featured a similar newborn puppy named Beasley who was born with a cleft palate and needed to be hand-fed until he was old enough to eat solid food. Whether Beasley did in fact find his furever home with Benard or Vito is another dog with a medical issue, the actor saved the life of this adorable little “underdog” by adopting him.

“They were incredible,” he raved of Roadogs Rescue, “and so is Mr. Vito🐶.”

Welcome to the family, Mr. Vito! We can’t wait to see more photos of you in the future!

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