Jessica Beninsky & Watson
Watson and Jessica Beninsky are best friends.
The spunky little corgi and energetic young woman have been pretty much inseparable since they met five years ago. Beninsky has always appreciated dogs and their unconditional love for their humans, but she never considered herself a dog person until Watson entered her life.
Since then, she has jumped into the dog world with both of her legs and all four of Watson’s.
Shortly after she realized how much Watson was increasing the quality of her life, Beninsky started thinking about other dogs and the challenges that they sometimes face, such as cancer, heart complications, eye injuries and broken bones. However, a dog’s fate is not always as secure as a human’s if its owner cannot afford to pay costly medical bills.
“I talked to several veterinarians and learned that, daily, people are forced to euthanize their dogs because they do not have the money for expensive surgeries,” Beninsky said. “I couldn’t live with that without trying to help.”
Beninsky and her husband, Marty, launched Watson’s Wish Foundation so that dog owners do not have to hesitate when their furry friend needs lifesaving or life-sustaining care. The nonprofit organization was launched in 2022 in the coal region town of Trevorton, Pa., in Northumberland County. The Beninskys recently moved to downtown Harrisburg and are excited to expand their impact to the state’s capital.
“I am looking forward to networking with people and getting to know different businesses that can help us make an impact,” Beninsky said.
Collaborating with likeminded individuals is an important key to Beninsky’s success. While she was living in Trevorton, Beninsky and her husband owned a coffee shop in nearby Sunbury. There, they hosted a “Coffee with Corgis,” which attracted dog lovers from as far away as Ohio. Several local businesses participated, including The Dog House of Millersburg, Pa., which specializes in making dog treats and dog bandanas.
Davia Erdman, owner of The Dog House, said that she was first interested in Watson’s Wish Foundation because she could directly relate to its purpose. Erdman’s Newfoundland dog named Gracie suffered from congenital heart defects, and treatments were expensive. Gracie eventually crossed what dog lovers call “The Rainbow Bridge”—a place animals are believed to go after death based on a famous poem by an unknown author—but assisting Watson’s Wish allowed Erdman to honor Gracie’s memory.
“Jessica has a very loyal group of supporters,” Erdman said. “It has been pretty cool to watch the foundation itself grow and hear the stories of the dogs she has helped.”
One of those dogs is very special to Erdman and her family. Her parents’ dog, a 7-year-old lab mix named Molly, suffered from liver failure in April. The only way for Molly to avoid The Rainbow Bridge was for her to receive medication to flush out her system. The procedure required a costly overnight stay in a vet office. Watson’s Wish Foundation stepped up to save Molly’s life.
“She is doing great now, and there was no way my parents would have been able to get her the treatment if it weren’t for Watson’s Wish,” Erdman said.
The foundation focuses its efforts on dogs that live in central or northeastern Pennsylvania. Treatments must be lifesaving or life-sustaining. The foundation helped nine dogs in 2023, Beninsky said, and 15 so far this year. Almost doubling the foundation’s impact in less than one year has energized Beninsky. She is working hard to have an even greater impact on the Harrisburg area.
Most of the foundation’s events to date have been small-scale affairs that yielded strong results. Beninsky is now thinking bigger. She recently signed a rental agreement with the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex to hold “Corgi Palooza” on May 9, 2026. Plans are still in their infancy, but proceeds from corgi races, a dog costume contest, vendor booths and food sales will help Watson’s Wish Foundation increase its impact.
“Unfortunately, I cannot say yes to all of the requests for help I receive, even though I want to,” Beninsky said. “If we don’t have the cash, it is a matter of life and death.”
Animal lovers do not have to wait two years to support Watson’s Wish Foundation and the dogs it helps. Donations can be made at any time through its website.
To learn more about Watson’s Wish Foundation and the dogs it has helped, or to make an online donation, visit www.watsonswishfoundation.org.
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