Buckley--- My foster pup!

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Comment by Adriana Dinis on September 22, 2012 at 8:50am

I've fostered before (heck...Mr. Buckley was our 8th foster pup) but I never actually CRIED when I dropped a dog off at his (hopefully adoptive) long-term foster. Here's the beginning of the new life of the pup that stole my heart...

You see, Mr. Buckley was formerly Mr. Stinky Pants. I went to pick him up from animal services in Tavares, FL. After I saw his picture on their Facebook page I knew I had to help him and thanks to DRC I was able to pull him on a Friday morning. When they brought him to me he was very happy to be out of his kennel. His butt kept wagging and wagging but he knew to sit for a treat. They gave me all his paperwork and off we went. He was supposed to be 5-6 years old, he looked much older...he was heartworm positive... the poor guy smelled so terrible I had to beg Petsmart grooming to please at least bathe him (hence the name Mr. Stinky Pants at first). We had a 2 hour drive ahead of us and I didn't think I could make it in the car for 2 hours with him!

When I came to pick him up from his bath he looked so different already! You could tell her was feeling much better already. Off we went on our 2 hour journey to my house. Thankfully I had tied his leash to the back seat because he kept trying to jump in the front with me ----he finally got the hint and looked out the window the entire car ride home. It was like he wanted to take everything in...

I wanted to get him to the vet ASAP but unfortunately no one could see him that day. Then, I noticed he was peeing blood late that first night with him. The next morning I found Dr. Mead (Sandy Paws clinic in the Tampa Bay area) who saw Mr. Buckley right away. He said Buckley was actually between 3-4 years old! He also noticed from chewing on himself he had a ton of hair stuck in his front teeth that he wouldnt let anyone go near. The official diagnosis by the doctor... Mr. Buckley was a "hot mess". He prescribed antibiotics, anti-yeast, medicated shampoo, eye cream for an infection and then flax seed oil and vitamin C. Off we went to Publix (our local food supermarket --- free antibiotics), Target ($4 eye cream!) and Sams club for the rest...after running around the entire Tampa Bay Area I finally came home to bathe Mr. Buckley...

Here I thought I was going to be soaked and this was going to be a giant disaster....but as Mr. Buckley always does, he suprised me with how loving and calm he is. He stood throughout the entire bath, didnt even shake once!, and let me shampoo and scrub him! The shampoo had to sit for 10 minutes....not a problem! I then dried him with a towel and we went for a long walk. After the walk he let me brush him.....for an hour...sat there enjoying every minute of it. He then gave me a kiss when we were done! Like if to say "thank you...I needed that". I bathed him every Saturday & Wednesday and every time he sat there lovingly. Finally, a couple of days after I had him he let me take out all the hair he had caked into his front teeth. It was about half an inch thick... poor guy...

I only had Mr. Buckley for about 2 weeks and the change I saw in him was inspiring. He is the most loving and thankful dog I have ever fostered. He loved to be loved on. He finally allowed my dogs to go near his toys and his crate. He was PERFECT on a leash....until he saw a lizzard...cats and squirrels? Not a problem...

I don't know what Mr. Buckley past life was like but I do know that whoever let him go lost an amazing pup! Thank you DRC for letting my love on Mr. Buckley for the little time I had him. I will always hold a special place in my heart for him.