Buddy (formerly without a name, then dubbed McCloud by his rescue angels) is a miniature American Eskimo Dog who was rescued from the Canyon County Shelter in November 2005, where he was on death row.  His story only spans a short couple of weeks, but it is a long and adventuresome one.

He had been picked up as a stray by CCS and had reportedly tried to bite the vet tech, so he was not allowed to be adopted out to the public -- he could either be released to rescue only, or he would be euthanized.  When I went to visit him there, he was happy to sit and nicely take chicken from my fingers, and when he saw the kennel manager (who he had apparently come to know in his short time there), he was so happy and excited and pleased to see someone he obviously liked very much.  He did not show attempt to bite me and did not show any aggression whatsoever.

We found a local home who was willing to take him, so he was scheduled for his neuter and released to rescue, and then adopted out to a woman named Stephanie who seemed very much interested in working with him and loving him.  He was apparently crate trained, so, not knowing whether he would get along with her cats or if he was housetrained, we bought a crate to keep him safe and comfortable in his new surroundings.  Stephanie reported he was a love.  A few days later, she announced she was leaving town unexpectedly and needed a doggie sitter.  I offered to do so for free.  The next day she said she had to get rid of him that day because he snipped at her, she was now terrified of him, and she was leaving that day.  I told her we did not have anywhere to house him on such short notice, and I would still dog sit him while she was gone and look for a place for him to go.  She refused, and said she was going to take him to the Idaho Humane Society.  At least I knew if she took him there, he would be safe until we found a better place for him.

The next morning I contacted IHS to fill them in on McCloud's brief history, and to make sure he was okay.  He wasn't there!  About an hour later IHS contacted me and said a man named Keith called in and said he found an Eskie wandering a busy street that night who had followed him home.  I called Keith and arranged to visit the Eskie to see if it was our McCloud.  Sure enough!  Stephanie had removed his collar (so he could not be identified) and turned him loose on the street the night before she left town!!!  McCloud recognized me immediately and waggled and bounced with glee.  Keith reported he got along great with his other dogs and was housetrained, and had spent the night sleeping soundly in bed with Keith, his wife Darla, and their two small dogs.  He was appropriately renamed Buddy.

A lovely lady named Ann in the neighborhood asked to adopt him.  It soon became apparent that Buddy had too much energy for her, and we were concerned he might cause Ann to take a bad fall, and so back he went to Keith's as a temporary foster home.  But while at Ann's, Buddy proved to be quite the gentleman in her house, careful not to upset any of her things if one of his toys would bounce under or behind some furniture.  At this time I also took him to Doggie Detailing to give him a good bathing, blow-drying and brushing.  He behaved fabulously for the entire 2 hours, howling pitifully at the blow-dryer, although he did snap at me once when I hurt his behind.  Ah ha, that's what it was, he had a sensitive rear end!  Must be why he snapped at the vet tech and "snipped" at Stephanie.  He most certainly did not try to bite me though, he just didn't know how else to communicate with me.  I told him that was not acceptable, and so he licked my hand and kissed my face instead.

We put Buddy's photos up on www.petfinder.org and www.idawg.net and soon found someone who wanted to meet him and who looked like they would be a great match for him.  Although Keith didn't really want to give him up, he decided Buddy would be happier with a fenced yard and a family who had more time to exercise him.  He's now enjoying his new forever home with Boise dance instructors Robin and Bob, who fell in love with him instantly (he even snuck out the door the first day but came back in when Robin rang a jingle bell and called him in).  He has his very own website too!  http://www.rockinrs.com/buddy.htm

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