EXCLUSIVE! Buffy Star Julie Benz's Dogs Bamboo & Sugar Run Her World—And the Story Will Melt You!

'Buffy' star adores her dogs!

Article by Teoti Anderson, CPDT-KA, KPA-CTP

Latest revision: September 21, 2021

Dog-loving actress Julie Benz—best known to the Modern Dog crew for two beloved shows, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (she was Darla) and Dexter (she was Rita Bennett)—spills on why dogs are the best fix for heartbreak, how to make sure your new guy falls for your dog even if it starts rocky, and her perfect day with her pups.

Q: Tell us a bit about your two dogs.

A: Bamboo is a seven-year-old Morkie [Maltese Yorkie cross] and he's a hot mess. He lives to bark and guard the yard from invaders (squirrels), but turns into a nervous wreck the second I cook (he hides in the closet!) and he loves dozing in my arms. Sugar is a five-year-old Havanese and she's so chill. I can take her anywhere knowing she'll behave. She's tuned in to our needs and does all she can to please us. But whatever you do, don't wake her from a nap!

A: Divorce sucks, but it's wild how healing a little heartbeat beside you can be! My whole world had flipped. I was in a small apartment with rented furniture, everything familiar gone, but knowing Bamboo was waiting at the end of my day made it all okay. Sometimes all you need is a heartbeat, someone thrilled to see you daily, and Bamboo was my heartbeat.

Q: Any advice for readers going through hard times?

A: Time heals! I know it's a cliché, but clichés stick around 'cause they're true! When you need a heartbeat to come home to, a dog is a smart move.

Q: You're now happily married to marketing exec/Firebrand LA co-founder Rich Orosco. Did Rich and Bamboo click from the start?

A: No! Rich wasn't a dog person when we first dated, but I wanted him to be one. I recall he said he thought Bamboo smelled, so I'd bathe poor little Bamboo every time Rich took me out. Let's just say Bamboo got A LOT of baths! There was also 'The Blackberry' mess (Bamboo gnawed his phone) and 'The Shoe' and 'The Sock'… and, well, a lot of incidents, but slowly they fell in love. Now Rich is a full dog person and Bamboo trails him everywhere. True friends for life.

Q: Tips for bringing a new person into the pack?

A: It matters that the dog gets alone time with you and alone time with the new person.

Q: What about Bamboo and Sugar? Did they hit it off right away?

Q: Tell us about volunteering for animal groups?

A: I was very active spreading word on Patrick the Miracle Dog and the movement now called Patrick's Law. Patrick's Law pushes for strong animal-welfare laws at State and Federal level. [Patrick was a starving Pit Bull found at the bottom of a trash chute in Newark. He'd been tied to a rail and starved near death before being tossed with the garbage. Named Patrick, he was found moments before a compactor would've killed him; amazingly, he fully recovered, winning fans worldwide.] I met Patrick early in his healing. When I did, he climbed into my arms, rested his head on my shoulder, and stayed like that a long while. He was so trusting despite how badly his human had neglected him.

Q: Why recommend volunteering?

Q: Describe your ideal day with your dogs.

A: My perfect day is lounging at home with my husband and dogs, watching TV, going for a walk, hanging in the backyard, and napping!

Q: If Sugar and Bamboo were celebrities, who'd they be and why?

A: I've always thought Bamboo looks like a mix of David Duchovny and Fabio, and I'd say Sugar is a lot like Cameron Diaz. Both pack a lot of toughness inside a lot of pretty.

Q: Do your dogs ever come on set?

Q: Favourite movie or TV role so far and why? We're big Buffy fans here at Modern Dog.

A: Hard to pick! Dexter was amazing—I felt in a master acting class opposite Michael C. Hall. Playing Darla (Buffy/Angel) was a roller coaster, never knowing what she'd do next! Robin (Desperate Housewives) was so fun and quirky, a real character part. Amanda (Defiance) is a total bad ass. I get challenged emotionally and physically daily and for that I'm grateful.

A: Patience and unconditional love.

A: Some days they're the only ones happy to see me!

To see more of Julie (and, we hope, a cameo from one of her dogs), catch 'Defiance' on Syfy. Season 2 premieres June 19th!

Before long, you’ll struggle to recall life before your rescue dog arrived. In these early days, remember you’ve got a lifetime together. Ease in at the start and the transition to your happily-ever-after will be so much smoother.