A Buddy forever arrives in Yarmouth
It was pouring rain when the dog arrived, but it was a sunny day for his new owner
It’s been a whirlwind ride to Yarmouth for a 10-year-old schnoodle called Buddy, but he’s finally arrived in the arms of someone who will love him the rest of his life.
Buddy is the first rehome for a new ElderDog chapter in Guelph, Ontario, a national, non-profit organization dedicated to helping seniors with daily dog care, fostering and/or adopting older dogs, providing long-term care planning for companion dogs, bereavement and commemoration and perpetual care.
When Buddy’s senior owner was admitted to a nursing home, ElderDog took Buddy into foster care at her request and reviewed pre-approved applications.
Margaret Earle was the lucky match, but she lives 1,700 kilometres away. Tressie Dutchyn, rehoming co-ordinator with the Lunenburg Pawd Rehoming Team, helped with the solution.
“The challenge was getting him from Ontario to Nova Scotia and that’s when my counterparts in Ontario, Sue Wilson with the Guelph Pawd, and Joyce Clark, part of the national team, sent out the call for volunteers, while I posted (on social media) everywhere as well,” said Dutchyn.
There was a surprising response from many people to the call for assistance, but most could only do part of the journey. Buddy’s transport was arranged from Guelph to London, Ontario, then to New Brunswick. From there he hitched a ride to Caribou, P.E.I., then Dutchyn drove him to Bridgewater, where Margaret Earle’s daughter Stephanie brought him to his new home in Yarmouth.
Earle couldn’t wait to meet him. Her beloved Velvet, an 11-year-old Yorkie, passed away in August. She had Velvet since she was three and says she was the “love of my life.”
“I still haven’t got over it. She was precious, she was everything. There was nothing coming to meet me when I came home, I couldn’t stand it. I didn’t want to come home,” she said.
Earle’s daughter turned into the driveway and Buddy’s long journey was over. It was pouring
rain but the sun was shining for Earle, who was standing in the doorway.
“Oh precious! Look at those eyes! Oh sweetie, you’re so cute.”
She covered him with kisses and held him tight.
“Nannie’s going to love you, she’s going to love you forever.”
She said Buddy’s age doesn’t bother her. The 78-year laughed, “He’s up there and I am too. He might outlive me.”
Dutchyn said when they saw Buddy’s profile they knew it was a perfect fit.
“He’s absolutely adorable and an engaging little guy who gets along with people and animals of all kinds and sizes. Margaret is the perfect person for him to land with.”