After six years of patrolling Disneyland alongside his handler, security dog Benny has officially traded in his harness for a well-earned retirement.
Benny, a golden retriever, joined Disneyland’s K9 unit back in 2019 and has spent his career working the security checkpoints at the resort’s entrances. He’s one of 28 security dogs currently on staff, and just like any other cast member, he’s got his own name tag and ID badge to prove it.
His handler, Kevin, actually started out as a regular security officer before moving into a kennel tech role, caring for the dogs during their downtime. When a K9 handler position opened up, he took it, and he and Benny were paired not long after Benny’s previous handler had moved on. The two spent time together to see if they clicked, and Kevin still remembers being asked which dog he’d pick if it were up to him. “This is the one I want,” he said.
From there, the pair worked shifts together for years, splitting time between on-stage duty and backstage breaks. Kevin says Benny made the job easy: “Didn’t have to worry about him reacting to other dogs. I didn’t have to worry about him trying to go for squirrels.” Horses and other animals passing by never fazed him either. “He sees horses, other animals, and he doesn’t really care,” Kevin said. “He’s like, ‘Just do his job.'”
Benny’s retirement party brought out plenty of fellow cast members for goodbyes, selfies, and one major milestone: his very first hot dog. Security dogs stick to pretty strict diets, so this was exciting new territory for him. The celebration wrapped with a small ceremony where Benny performed one last car check, sniffing out a fake substance before getting showered with tennis balls. Even then, he went straight for his favorite red chew toy before touching a single ball.
Now that his shifts are over, Benny is heading home with Kevin for good. Kevin already has another dog waiting at home, so Benny’s retirement comes with a new best friend built in. He’s already bracing for old habits to stick around, joking, “I think he’s going to wake up at five in the morning and expect me to feed him. He’s going to make sure I wake up, and he’s gonna be ready to eat.” Slower mornings, regular walks, and Benny’s first hikes and beach trips are all on the horizon, well-deserved adventures for a dog who spent years looking out for everyone else at the happiest place on earth.
