The Story of a Big Dog

He was found on Labor Day, 2022... astray in technically Wyandotte County, but picked up closer to Bonner Springs.  The Bonner ACO (Animal Control Officer), Officer Anthony,  took him from a sheriff's deputy and took him to the police garage, since they had no animal impound at the time. 

He was very, very thin, and had a UTI, causing him to be incontinent.  The rescue believed he had gone astray and was looking for a place to die. 

Despite initial interest, no one ever came forward on his behalf... no owner ever claimed him.  

I told them I would foster him, and they believed it would be for a short time, only.  They did go forward with vetting, including heartworm and a neuter.  The vet who administered to him believed him to be at or over ten, old for a GSD.  The vet noted his hips were bad. 

You see in the second and third pictures how very thin he was. 

He came to me that next week... oh, the UTI... we had to go out up to eight times a day, and at least four times a night, so I got little sleep. 

A huge crate was moved into the kitchen, taking up a third of the space... but everyone loved the crate.  Buddy, as I began to call him, loved his crate.  So did Jester, Zoey and the cats. 

Buddy was his "name", but who knows what his original owners called him... I called him Bud, Budmeister, Bud-Bud, Big Dog and BD.  I can tell you he was deaf and if you called him from behind, he could not tell until you stepped out and waved. 

I can also tell you he loved men more than women, though he LOVED Officer Anthony. 

Let my son walk into the house, and Buddy was animated.  He spent hours at the south fence line, watching Troy working in his driveway and hoping for a pat. 

His best buddy at first was Mama, the gray tabby cat... but then... along came Bob. 

He had to be careful walking because Bob was ALWAYS underfoot. 

He and Jester were buddies, and there was only one slight growl when 

a bone was involved... so we had a no bone rule. 

Zoey was his friend, too. 

You can just see the heater to the left of the crate.  Oh, the wonderful mornings we had in the winter, and I am not kidding.  Me, in the window, using the computer, and watching the birds on the feeders outside, and the heater keeping us as cozy as could be.  I would raise the cover of the crate and Buddy would put himself in it as soon as he saw me pull the heater out, and be cozy all morning. 

His hips began hurting a lot, though... and in March, we made a trip to my vet for a nail trim and a checkup.  When his right hip was manipulated, my gentle giant tried to bite the vet and tech. 

 He was put on gabapentin and carprofan, twice a day. 

His last visit across the yard to the south fence line was at least three weeks ago, after Zoey was gone (his yard companion)... he laid there watching for Troy for a while, and then came back in short spurts, having to lay down often to rest.  

I began to get really concerned when I realized he was rarely leaving the porch to relieve himself... he had historically done this, and I just cleaned up... but I realized that he was also not pooping.  On his infrequent forays to the yard, I looked for poop and found very little.  He had often done it on the deck... and dropped it as he walked... but I could not find it. 

Last week, he fell on the steps and my grandson Jax, whom he LOVED, helped him up. 

We knew he weighed 120 pounds at the vet about six weeks ago. 

This week, he fell on the south steps, and was finally able to get himself up.  I stopped at the vet's office that day. 

You see.... if there was a crisis on the weekend... I could not have lifted him or gotten him to the expensive animal ER.  

I went and got my grandson when he got out of school... Buddy loved Jax.  

Our good Officer Anthony got permission to use her ACO van to take him to the vet on Friday... she actually had come to spend some time with him a few weeks ago. 

She brought him a pup cup and a cheeseburger! 

He was so happy to see her that he almost leapt off the floor, I don't know what she thought when I had told her he could hardly get up. 

He rode in the police van, comfortably, having a good look around. 

(he was lifted in). 

We got weighed as we went in, and he was 129 pounds. 

Compare him now to the third picture above. 

Friends, Officer Anthony and I sat on either side of him on the floor and talked him through his crossing.  Yes, we both cried.  We tried not to let him know how upset we were, and we stayed with him until the doctor said he was gone. 

He was the German Shepherd who did not bark, did not hurt dogs, cats, chickens... and was always gentle with me unless I had a treat he really wanted!   

He was about the most perfect foster, ever. 

We all miss him. 

Bob has been watching for him, nonstop.  Bob finally jumped on my lap last night on the porch, and snuggled me for the first time. 

But he watched the door all day again. 

Jester went from a pack of three to an only dog again. 

I don't have one good picture of the Bud and me... but this is our last.  

I don't know who his owners were or how he came to be lost, but he was home here. 

RIP Buddy, 5/5/23