Buddy

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In January 2001, we adopted a beautiful old boy (at the time, approximately 10 years old) from Homeward Bound. He came to us as Bruno, but we renamed him Buddy. We recently laid our sweet boy to rest due to a rare type of cancer. 

The following is an email I sent to friends a few weeks before our Buddy passed (fyi: we also have two ex-Canine Companions for Independence female golden/lab crosses that we trained):

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A few rare moments in life truly define your love for one another and your family...

As many of you know, I walk my three dogs in Goethe Park every morning. Since Buddy's illness, I haven't taken the girls because it was simply too painful to be in "Buddy's Park" without him. Well, last night the girls and I headed out and I told Brian to follow us when he was done petting and comforting our old boy. We kept looking back for "dad" to join us but finally gave up on him when we reached the entrance. 

While inside the park, we encountered a total of six deer in two separate locations. With Buddy, we make a big production of seeing them and he gets visibly excited and everyone has a good time. The girls have NO interest in them, which pretty much made it a non-event last night. I felt very sad as we left the park.

I was deep in thought as we passed the entrance, so when I looked up, I must admit I thought I was seeing things. Brian was pulling Buddy in a wagon. I stopped with the girls and waited for them to reach us. Brian said, "I couldn't leave him at home. He's here to see the deer." They continued into the park and we followed. I was still a bit stunned at what I was seeing and speechless to boot! Here was a grown man pulling an old dog in a wagon--both on a purposeful mission.

Now, it isn't as if we see deer ALL the time in the park. Sometimes we go a week or two without a sighting, and since we had just seen six earlier on our walk, I figured Buddy's chances were slim to none. But Brian pulled him to his favorite spot, and with the sun almost set, we saw a large female cross into the wooded area. Immediately, Buddy's nose began to go into high gear and he sighted her! He stood stock still and his tail gently wagged. It was the first deer he had seen in well over a month. 

We waited until the deer bounced off, then Brian turned the wagon around. I don't think much was said on the return walk--we were simply a man and a woman, two girls, and an old boy in a wagon heading for home.
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Needless to say, we are in deep mourning over our loss. We want to thank HB for providing us with two and a half years of love and companionship with our special boy. Buddy touched so many lives. Everyone who met him fell in love with his expressive eyes and dignified manner. If you sat anywhere near him, he would immediately put his paw on your leg or arm and silently wait to be petted.

He was loved and is deeply missed.

Sincerely,
Rebecca and Brian