Buddy’d Adoption
So it’s time I tell my intro story for Buddy!
I’m Nathaniel Lineberry and I have MS, and I’ve had 2 strokes. I’m on disability now too at only 42. Yeah, I guess you could say I’m kinda rough on the edges, but my own will to live and be strong is fierce. As fierce as Buddys!
I have been so lonely for the last few years. Living alone with few visitors months apart and never going anywhere. I decided at the start of this year that getting a pet would be a great way to help alleviate these feelings. I live in an apartment that requires pet rent, so I wasn’t able to go out and immediately get one. So I spent the next several months prepping myself to get one. I even got a letter from my doctor to get a psychologist to “prescribe” me an emotional support animal so I wouldn’t have to pay the pet rent! I finally got that letter in September and began the hunt for my perfect pet. I absolutely love pit bulls and would have chosen one if my apartment complex would have allowed, so I decided a small dog would be better anyway because of my limitations from the stroke. I need to use a cane. I went looking and went online on pet finder to start looking around. My first idea was to get a Boston Terrier. I found several that I would have loved to have gotten, but they wanted several hundred to buy them. I looked at a few other breeds, but the same deal. Any one that I would have wanted was expensive, so it was off to a rescue shelter!! I get there, and all they have was large breeds, mainly pits, so it was a double no. They recommended me to the shelter down the road where they kept the small breeds. I was instantly on my way!! I get there and go to look at their dogs. I get in and see a bunch of really cute doggies!!! Then I see that they want anywhere from $350 to $500 for them. I wanted to cry. It was so disappointing. I went to leave, and I happen to see another dog across the way in a pen all by himself. I had to go and visit!! It was love at first sight, even though I happen to see him on pet finder. They said he was in Ohio, so seeing him here was incredible!! This doggie in the pen was BUDDY!!! I HAD to go say hi!! He was really friendly when I went to visit. He even gave me kisses!! I asked about how much he was, just out of curiosity, and they said $150!! DING DING DING DING!!! We were now in my price range and my hopes shot up!!! I asked if he had any problems going to the bathroom, and they told me he had none! I went and applied to adopt him right away!!
It took a week for them to respond with they felt I wasn’t the right person for him, but I replied with assurances that I could be, so they took a few more days to respond with an offer of a month of fostering, then I could adopt. This was amazing news!! I wanted to hesitate, but an amazingly great friend to me it wouldn’t even be a worry, so I went ahead to go get him! I got some help with the adoption fees, which made it incredibly easier to get more supplies from the pet store!! I also received another donation towards his care, and then another of some toys and treats and a bigger bed than I picked out, so I want to again give great thanks to Sue Ann Allison, Pixi Woo & Brandi Crumpton for helping me with EVERYTHING to make him comfortable and cared for!!! I also want to give a huge thank you to Annie Standiford for volunteering your time for his therapy! You have been and astounding influence towards his therapy and I will be eternally grateful for your help!
Once home, it was a rough start. Once little detail that they told me at the last minute is that he’s incontinent. This was a complete shock, as I wasn’t expecting or prepared for this. I had a hard think over this and if I would be ready for what would it take to care for him. I could have backed out at that point, but I couldn’t. I fell in love with him and backing out at this point would give him nothing but the same. I proceeded and just took a deep breath and said to myself, “It’s nothing but a thing to learn to work with and learn how to care for.” It was the best decision I ever made!! He’s made nothing but progress since I’ve brought him home and given him as much love and care as possible!! It’s still going to be a journey, but we’re going to make it one full of love and joy and fun and as many happy times as we possibly can!! Buddy is officially adopted now and I look forward to a wonderful life together!
