Hi Darling,
The Carr-Fassett family has a lot to be grateful about. If you’ve been following our adventures on Facebook and Instagram (where I post most of my personal pix and lots of animal adoption updates) you know that we found a big ole blessing in the woods (with the help of some awesome New Yorkers!): A sweet, emaciated (35 pounds underweight), sick and struggling-to-stay-alive, hound dog who we named…Buddy!
After weeks of searching for his owner, making countless trips to the vet, nursing him back to health around the clock (how do you moms out there do it?!), and showering him with love, respect and compassion, it’s official—he’s doing great and we’re keeping him! He’s our soon-to-be-healthy boy now and we couldn’t be happier. Welcome sweet Buddy!
Today Buddy is quite the celebrity. Thousands of people from around the world have been praying for him and cheering him on (#gobuddygo). Folks have been logging into their social media accounts just for Buddy, especially on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
If you’re one of those people, I just want to take a moment to thank you. I know your love matters. It’s been part of his medicine and ours.
What’s more, I’ve read at least a dozen comments from people who went out and adopted a first or second fur-child. And countless others who have said, “now you’ve really got me thinking, I really want to adopt.” Booyah! Nothing makes me happier. I swear I’ve cried hundreds of heart-opening tears as I read all the love and possibilities. You all are so wonderful, yet another reason I have to be grateful.
When I first saw this skinny guy, I knew the road would be long.
And I heard the voices in my head: “Um, you don’t have time for this. He’s too sick. You’re already spread too thin. Lola doesn’t like to share. You travel too much. He’s bigger than your house. He’s a hunting dog, you eat plants!” Sound familiar? I bet you have practical voices that tell you not to do stuff you really want to do too.
Soon I came to understand that Buddy was my spiritual lesson.
I constantly talk about the importance of loving kindness—extended to all beings. How could I pick and choose when it’s convenient? How could I not take this guy into my life and heart. Brian felt the same way (thank the Gods!).
That was our rubber meets the road moment.
Who better than us to care for this guy? We have 16 acres of woods to explore, 6 of which are fully fenced in—crucial for Buddy’s built-in wanderlust. We work from home. We love animals. We want more joy in our lives. It quickly became a no-brainer.
As for Lola, she’s dealing and healing too. I think Buddy is the only brother she’d ever tolerate. Because he was so malnourished and wounded, she gave him space and reverence. Though she really doesn’t appreciate when he takes over her bed (that’s way too small for him), I think she likes to have a pal to trot around and explore with (which he is slowly starting to do). We’re doing our best to make her feel super special during this time. Translation: She’s getting chubby. “Hello piglet, enjoy it now cause it ain’t gonna last!”
After only a few days, Buddy is putting on weight—close to a pound a day. His coat gets shinier, his eyes get brighter and his tail wags more and more. He’s even starting to look our way when we call his name!
I wanted to express how lucky we feel to have the chance to make a difference in Buddy’s life.
If you decide to bring an animal into your home this holiday season, please consider adoption. So many beings suffer senselessly in shelters. Sadly, many of them die there, never knowing any kindness or cuddles. If you’ve got a rescued fur-baby, you know what I mean. You also understand that they know you saved them—it’s a bond like no other. And boy do they appreciate it.
Unconditional love heals.
Thanks for listening! He continues to heal. As do we.
There’s nothing better than happy trails and waggy endings!
Public Service Announcement: For all the hound dog lovers out there—consider a GPS collar. Hunting dogs and hounds are lead by their nose. They get lost easily and really need our help. Tragically, many hunting dogs go missing during hunting season, and others get left behind if they aren’t top performers.
Your turn: Share your adoption story in the comments below (and congrats to Lisa Henbest, my Crazy Sexy Kitchen contest winner!)
Peace & wags,
I love your Buddy story! We’ve taken in 6 strays (so far) over the years (2 dogs and 4 cats). Three of them were in bad shape when found. Our beloved cocker spaniel was found wandering the parking lot of our office early in the morning 5 days before Christmas when it was just 2 degrees outside! Several of us worked together and finally surrounded this very scared and half frozen dog (the snow was sticking to his long fur and then freezing). I scooped him up, wrapping him in my coat and drove him home. We put ads out, posted signs, checked with local vet offices, to no avail. He officially became part of our family. We named him (St.) Nicholas. He had a gigantic personality, the happiest dog I’ve ever been around. We were so blessed to have him in our lives for 7 1/2 wonderful years. Thanks for sharing Buddy with us.
