Buddy

Hi, I’m Buddy.  I want to tell you about how lucky I was to be saved by Sweet Paws and why the fosters and adoption coordinators there are the best at making the right fit for each situation.  I was 56 years old (8 in people years) when I made my way up North to Massachusetts.  My prior family could no longer care for me and dropped me at my vet’s office kennel one day and never came back.  It was confusing for me and I spent a lot of time in my crate feeling sad and scared.  They say I was there for a couple of months but it seemed like forever.   Luckily, a kind vet tech saw what a good hearted boy I am and referred me over to her friends at Sweet Paws.  That’s when my life turned around!   

I’m a full bred Mississippi Mutt and a rather handsome one at that.  The thing about me though is I have anxiety about new people and places and can feel very nervous and be pretty shy.  When I feel this way I growl to let people know I need some space. I was a bit of a tough sell to prospective adopters because I don’t immediately run up and roll over for new people to pat me.  I mean who does that anyway? Stranger danger awareness and personal space are important things! I wanted so badly to have a new family to love but I’m a cautious fellow, so I needed some understanding.  

I spent several months with my foster dad Bob, who was really nice to me.   When my new family said they wanted to meet me,  Bob told them I would take time to get comfortable and made sure they understood I am a really good boy and just need people with a little patience who can follow my cues.

Bob and I worked on a gradual introduction process and made several visits to the new house, spending time all together in the yard.  I started to feel safe and began to slowly acquaint with my really big fur brother Sam and the new humans.   

When Bob left and I moved in, I missed Bob at first and was not sure why a new home happened to me again.  I got my own bed though in a separate room from Sam, so that I could retreat to my  own space whenever I felt overwhelmed, which I often did.   The humans put up these things inside the house too so that Sam could have separate space from me whenever they left the house.  This really helped me feel safe and I learned that Sam’s a pretty chill guy and means me no harm.   As time passed I  would spend more and more time with my new family as we watched tv and relaxed at night and let them pat me for longer and longer periods of time.  Now I run right in and jump in their laps and happily lick my people and big fur brother to show how much I dig them.  My favorite thing in the world is to take walks with my family and fur brother, we make a great team.  My new family understands me and I love them so much.  I am a really lucky guy.  Thanks to Sweet Paws and my new family, my heart is full.