An 8-Year-Old Abandoned Dog Finds a Second Chance with a Loving Family

Losing our big dog left an emptiness in us. It was time to welcome another furry friend into our home. We were a family of four with two young kids, a cat, some rats, and a small dog. We needed to find a dog that would fit in with all of us.

We reached out to a local rescue and asked if they had a dog that would work with our unique family situation. They recommended Buddy, an 8-year-old shepherd cross with a sad story.

Buddy came from a family with eight kids. However, this family couldn’t find a place that accommodated them and their furry friend. So, they left him at the pound, and Buddy’s hope waned.

When we received a photo of Buddy, our hearts ached. He looked so hopeless, with his head down and not noticing the camera at all.

After seeing his picture, we had to meet him. When we finally got to meet him, we were taken aback by his sweet demeanor. He had the energy of a puppy and just wanted to be petted.

We had him for a trial, but things were not as they seemed. While he was good with our kids and other pets, he was not as comfortable around my partner.

One day, during the trial period, my partner came home from work and got changed. When Buddy heard the sound of his belt buckle being undone, he curled in on himself and wet the floor. It was then that we realized that Buddy had been mistreated by a previous owner.

Despite this issue, I decided he was staying with us. We made some changes, including buying string pants for my partner to wear to work, and slowly but surely, Buddy warmed up to us.

Today, almost three years later, we are still enjoying our time with Buddy. While we still have our challenges, and he won’t get on the bed with Jack yet, he’s happy to cuddle up with me.

Our family is much fuller with Buddy around, and we feel grateful to have saved him from a bleak existence in the pound. Not all rescued dogs have stories as sad as Buddy’s, but they all contribute so much to their new families.