Buddy

Buddy was not only the most handsome guy you’d have ever met, he was also the sweetest. Buddy was born with only three legs, which ultimately saved his life. Because he was unable to nurse easily from his mother, he required bottle feeding. The farmers who bottle fed Buddy fell in love with him and were distressed at the thought of sending him to slaughter, so they made the easy decision to send sweet Buddy to our sanctuary instead. 

While Buddy’s uniqueness led to his freedom, it also has serious implications. At first, we were determined to find a brace, a prosthetic, or a cart for our sweet boy, but after exhausting every potential option, we finally understood that it wasn’t to be. Buddy was mobile, surprisingly agile, and completely independent in meeting his needs, but we knew that eventually his remaining rear leg would not be able to carry the weight of his growing body. Because of this, Buddy’s time with us was never going to be long enough, and every day was a precious gift. 

Our goal with Buddy was to give him the best life possible while he was with us. He had his own house and pasture, which he shared with his best friend, Harpo. He received a special diet to help control his weight, but we never shortchanged him on healthy treats! We showered him with love and affection, which he returned tenfold. Buddy was the type of guy who loved to cuddle, and his human companions often curled up with him for naps after chores were done. 

It’s impossible to put into words what Buddy meant and still means to us – he was a tremendous source of joy and inspiration for all who knew him, and he always had love to give to others.