Buddy Man came into my life in April of 2010. He went to heaven on May 20th, 2011 at 4:58pm. He was an amazing friend and had become a special part of my family. He was the kindest, most gentle soul that I’ve ever encountered. I found him lost on highway 29 on my way back to Eden from Greensboro, where I work and attend school. I spotted him and found an exit to turn around and with a little coaxing using Pringles plain potato chips; he came directly to me and jumped up into my car without any hesitation what so ever. I admit that I was very nervous on the ride home. He was a big dog, and he didn’t look that big while I was driving by (lol). But we made it home with no problems. I have two other dogs; they’re beagle lab mix females, Pippa and Kollie. They took Buddy Man right in and they played and loved one another.

I drove around the area where I had found Buddy Man for six or more hours, trying to find his owner(s). I knocked on so many doors and asked so many people if they’d ever seen him before or had any idea where he lived. I emailed his photo and description to every pound and animal shelter in Guilford, Rockingham, and Alamance counties. I posted his photo and the location I’d found him on every website I could including, face-book, twitter, my-space, and I emailed all my contacts as well. All of this was to no avail. No one ever claimed him and no one ever inquired about him the entire year he was a part of my family. I fell in love with him on the ride home, I loved him until his last breath, and I will forever love my Buddy Man!

Buddy Mans’ name was something that kind of just stuck. We knew he was an old dog and that he’d already been named but we had no idea what his name was. I just kept saying to him, “come on Buddy, come on big man”, and that’s how we came up with Buddy Man and it stuck. He loved to be with me all the time. He’d lie at my feet while I worked on my studies, washed dishes, washed clothes and even when I went into the bathroom. He just wanted to be with me all the time and I loved it. Buddy Man also loved to ride! If he was outside and you just so happened to leave a car door open the slightest bit, he’d jump in and would not get out until he was good and ready. It was so funny. Once, my mom came to visit and she left her car door open because we were unloading her things, well Buddy Man sat in her car for close to 5 hours. We tried coaxing him out with hamburgers, dog treats, peanut butter, you name it and we tried it. Nothing worked! We put him a bowl of water in the car and kept both doors opened in case he wanted to get out. This was not a onetime thing either. He absolutely loved to ride in and just sit in a vehicle.

Buddy Man was amazing with children! I have a 4 year-old nephew and a 6 year-old niece and they’d love to lie on Buddy Man, sit on his back while he was sitting and pretend that his ears were handle bars. My fiancé also had two nephews, 1 year-old and 10 years-old and Buddy Man was so gentle with all of them. He didn’t play very much because he was old, but he did like to go outside and roll around on his back in the grass. He’d play tug of war every now and again. He’d also play with the girls, Pippa & Kollie, chasing them around the yard.

I miss my Buddy Man terribly. He will always hold a very special place in my heart and I will never forget the positive impact he had on not only my life but the lives of my entire family. I cannot wait to see him again, young, rambunctious, energetic, and without pain, in heaven again one day. I love you Buddy Man,

Love Always, Felicia