We have 3 fur baby’s. My husband and I when we meet each brought a dog with us. He had a beagle mix named Cougarand I had just a straight up mutt named Emma , both were adoptions. After marriage we owned enough land we adopted again from a local rescue and brought a big love into our life by the name of Hudson, a HUGE german shephard with a HUGE heart. They all loved each other. Sadly we lost our sweet Emma last new years eve after she had a long battle with melanoma. Hudson and Cougar were still together though and both around 9. About a month ago we decided to bring another sweet girl Ms. Stella Gaffney. She is 5 and when we meet her she had the sweetest eyes and both our dogs loved her. She is a glorious brindle who has to have greyhound or something fast in her as she loves to dash around her 4 acres of land with her new brother and sister. They all say #gobuddygo! I love our rescue animals they are simply the best.
We got our lil’ baby, Bailey a year and a half ago. She was covered in ticks- like i would guess 50 +. It was pitiful. My husband and I spent quite some time trying to coax the sweet little puppy to hold still while we removed these guys one by one. Luckily she was in good health otherwise!
We got Bailey right when my dad was having surgery to remove a cancerous lobe of his lung. Let me just say, growing up my dad made himself out to never want an animal, ever. ( crazy). But when he got home and was recovering from surgery, he asked if he could keep Bailey with him while my husband and I were at class, work, etc. I thought it was a great idea since it’s always great to have company around when you’re going through such an emotional and physically trying time. Needless to say, Bailey helped him recover, keep him in good spirits, and now they’ve become inseparable buddies. She’s so smart and can anticipate every feeling or emotion we have, and knows what to do to brighten our lives!
I wasn’t looking for love when I found Frank — or rather, he found me. The man I was dating at the time was driving down a desolate stretch of Southern highway and saw what he thought was a possum by the side of the road. Upon closer inspection, he discovered a badly neglected dachshund: a hairless scab-riddled emaciated mess of a dog with several missing teeth. The dog jumped into my former boyfriend’s car, but wouldn’t let anyone remove him from the vehicle but me. I was in no place to adopt a dog, nor was I planning on it. At the time I was a financially challenged graduate student who was just emerging from a serious bout of clinical depression. When I took that little dachshund to the veterinarian, I thought for sure that I was taking him on a drive of mercy, that the pup was too far gone to recover. It was, in hindsight, pretty much how I felt about myself. But under the scabs and the mess was a determined little dog who fought his way back to health — and in taking care of Frank, I found myself recovering too. Frank went on to live a long and happy life with me and my family (my Dad came to love Frank just as much as I did). Boyfriends came and went, and we moved several times during our life together, but for eight years Frank was my constant companion. He has since inspired my work with rescue dogs, and my writings about them. Now I live with two young adopted dogs: Sadie, a lab/golden mix (who was adopted from a local family), and Lola, a dachshund/terrier mix (who was rescued from a high-kill shelter). I have never once regretted opening my heart to an animal in need. Their capacity for love and compassion and play is endless, and I am so grateful for the reminder to embody those qualities in my own life. Thanks for sharing your story, Kris!
I adopted a lab mix puppy. I wasn’t planning on it just went in to look! There was a litter of pups in a little fence in the middle of the floor and this one was standing up on hind links, head cocked yipping away to get my attention. I reached down and picked her up and she snuggled into my shoulder, sighed and went to sleep. That was it I fell in love. I found out these puppies had been brought in from a farm that morning and were going to be put down because they had no more room in the shelter.. They put them in the middle in the little pen in hopes they would be adopted out. I have had my baby for six years and she has become my best friend and companion. Her sheer joy for life, devotion to my family and total love is all I could ask for!
I’m happy that Buddy found you and your huge open heart. He will have a wonderful life now. Several years ago when I was living in the city I noticed a cat high up in one of the trees on the edge of my lot. It was a very tall tree, and the kitty was not going anywhere – under obvious stress. She was crying and very afraid. After watching her for several hours I came to the realization that the situation wasn’t going to get any better, so I enlisted the help of a friend of mine who brought over a tall ladder and climbed up that tree and rescued her. She was very grateful for that! I named her Alice and she has been my best friend ever since that day.
Our family is a ‘foster family’ for our local SPCA. We do this because it gives these abandoned – not ‘fit’ / ready to be adopted fur people the time and space to recover. There is no question in my mind that if we could all slow our lives down …. just dial it back a bit and consciously love an animal in need, it enriches ours lives, our health and our families beyond what we realize.
There are numerous ‘scientific studies’ on how sitting and stroking your dog or cat decreases stress, lowers blood pressure, improves mood, etc… No matter how busy your life is, our pets give more to us when all they need is love and a couple of nice walks a day. How does it get any better than that?
As a parent, one in a 10 year high conflict divorce, I wish that children could receive the love, the compassion, the kindness and the ease of living that you have shown and shared with Buddy.
