THE AMAZING SHOP DOG

"Pacer was my best friend and a true soulmate."

— Ben Kingsbury

On Saturday, August 12, 2011, Ben Kingsbury walked into Jacksonville Humane Society hoping to find a dog who needed a home.

Instead, he found his best friend.

Just two months old, Pacer captured Ben's heart immediately. It was love at first sight. Two hours later, they were heading home together, beginning a partnership that would last nearly 14 years.

Before long, Pacer became much more than Ben's companion.

Every day, he went to work at Gotham City Limit, where he earned the title Pacer, The Amazing Shop Dog. Greeting customers became his favorite job. Ben describes him as selfless, compassionate, energetic, empathetic, tough, and determined, with a never-say-quit attitude that carried him to work until the very end of his life. To everyone who walked through the door, Pacer offered the same joyful welcome, making friends with comic book fans of every age.

As the years passed, Pacer became part of the identity of Gotham City Limit. His likeness appeared on comic book covers, stickers, patches, the shop's front door, and even the Limit-Mobile. Artwork created by loyal fans still hangs on the walls, celebrating the dog who became the heart of the shop.

His impact reached far beyond the comic book community.

In 2025, Pacer was named Jacksonville Humane Society's Dog of the Year after raising more than $16,000 for homeless animals. He was also recognized as Jacksonville's Cutest Pet, appeared as Pet of the Game at a Jacksonville Jaguars game, and his portrait by The PAWtographers® was featured on a Jacksonville billboard. Each honor reflected what the people of Jacksonville already knew: Pacer had a remarkable way of bringing people together.

Yet, for Ben, none of those honors compare to simply having Pacer by his side.

On June 5, 2025, at the age of 14, Pacer crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Ben still returns to a favorite quote from Calvin and Hobbes that perfectly captures how he feels:

"If Good Things Lasted Forever, Would We Appreciate How Precious They Are?"

Although Pacer no longer greets customers at the door of Gotham City Limit, his legacy lives on in the community he helped build, the friendships he inspired, and the countless lives he touched. Thanks to one visit to Jacksonville Humane Society, an extraordinary puppy found the chance to become exactly who he was meant to be. And in return, he gave a lifetime of joy to everyone fortunate enough to know The Amazing Shop Dog.