When moving and you have no one to enjoy walking with, what do you do? Currently, not having a cat to stroll with led me to being creative. The solution was chatting with every dog parent that passed our home. Dog parents need to walk their pet several times a day and my plot was a success!
Tony and his Golden Retriever, Budley, immediately welcomed me into their pack. Daily, we jump in their Budmobile and
head off to explore different areas.
The first morning was hilarious. Never underestimate a dog’s intelligence!
Budley was thrilled to see me in his home. He is an insatiable pat hog, so he stood on his hind legs, placing his front paws on the shelf on one side of the foyer, and his rear end up against the other side, effectively blocking further entrance until I paid his high pup-petting-toll. A burglar would also be barred from entering their home, secured with law
enforcer Budley on the job.
Tony’s and Budley’s first meeting was not as magical as one would think. “I held one puppy and put it down,” explained Tony. “The second puppy was sleepy and immediately peed on me. Now that we were Christened, I knew we were a match. He was named after the movie, “Air Bud’” where retrievers jump after basketballs looking like they are flying.
When my disabled brother met the pup, it was love at first sight. So, I ‘lent’ him the
pup as his therapy dog.”
When his brother passed, four years later, the beautiful Retriever went back to live with Tony. As soon as Budley ‘came home’ Tony became healthier and happier because. Tony's feelings of Covid isolation interpreted as depression were instantly lifted as a bad case of loneliness. With the dog’s company his life immediately shifted.
“Dogs are the best medicine,” said Tony. “Budley not only changed my life, he saved it. Our daily walks
keep our bodies, minds and emotions healthy and happy. We walked our neighborhood for a few years until the scenery bored us which led to widening our horizons. Now, when we go shopping, we choose a different side street in a new neighborhood on our way home. We walk twice a day, so the second route is the next street on the grid. Now, we never see the same street twice and we meet so many nice people, like Mary Ellen “Angel Scribe”.”
Dogs are observers. Budley knows their
walking routine down ‘pat’. As soon as his human is dressed, grabs his cell, and reaches for the car keys, his joy explodes. He barks out "two-barks" and when extra excited he will roll his r's into “Rrruff” as if he is a French speaking poodle!
Budley has a deep-seated squirrel obsession, so he is on high alert for the bushy-tailed tree swingers.
Usually, Tony slept in his bed and his dog paw-furred the floor’s carpet. Last year, after a groomer went wild
with shears leaving the Retriever’s coat too short, the dog decided it was time for a new sleeping routine.
“I sleep on a full size 54 inch mattress,” said Tony. “Budley's favorite position is my left side. I wake up to find his nose in my left armpit, forcing me to hug him with that arm.”
Our little walking team is wondering what will happen in June when Angel Scribe’s new kitten arrives. He has not been born yet, but already comes with a happy miracle.
Stay tuned for the rest of the story and send in suggestions for his purr-fect name.