Buddy you are welcome in our home any day! With gratitude
Your story bring tears of joy and warms my heart.
And thank you so much for bringing attention to animals who need so much love, good care and a forever home. It breaks my heart thinking of all those animals mistreated, abandoned, left to die…
This is a refuge in the Ottawa region http://www.refugerr.org/ I like to support and help get the word on their work (or I should say Rose’s work ’cause she’s doing so much on her own.) Rose rescues horses that have been beaten, abandoned and left to die and she nurses them back to life. The refuge is not just for horses though; she has about a hundred animals she has rescued.
Namaste and thank you for your generosity and kindness Kris!
Love and warm hugs to Buddy (and your family)
XO
Awww so thankfiul that buddy found a family like you!!! We have always rescued dogs and right now we have Allie who is 18 months old. The rescue fostered her mum and found out there would be 5 puppies in there! lol Our other rescue dog had passed and we were no not for a while… well that was August and Oct she was ours!! My daugther had rescued a purebred boxer who is a doll and she went on to rescue Allies sister… so my girl can go down to play with her sister fairly often.
I can’t fathom people that abuse or just neglect their animals, don’t get them, or give them away something don’t toss them. The rescue we got Allie from has just recused puppies from the garbage..
Just in case anyone is reading from my area… here you go some awesome rescues that need homes. So thankful for families like yours and also for you and your awesome blogs and cookbooks!!!
https://www.facebook.com/CoolDogRescue/app_190322544333196#!/CoolDogRescue?fref=ts
Buddy broke the ice as I have never emailed anyone I follow, but have sent silent thoughts to all that have touched my life. Tears rolled down as I read about “Buddy.” He’s warm now with a full belly and most of all he’s loved. He never gave up!
Hi Kris
I’m so moved by your beautiful friendship with Buddy, and how you’ve inspired so many of us to be a part of his healing journey, sending love and prayers. I wish you and your adopted family love and happiness together.
I think you would enjoy the book ‘a street cat named Bob’, I wonder if you know of it? It’s the true story of a homeless guy here in the UK who was befriended by a bedraggled, injured cat. He instantly falls for the cat, and by taking care of him, learns to take care of himself, coming off heroin and building a new life for both of them. It’s an inspiring and beautiful story and has captured people’s hearts here in the Uk.
Kris, I’m so happy and thankful you took this boy into your home.
I adopted my little jack russell early this year and he’s been the biggest source of love (and fitness!) in my routine.
I feel such despair when I hear about what humans can do to animals, any gesture to improve their situation is an act of kindness and repair.
Thanks again,
M.
The rescue of our dog Tara wasn’t elaborate or heart-wrenching. My then-new husband of two months and I simply drove to a nearby rescue and picked up my present – the beautiful 16-month pup we chose from their website. But that scruffy skinny stray would become a massive part of our lives.
Our beautiful Tara (who turned out to be a Rhodesian Ridgeback, not a lab as the rescue billed her) would see me through the trials of living over 1,000 miles away from my family. She bonded us as a couple as we trained her and fell deeply in love. She became my only “child” when the doctors said we would never have two-legged children.
Four years later we would radically switch careers, building a doggie daycare and boarding facility in her name (www.tarasplace.net). Tara was my therapy dog as we actually did have a baby – one with special needs and when 2 years later I was diagnosed with MS.
This past summer we lost our beautiful girl. She had become injured during an uncharacteristic spree of wandering and unbeknownst to us it caused irreversible damage. I don’t know how to end this, as I’m crying too hard but I can say that the lessons that one “yellow lab” brought me were life-changing and I know Tara will always be with us.
God Bless you and your precious furbabies, Kris.
Around the first part of summer, we had a cat show up on our back porch. There are a few wondering cats in the neighborhood, but this was a new guy. He was big but still technically a kitten, we guessed between 6 and 8 months. We already had three cats and they happen to be picky eaters (spoiled!) so we always had plenty of food we could put out for the new guy. He wouldn’t let us near him, but would come around almost every day. We sit still while he’d eat to get him used to us, and then magically one day, he let me touch him and he warmed up to us from there out. We gave him a name (Floyd) and always kept an eye out for him. His coat got soft and shiny, he filled out and he’d crawl into my lap and fall asleep. We knew we were going to keep him, so we got him to the vet, got him fixed and immunized and now he lives inside with us. He’s adorable and loving – I can’t imagine NOT taking him in.
All of our other cats are strays or abandoned as well, one left in a friend’s yard, (lost her this summer after 17 years), one brought over by a neighbor (12 years ago), and the other two rescued from outside of a CVS where they were dumped (4 years ago).
