Buddy Needs a Buddy

IRONWOOD, MI - by Keri Singleton - Friday, December 4, 2009 - My first thought upon meeting Buddy, the approximately one-year-old Springer Spaniel mix, was, “What are his special needs?” I had been told that Buddy is a special needs dog at H.O.P.E.(Help Orphaned Pets Everywhere), Ironwood’s local animal shelter. It was extremely difficult to keep up with Buddy as I tried taking his picture outside. His one-time foster parents, Edna and Bert Tatham, looked on with obvious affection as Buddy romped in the snow with their two dogs, along for a visit, obviously thrilled to see Buddy again.

Buddy’s face will melt your heart as he looks at you, imploring you to take him home. His energy is boundless as he runs and plays, seeming to ignore his hip that was injured some time ago and never repaired. To look at him, you’d never guess his hip needs surgery, costing from $1,500 to $2,200. An orthopedic surgeon out of Ashland can perform the operation, giving Buddy every opportunity to live a happy, pain free life. While it doesn’t seem to slow him much now, in the future Buddy’s hip could cause many problems for him, arthritis included. A fund has been set up for anyone to donate towards Buddy’s surgery. The fund will help pay, or hopefully completely pay, for Buddy’s new parents to get his hip replaced to its rightful position. After playing for some time it’s easier to tell what his “special needs” are, and it is inspirational to see his energy and joy, despite anything being out of place. He doesn’t complain at all, he just slows down, regroups, rests, and goes again.

Buddy’s disposition is the kind that makes for a great family dog. He displayed nothing but affection towards everyone. He gets along well with other dogs, cats, and loves children. Buddy’s affection for his former foster parents is obvious, and I could see what a devoted dog he is. He wants a family, or one person to love and protect, and will be a wonderful family member. His fur is so soft it makes you think of snow days, curled up on the couch, with a good book in one hand, and petting Buddy with the other. I just know someone will fall in love with this little guy, and give him the forever home he deserves. Edna and Bert loved and nursed him and healed him when he had a huge gash on his head, caused from only he knows what. He never even displayed a hint of aggression during treatments to clean the wound, which must have been unpleasant, to say the least.

Christmas is right around the corner, and this little guy will make a wonderful addition to any family, whether they have no other pets and no children, or whether they have a houseful of people and pets. Buddy obviously will be a wonderful forever companion, and the right family will adopt him. His happiness and energy, especially when he saw Edna and Bert, was contagious, and I’m sure the right person just hasn’t seen him yet. The only thing on Buddy’s list this year is a family of his own, to keep and love him forever.

Donations to contribute, or even pay, for Buddy’s surgery can be made through H.O.P.E.’s website: http://www.hopeanimalshelter.org/ , via PayPal, or by mail: H.O.P.E. Animal Shelter 590 Easy Street Ironwood, Michigan 49938 c/o Buddy—hip surgery H.O.P.E.’s website details open times for drop-off donations, and much more information.

To adopt Buddy, or inquire about donations, or anything shelter related, please call (906) 932-1511

Writer’s Note: Thanks to dedicated volunteers like Edna and Bert, and shelter workers, Buddy and many others have a chance at life. Please visit H.O.P.E.’s website to find out how to help, and maybe find a friend.