HoundsGood: Chronicles of a Virtual Volunteer

Bud was brought into Heard County Animal Control with a very sad story. This 35 lb cutie had been a stray for two years. A family was leaving food for him, and he played happily with the children. Then one day, the family decided that they didn’t want to bother feeding Bud anymore. When you stop feeding wild birds, they eventually find someplace else to eat and gradually leave. When you stop feeding a domestic animal, they often starve. This is what happened to Bud.One day, after two years without hurting a soul, he attacked a cat. He either was starved and his prey instinct kicked in or he thought the cat was competition for the scant amount of food that was rooted out. The family thought: If he killed a cat, surely he will start going after people (???). So, they made a call for animal control to pick him up. They had no regard to think that even though this dog did not sit at the foot of the bed, that he thought he was theirs in some way, versus just a “disposable item.” He was also pelted with stones.

He sat at animal control, which he was a little unsure about, as it was his first time at least in a long time being in an enclosure and because of the treatment he had received. Kaylene at the shelter befriended him and saw how wonderful this dog was when he came out of his shell and named him “Bud” because he was her bud.

Bud has purple spots on his tongue and is about medium sized, so was labelled a chow mix. Bud may actually just be a Heinz 57, but one had to call him something. Unfortunately, people have misconceptions about chows and sometimes a speckled tongue or a label dooms a dog to being not inquired about by rescues or adopters in some cases. (In fact, many breeds have speckeld tongues – even some purebred labs and shepherds).

It was euthanization day again. Bud was saved the week before because enough dogs were claimed, but on this particular week, the boss said they all had to go. And not enough dogs had been spoken for.

Emily was down at the shelter picking a few dogs up who were on their way to other rescues, and Bud was the only dog that remained with an unknown fate. There was just no way that she could leave him behind – the favorite at the shelter. She thought it was better to take a chance and risk pulling him out herself, knowing that she could not keep him, rather than subjecting a good dog to death. She knew it would be harder finding him a home because people tend to forget about dogs that aren’t on the urgent list and move on.

She says of Bud:

He comes when I call him, and lets me put my hands all over him and will even lay down and roll over for me (like when I removed his neuter stitches). He just wants to please and be loved. He is not food agressive (I always pet him when he’s eating) and gets along fine with my 4 female dogs (both larger and smaller than him). He’s got an adorable floppy ear and a cute, almost hound-doggish bark. He rarely barks unless I’m outside the fence and he wants my attention or if he sees one of my cats.

Yes, he still wants to go after cats. So he definitely needs to go to a home without cats.

Bud needs a home where someone will take the time to love him. He gets along very well with the female dogs, but picks at one of the male dogs a little. It may because with multiple dogs he is picking on the lowest on the totem poll for pack order, but we are unsure. He needs a home where he will feel secure that its home for good.

Bud needs to find a home right away. Could it be yours?

If you are interested in being that home, please contact Emily
BY CLICKING HERE or contact her through her Myspace Page

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