It breaks my heart seeing Buddy in the before pics. I’m so glad he found you.
We have two adopted fur members. Tika. Adopted 14 years ago from the Humane Society. She was sitting quietly in her cell with her face leaning up against the door and her big eyes saying ‘take me home, please’…she is the sweetest dog eva!! Amazing with kids she’s a human in a dogs body. Gentle, sweet, caring….love her to bits. Our second rescue, Sam. He’s a different story. He’s a character. You can view lots of photos of him on my blog, shirleybittner.blogspot.com. He’s now 6. He’s a rescue from Iqaluit at 2 months old. I can’t imagine not having a fur friend in my life. Love them both so much.
My cat, Franny, had been abandoned at a gas station, when I found her. She was a tiny little thing – only 1 pound, and she had a lot of health problems. I wasn’t sure I wanted the responsibility at first, but I’m glad I took that leap. She’s been my girl for a little over 3 years now. I just love her.
When I lived in Himalayan India, dogs adopted me. Many westerners train dogs and abandon them when they leave. These darlings were mostly housebroken and some would try to give me their paw when they wanted food. It started with a puppy, helpless and ill. The others would see a dog (later dogs) being fed and cared-for and wanted in on that. I was able to place the puppy with a retreat center in the area before leaving; she is well cared-for; when queried, some people coming from that center say she is spoiled. The larger dogs loved to run with the dog pack at night, would be scratching at the door at 4 AM when they wanted to be home again. A very nice veterinarian from Vets Beyond Borders helped nurse the puppy back to health and made housecalls to give other dogs vaccinations. When I left, I gave the dogs’ beds and food to another American who was staying another year after me and was very good with them; we transitioned them, showing them their new apartment and playing with them and feeding them there before I left. They lined up as I was leaving, right along the path, to say good-bye. I hugged them and cried and had to tell myself over and over that I couldn’t stay in India just to look after these beautiful creatures; my aging parents needed me. Several years later, I still think of them and pray for their well-being, and smile when I recollect some of their antics.
I would like to adopt a pet in the U.S. but have questions about what it would take to pet-proof my current home (I had much less clutter in India), what a vegan should feed her rescue, etc. Haven’t yet figured it out. Recommendations for resources?
In March of 1991 I was 6 months pregnant, my Dad was in the ICU, and my husband was building a house beside our local SPCA. One day before lunch he went for a walk by the fenced area over there and noticed a very skinny brown dog outside. He went over and started talking to him, and then fed him half his sandwich. A lady came out and started talking to my husband and told him that it was the brown dog’s last day, as they were very overcrowded. She told him the dogs name was Yeller. Needless to say my husband came home that night with brown dog in tow. I was ticked. We had two small children to feed on our small salaries, and one on the way. He took the dog back in our laundry room and washed him up. Brown dog was actually yellow! He renamed him Buddy, and the first thing that dog did was come out and looked me in the face, then gave me a sloppy kiss. That’s it, I was sold! Our Buddy we found out had been dumped as a pup, and our Vet said he was only about 6 months old. He grew up with our daughters, and was the best. dog. ever! We were lucky to have him with us for 15 1/2 years. He died in 2006, and is still missed every single day. After we mourned his loss for a few months we found ourselves back at the SPCA, where a black dog caught our eye. His name was Buddy. 🙂
We took that as a sign, and brought him home with us. Since there could be only 1 Buddy in our lives, we renamed him Remy.
tears all over place! <3
Wonderful story! But why focus solely on “dogs” rather than “dogs, hogs, crows, cows, camels, asses, etc.”
i.e., why not love all animals?
About a year and a half ago I spoke with a few friends and said I was looking for a small puppy to keep me company while my husband was working (long distance driver). Our friend Sue found my special little guy in a local pet store and sent me pictures of him. I went that Friday night, in late January 2012 and purchased him from the pet store. The following morning I brought him to the vet to have him checked over. The vet advised he was dehydrated and had kennel cough. I purchsed the medicing to make him better. About two weeks later I took Riley to another vet, referred by friends who went there, and they discovered that he had hook worm. Hook worm, left untreated, will kill any animal within months. Again, I bought the medicine and made by furry little bundle better. Today, Riley is a happy, healthy, 6 lbs, Yorkiepoo who has bonded with me beyond words!
My husband and I adopted a beautiful German Shepherd mix who had been rescued from an abusive life. When she came to live with us her teeth wore worn down in half, from chewing on the cage that imprisoned her, scared to death of any noise and even the wind. She was a great dog, full of personality, who we cherished until it was her time to go. Still miss her everyday. Buddy reminds me of our Daisy. Thanks for sharing your story and for the giveaway.