Kirk Herbstreit brings a new furry friend with him College game day!
More than a week after the death of his beloved golden retriever Ben, the ESPN commentator, 55, introduced his colleagues and fans to his younger pup Peter on Saturday, Nov. 16, as the dog currently acts as his travel buddy. .
Earlier this week, Herbstreit told fans on Xu (formerly Twitter) that Peter is joining him at work this week and he’ll “see how it goes.” He also revealed that Peter had been training with Ben and his two dogs since moving in with Herbstreit’s family in December. Per Sports Illustratedthe dogs came from the same breeder in New Jersey.
“Here he is getting ready for the game today,” the analyst wrote alongside a video of the dog in Philadelphia on November 14th. “I took him to the ‘Rocky Steps!’ ”
Peter Kirk Herbstreit’s dog.
Kirk Herbstreit/X.com
While in Athens, Georgia on Saturday, Herbstreit’s pup got to hang out with a few of his new friends — including another dog. On Instagram on November 16, the analyst shared a video of Peter waving his story with his feet up on the Game day table and greeting some of the owner’s colleagues.
“Feels like home 🤣🤣🤣,” he captioned the post.
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At one point during the show, Peter even greeted a famous canine colleague, as a video circulating on Xu (formerly Twitter) shows him sniffing the University of Georgia’s bulldog mascot, Uga. He also seemed to be having a bit of fun wandering and snooping around the set while Herbstreit handled business.
Kirk Herbstreit Gets Emotional as He Shares Tribute After Death of Dog Ben: ‘America’s Best Friend’
Peter’s TV appearance comes just days after Herbstreit announced the death of his dog Ben, before later paying tribute to him ahead of the LSU-Alabama football game on Saturday, Nov. 9. In footage shared by ESPN at the time, Herbstreit said he “first started bringing Ben on the road” with him as support, because he needed a “companion” and being with the dog helped him feel like is “home”.
“He made everyone happy, and he did it without even trying,” the ESPN insider said. “He would just wag that tail or nestle up against strangers like they were family, and they became.”
Herbstreit added that Ben believes that “everyone deserves his love,” noting that “the only downside to dogs as a species is that they don’t live long enough, but the warmth they give us never goes away.”
“So neither will Ben,” he added. “The best friend of this man who became America’s best friend.”
Two days earlier, Herbstreit – who shares four sons with wife Alison – announced in a heartfelt Instagram post that his family had made the difficult decision to “let [Ben] go” after discovering that the animal’s cancer had spread throughout its organs.
“I’ve had dogs all my life, but Ben was 1 on 1. He was smart-kind-gentle-patient-curious-and friendly with everyone. Always a big smile and a gentle wagging of his tail. He and I could communicate. He and I got along and had my back more than anyone at home and traveled to work with me,” Herbstreit wrote in the caption.
“Tough day – but it will live on in all of us forever,” he concluded his message. “God, please bless his magnificent soul and thank you for putting him in my life for the last 10 years — a true blessing. I love you, Ben. 🙏🏼.”
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Source: HIS Education