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Buddy's Gift
We were asked to pick him up for the Rescue at Baldwin Park Animal Shelter. He had no collar, no chip and no name. He was given 3 different names – Rusty, Red, and Sarge. He was not neutered, had a severe skin condition, and was skeletal. He weighed in at 49 pounds. You could count his ribs. He has no front teeth and half of his right ear. The remainder of his teeth are worn down. White fur started to populate his muzzle. He obviously had been neglected or living on the street for a while.
After 10 days at an animal hospital he had been neutered, had his ear bandaged and been given some medication for his fur. He still was underweight and in need of love. We decided we needed some exercise and started to visit Rusty/Red/Sarge for walks.
At Christmas time we took him home to be our foster just for the Holidays. Julie laughed at the notion of ‘foster,’ knowing her husband very well. When we saw that he and our other rescue girl, Althea, got along, the foster became a permanent resident. He wasn’t much of an “in charge” kind of guy. More like a dog who got along and made himself at home – like he had always lived there. A trusting soul who just wanted to be with you. So Sarge became “Buddy.”
What a happy boy Buddy is! He always has a smile on his face. He always has a wagging tail when he sees you even if you’ve been away for just ten minutes. He doesn’t just eat, he celebrates his meal time. When he’s done, he’s the happiest dog in the world, and he let’s you know it.
He loves his walks, rides in the car, and sniffing everything he can. His favorite spot is in the crook of your arm. He loves to be cuddled, and have his ears rubbed. He is a gentle and happy soul.
And the toys! He loves his toys. Buddy may be 9, but he is a puppy at heart. He loves his toys, any kind of toy, big or small. If they make noise, the better. He is a true Retriever, taking his toys wherever he goes. He loves chasing the birds in the backyard or just sunning himself and doing a back roll on top of his toys. And he’s taught Althea how to play, too.
Today Buddy weighs a healthy 61 pounds. He will never go hungry again. He will always have a warm place to sleep (at last count four dog beds to choose from), toys to play with, and a family who will love him. The joy on his face is something we will always be forever grateful for. How did we live without him? He’s our Buddy.
-Julie & Mike |
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