God sent Buddy

From: Ben Kelley
Subject: God sent Buddy

The neighborhood we live in is surrounded by woods, except for one access road. We have had many instances of cats and dogs showing up, therefore, lost after coming through those woods. We have, as a result, searched for and found homes for them, if we couldn't locate their original owners. Usually, they come to us hungry, tired, and covered with "beggar lice" and other such stuff stuck to their fur from their wandering through the woods. A few weeks ago, I spotted an obviously lost dog down the street from my house who looked different from those who came in through the woods. This dog was clean and healthy looking, with no collar or identifying tags. It appeared to be another case of a dog "dumped" by owners who no longer wanted to feed and care for him, as has happened far too often since our nation's economy has been so troubled. Anyway, I fed him and later shut him inside my fenced backyard, in the hopes I would be able to find a home for him. I began putting up large signs along entrances to neighborhoods and in stores close by, advertising "found dog, needs a home", with a description of him included. After getting no response for a couple of weeks, I took him for an exam, plus rabies and other needed inoculations at our veterinarian. By this time, I had spent a few hundred dollars on a collar, leash, dog house, food and water bowls, toys, and plenty of treats for him. I had been trying to walk him daily, for he had plenty of energy and needed exercise. My "bad" knee was rebelling against all this, though, telling me through plenty of additional pain. Some days I just couldn't walk him, so those days I took him for long rides in my car, which he really enjoyed.

I realized we would not be able to keep him indefinitely, due to disabilities and our two cats being so upset at his presence. I would have loved to keep him, though, for he was the sweetest, best natured dog I believe I have ever run across. He loved all the kids and adults he met as we walked our neighborhood, always being very gentle with the younger children. He was also a very handsome dog, 92 pounds worth, belonging to a breed of dogs called "hovawarts", rare in this country, but apparently well established in Germany. Every characteristic listed for this breed was evident in him.

Just as I began to think his home was now with us, I got a phone call from a lady saying she would like to give him a home. She told me her 14 year old foster son, who along with his sisters had lost his mother in death about a year ago, was becoming quite depressed, and wanted a dog badly. After I told her I would pray about it, she told me they had been praying about a dog that day. She had been planning on going to one grocery store that day, when a voice (God) told her to go instead to another store close by. While entering that store, her eyes were drawn to my notice about Buddy, which is the name I had given him.

When they came to my house a little later that day, both Buddy and her kids instantly perked up with excitement. I saw very quickly it was a good match, that Buddy had found his new home, and loaded up their vehicle with Buddy's dog house, water and food bowls, and all the snacks and other things I had bought for him. Lisa, the mother, kept telling me how amazed she was at how God had worked all this out, for suddenly they had gone from praying and talking about getting a dog, to having a wonderful dog, from a rare breed, neutered and up to date on all his shots, along with everything they needed for him.

I hated, in one respect, to see Buddy leaving, but, in another way, rejoicing that God had worked out everything to give Buddy a good home, with a large fenced in yard, and kids to love and play with. HE had met the needs of this great dog and some hurting kids. HE had answered my prayers for a good home for Buddy, and their prayers for a dog, even supplying all the things they would need for keeping him.