Transport #41: Buddy

[crysania4]

I am embarrassed to say how long it's been since I last did a transport, but I'm sure if you check out the tags you can see the amount of time that has passed.  Nearly an entire year!  But this year has been a nightmare of ups and downs with my father going through cancer treatments (and ultimately passing away) and my new agility endeavors (there's the "ups" of the "ups and downs"!).  So when a transport came up on a free weekend for this handsome old guy I just couldn't resist.  His story is a sad one:

This sweet senior yellow lab (8-10 years) was found standing in the middle of a highway the other night, not seeming to know what to do or where to go.  It appears he was hit by a car and suffered a stroke.  At first, they thought he was blind in one eye, but after doing some testing, it appears he can see okay.  

He was found by a good samaritan who got him vetted and kept him until a rescue could be found for him.  One in New Hampshire was happy to take this handsome old guy in and so he was sent on transport from Missouri all the way to New Hampshire.  Quite a ways to travels for an old guy!

I brought my Mom along this time as she loves dogs and is happy to have some time out of the house with someone to keep her mind off of things.  We got over to the meeting place early and we buckled in for a long wait as the transport was running behind.  Lo and behold, the person who was coming from the Rochester area was running a bit ahead.  So she got him out, found him a spot to pee, we got him some water and on our way we went!

The trip out was, thankfully, entirely uneventful.  The roads west of Syracuse were pretty hairy and I think the whole transport was a little on edge because yesterday a transporter in the south and the puppy she was transporting were killed in a horrific accident after getting caught in an unexpected ice storm.  I know I felt really nervous heading out, but it ended up that we had a bit of sun and dry roads all the out and back from the meeting spot.

We arrived some 25 minutes early and got Buddy out for a little walking around and some pictures and, since it was only 15 and very windy on the river, we hopped back into the car to love on Buddy and wait for the next person to show up.  My gosh this dog was a love sponge.  He couldn't have leaned any harder into our petting.  I'm pretty sure he was ready to crawl into our laps and I think my Mom was a little bit in love with him.

Once he was passed off, the car felt kind of empty without him.  He was such a silent, sweet presence.  I hope he quickly finds a home to cherish him for whatever remains of his life.  He deserves it!


 


 




 

Comments

[anobjectinspace.livejournal.com]

His face actually gives the impression of a smart, sardonic grin. Such a handsome boy, and I hope the effects of his stroke won't put people off.

[crysania4.livejournal.com]

If they meet him they'll just fall in love with him! He was such a sweet handsome old guy and the floppy face on one side just gives him a lot of character.

[anobjectinspace.livejournal.com]

He really is very handsome. I'm going to show Jim and Hil tomorrow and I'm pretty sure they'll fall in love with him :-)

[k8nkane.livejournal.com]

If I ever do a dog transport, it'll be because of you, lemmingpie, and we_got_caught posting your experiences. :-)

[crysania4.livejournal.com]

It really is a wonderful experience! It's amazing to meet these great dogs and know that you're helping them get onto a better life.

[we-got-caught.livejournal.com]

It is so, so rewarding. I love it because it always has a happy ending.

[dressagedreams.livejournal.com]

He even looks like a love sponge. I want a dog so bad. My first dog (with us 16 years) was a lab mix. Had the same wise look. Someday I'll have a dog again.

[spotty-sri.livejournal.com]

Such a dignified guy! I wish I could bring him home. :)

[saioboepedge.livejournal.com]

What a cutie! So glad that they are finding him a home! I have to put two of my dad's cats up for adoption next week and it's only because I can't take them due to Mugsy. :(

[lemmingpie.livejournal.com]

Oh he reminds me so strongly of Nikki, my parents' recently passed away lab.
I am all smiles about a dog getting transported.

[shimmerngspirit.livejournal.com]

Poor angel. I wonder how he wound up there. Thanks so much for being part of his transport.

[mcsangel3.livejournal.com]

Have I mentioned how much I love Labs? And how much I would love to have this sweet doggie? ::Headdesk::

[halfmoon-mollie.livejournal.com]

There are angels everywhere.

I do believe you are one.

This made me smile...and cry. I hope he has a wonderful home for the rest of his life. Possible, in part, because of you.

[gnomenapper.livejournal.com]

How did you get into transport. I'm thinking it would be a good way for me to help out some, and would love to learn how.

I would snap Buddy up in a heart beat. Honestly, if he was in front of me- I'd have no second thought at bringing him home and giving him a ton of love.

[crysania4.livejournal.com]

I can't quite remember exactly how I got involved. If I remember right, I just found a message board where they posted transports and contacted the person running it to sign up. Then I joined the CanineRescue (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CanineRescue/) Yahoo group, which posts tons of them. There were so many messages though and many of them about dogs needing out of shelters that I filtered it all to a folder and then would search the folder for anything that included Syracuse.

[zombiefruit.livejournal.com]

He's the Michael Caine of dogs! Awesome :) I hope he finds a loving home soon.

[box-of-sorrows.livejournal.com]

Aww, he looks great, someone will snap him up :-)