Buddy: A Dog's Tale
April 1, 2007
The following is a sad, but true story...
You named me Buddy. You brought me home when I was just a little puppy - cute, and full of fun. I made you laugh and I made your child giggle when I would romp and play. I was so happy, for I was part of your happy family, and my life was wonderful. You'd take me outside every so often to do my "business" and the neighbors would point at me and ruffle my ears and tell me how cute I was. And life was good.
Then I started growing bigger and losing some of my cute puppy ways. I discovered the joy of chewing on things, slippers, shoes, rugs, anything I could sink my teeth into. And my frolicking and playing started getting rougher because I was a growing boy. You didn't take the time to teach me manners or how to behave in ways acceptable to humans, or how not to be so rough with your child, because you felt you didn't have the time to fool with me any longer. I had a few "accidents" on the floor because you didn't have the time to take me out to do my business and I started getting in trouble and becoming a nuisance to you as I began to lose my little puppy charm. And so you sent me to the yard.
So now I am banished to the back yard. Once a day, someone will come and throw some food at me on the cold concrete walk, but no one ever comes to talk to me or play with me or teach me to fetch or rub my ears or pat my head or spend any time with me at all. You are too busy with your lives. So I live outside, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, month after month, and now I have been outside in the yard, ignored, for more than a year.
At first, I kind of enjoyed being outside, romping in my fenced yard, feeling the wind blowing through my ears, and sniffing the air, watching the birds land on the fence, and feeling the sun on my face. And I had my dog house to go to when it turned cold or when it would rain. But after a short time, the days started to get longer and longer and I started to feel lonesome, because I missed being part of your family. And for months now, for over a year, I have been all alone - never to be part of your family again, or so it seems.
You don't realize how long the minutes are for me. Although I am right outside in your back yard, I can hear your voices through the window, and every once in awhile, I look up to see if you happen to be looking out at me to see if I'm okay. Every so often, I think I can hear your footsteps coming to check on me, but then the footsteps fade away and you don't come, you don't call my name. And you don't check on me. Or even know that I'm still here - alive - waiting for you to notice me.
In the heat of the Summer, I long for some shade, so I try to find a spot where the sun makes a shadow and make a bed there for awhile. My dog house is just too hot and I can't breathe in there, or I would go in there for a nap. When you let my water dish go dry, I feel my throat is parched and my tongue feels thick from thirst and I pray for rain so I can drink from the splash guard at the end of the gutter downspout. But when it does rain, especially if there is a thunder storm, I am so scared from all of the lightning and thunder, and I wish, oh how I wish, that you would come to check on me to see if I am okay, to see if I am scared, to see if I am out of the rain, but even more than that, I wish you would come and get me and take me inside and pat me dry with a towel and just let me be with your family for a little while.
The Winter nights are the worst of all. I no longer go inside of my dog house, because even though technically my dog house is supposed to be big enough for me, it really isn't. I don't feel safe in there because I can't turn around to make a comfortable nest in there to take a nap. So I sleep in front of it, hoping you will look out and notice that I could use a bigger dog house to sleep in at night when the temperatures dip and there is frost and snow on the ground. I am trying to show you by sleeping in front of my dog house that I need a bigger place to sleep at night, but you never look out your window to see me sleeping there. I'm sure if you would look, you would notice me curled up in a ball as tight as I can make myself, trying to keep warm. My joints are hurting from sleeping on the cold ground.
But above all, I wish, oh how I wish, you would notice me. I wish you wouldn't have forgotten about me out here in your back yard. Every minute seems so long without your companionship, without your love. I try to entertain myself. Sometimes I will chase my tail. Sometimes I will find my empty water dish and play catch with it by myself. Sometimes I will take your child's swing and bump it to watch it go back and forth and I pretend your child is here playing with me, laughing with me. But that's all it is - pretend. Sometimes I bark, hoping that my barking will bring you out to spend some time with me, just to throw something for me to fetch, or just to run and play. But when I bark, all you do is yell at me to scold and tell me to "hush." So, I found out that barking doesn't get me anywhere or cause you to come and see me. Your child never comes out to play with me. In fact, no one ever comes out to speak to me or play with me. Or pet me. Or rub my ears. Or ask me how I'm doing. Sometimes I will look at the neighbor's house and they will come out on their porch and speak to me. So at least someone knows I exist. But you don't seem to remember I'm here outside your door.
More than anything, I long, I so long, to be with you and to be part of your family again. I'm not an object or a thing. I'm not a boat, or a fancy car, or a prized possession you can brag about owning - I'm a living, breathing little personality that longs for some love and companionship and to be part of your family. Even though I no longer have my little puppy charm, I'm still a good boy and I'm handsome, too. But above all, I have SO much LOVE to give you! If only you would give me a chance! If only you would tell me what I did to deserve being separated from you.
