“RIP Ben”: Kirk Herbstreit’s Golden Retriever Dies After Battle with Cancer, Internet Pays Tribute to “The Goat of Dogs”

Herbstreit has been providing health updates on his 10-year-old dog for the past three weeks. Several people sent him well wishes while Ben was being treated for leukemia.

But on Thursday, news spread on social media that doctors could do nothing to save him as the cancer had spread throughout his body.

“This is really hard to write, but so many of you loved and cared about Ben that I wanted to let you know. “We found out today that the cancer had spread to Ben's organs and there was nothing we could do – we had to let him go,” Herbstreit said in a statement on social media.

“I've had dogs all my life, but Ben was one man against one. He was smart, loving, gentle, patient, curious and hospitable to all.”

Because Ben was the oldest of the family's four golden retrievers, Herbstreit described the experience as “one of the hardest things I've been through in my life.”

There are numerous honors for Ben

Social media users from across the sporting world were quick to pay their respects to Ben, with one report calling him the “Goat of Dogs.”

“I'm so sorry, brother. I really am,” wrote another.

“Dogs are part of the family. Dogs are best friends. America will remember Ben as a legend. He brought joy to so many people,” commented a third user.

On October 26, Ben attended a college football game where his father was assigned to watch Texas A&M vs. LSU.

Ben was expected to appear with his iconic smile when Herbstreit traveled to State College, Pennsylvania, for Ohio State-Penn State last weekend. However, due to his deteriorating health, he did not do so.

He became so popular in the football community that he was granted eligibility to attend games and was named Chief Happiness Officer for the Rose Bowl in 2024.