The minutes drag on and turn into hours, day after endless day. And the days turn into weeks. As much as I can hope, I still do hope that one day you will remember me out here in your back yard. I've never understood what I ever did to be treated this way, like I don't even exist. But I still hope with all of my might that one day you will remember me and we can be a family once again.
It is Christmas time. I see beyond my fence all of the colorful twinkling Christmas lights and I hear my family inside making noises going about their lives, getting ready for the Holidays. Even though it is only 6:00 in the evening, it is dark and I have nothing to do but lie here, huddled up in a tight ball in front of my dog house...alone. Again. And it will be another cold night, 18 or 20 degrees, again. You named me Buddy. Is this any way to treat your Buddy? I wonder what is to become of me?
Please report any signs of animal abuse or neglect to your local authorities. Be aware that while notifying your local Animal Control or Local Authorities for suspected animal cruelty/neglect is highly recommended, they are subject to local ordinances and laws and can only act within the local laws as the framework provided for them. Also, the workers employed by that department may or may not be qualified for the position, may find complaints "unfounded" except in the most blatant abuse cases, or they may not be well educated in animal care, or the local shelter may already be overloaded with rescued animals, so only animals in the most dire of circumstances are rescued. Also, in some areas, a "good old boy mentality" may be prevalent - meaning, dogs are viewed as inanimate objects right alongside pickup trucks and firearms! The only way to combat this attitude is through public awareness and education. Additionally, some local laws may just require the minimum - food, water, and shelter... period (whether or not the animal uses the shelter doesn't matter to them). A complaint that is not considered life threatening or a public nuisance by the authorities, (for example, quality of life issues such as in Buddy's case), may not be taken into consideration when it comes to enforcing your local laws. With all of this in mind, the outstanding question that begs to be asked is, "how many other Buddy’s are out there?" Please pass this information along to help stimulate public awareness and education. Contact the Humane Society, Schools, post on your myspace page, Animal Rescue Organizations, pet stores, or anywhere you think would spread the word. ALL pets do matter and their quality of life matters, too. Responsible pet owners will have their animals spayed or neutered. Please be a Responsible Pet Owner! Pet Ownership is a Life-Long Commitment. If you buy a pet for your child, please remember that a pet is not a toy to be discarded when the novelty wears off! Owning a pet is a Life-Long Commitment in which you can teach your Child the Value and Care of Animals; They are not toys! They are God's Creatures Who Depend On Us for Their Care! |
skyehye — Sunday, April 1, 2007
Neglect is just as bad as being abused.Pets are part of the family and should be given every attention as if they were your own children. You wouldnt treat a child that way right? If you cant give them attention and affection throughout their ENTIRE lives, then DONT get a pet! It doesnt make sense to me how some people have their dogs chained up all day. I think this should be illegal so they have to pay attention to what is happening outside instead of relying on that "chain" to babysit.We as animal lovers must be their voice and make sure if we witness abuse/neglect report it or do nothing and essentially be contributing to this problem.....
paradise — Sunday, April 1, 2007
I have followed the Ask Buddy columns each month and I have to say the information you give is so valuable. It would be nice if all pet owners treated their pets with respect and much love , but unfortunately not all do. animal abuse will go on unless someone reports the abuser and the same applies to children who are so badly abused. Pets and people all deserve to be loved. thanks buddy for your concerns. angie
KoloheWiz — Friday, April 13, 2007This is a sad but true situation here around the islands more than many people know. Our family has 5 dogs and we manage to give them all attention and love. The woman and her son next door have two dogs. One stays outside much like the dog in the story while the other is spoiled rotten and lives in the house, gets taken for walks and - if the owner goes out of town - is taken somewhere while she is gone. The yard dog is just left there in the yard all alone. Like the neighbor in the story, our family pays more attention to this woman's outside dog than she or her teenage son do. The outside dog used to have a companion she could at least play with but she passed away from old age (and a lack of proper care in my personal opinion - her nails wer so long they were curled in a nearly complete circle). Now she just watches the world go by one long minute at a time. We have talked to the owner several times but it apparently goes unheard. To make matters worse, this woman works in the medical profession as a nurse of some type. You'd think she would get it when she takes the spoiled dog for a walk and the other whines a very sad almost crying whine because she craves the attention she never gets and sees the other one get all the time. Compassion is a requirement of her profession but I guess that in her case it only applies to humans and one of her dogs. All that being said, it's time to go pay a visit to the dog next door so she knows that someone still cares about her.
lizrizzo — Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Thank you good people for reading my column. I am overwhelmed with your heartfelt comments. Liz Rizzo
Lifestyle :: Art/Leisure :: Ask Buddy :: How Do You Say Goodbye To Your Best Friend?
