The Will to Survive by Betty King Buddy was a 10

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The Will to Survive by Betty King

Buddy was a 10-year-old, mix breed/ black Labrador Retriever. His story, though, is more about his will, than his breed
or his age.

Buddy belonged to Betty and Harry. They are a couple who live at the edge of a near by community. It is a rural area but with neighbors within walking distance. Buddy was an outside dog and had always had freedom to roam, and occasionally paid a visit to the neighbor, down the road.

Buddy always knew when it was time for Betty to take their daily walks. He showed up, like clock work every day promptly
at 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., at the back door on his masters deck, and off they would head on their daily excursions. It was
a bonding that only man's-best-friend and a dog-lover could understand.

The weather had turned bad, though, in the Midwest, on that winter morning with an ice storm and more bad weather
in the forecast. It was not fit conditions outside, for either man or beast.

Buddy didn't show up for his walk, but Betty could under- stand; it was a day when even she didn't dare to venture out. He was probably in the barn in a nice warm cozy spot. But as the day grew longer and evening seeped through the light of day Buddy was nowhere to be seen. That wasn't like Buddy not to appear for a meal.

Though he was an outside dog, and was use to the cold weather and his cozy spot in the barn, he didn't turn up that night
at either the back door or the barn. Betty and Harry, her husband, grew worried.

The next morning at 7a.m. Betty knew something was surely wrong. Two days in a row with Buddy not being on the back
deck meant there was a problem.

Betty bundled up, and started out despite the conditions, to look for her buddy. She walked as for as she could, with the circumstances as they were, before she gave up and had to turn back towards the house. Betty was really concerned.
Where was Buddy?

After a couple of days the weather grew even worse and there was more rain, ice and snow. The snow was getting quite deep and the icy conditions were bad, even for the cold temperatures of the Illinois winter.

Buddy never showed up, and the conditions outside had grown far too bad for Betty to venture out to search for him further. There were no responses to her repeated calls to him either; Betty and Harry feared the worse.

After a week, and no let up in the driving force of the winds and the near blizzard conditions, Betty and Harry prepared themselves to accept the inevitable. Yet, even as the winter continued, in its loneliness, so, too, did the barn, the back door stoop, and Betty and Harry in their need for their pal and their buddy.

Twenty-eight days had passed, and the snow was finally starting to thaw when the phone rang. "Betty, we have found Buddy! He is still alive but in very bad shape!"

"Where in the world did you find him?" Betty asked with deep concern in her voice.

"He was hung up in the wire fence out in the field. He was caught by his right hind leg, and was just hanging there, his front paws barely touching the ground. He's skinny as a rail, but still alive."

The words were music to Betty and Harry ears; they hurried to his side and found Buddy a mere shadow of himself.
It being Sunday, they finally got a hold of the Veterinarian willing to meet them at his office. Buddy, though still alive, was not in good shape, so the veterinarian decided to get nourishment into him before operating on Monday. Buddy's right rear leg had to be amputated at the knee joint. He had survived the twenty-eight days without food or water, only the snow and ice had managed to keep him from dehydrating.

So, too, did Buddy manage to survive the operation they had to perform to remove his leg.

Finally, Buddy was taken home where Betty and Harry made the barn his castle. They watched over him, kept him warm,
fed and loved him. They held him up when he needed to potty, and soothed him with words and compassion. Buddy thrived on their love, their doctoring and the nourishment they provided him.

Four years have passed; their walking schedule has resumed. At first Betty would have to stop and wait while buddy rested along the way. It took him awhile to get used to three legs instead of four. Now he runs off and leaves her behind. Finally Buddy has his old life back; he's his old self again.

A little practice, a lot of perseverance and plenty of love made the difference in his will to survive.

Buddy was never a dog to bark; that fact is probably what contributed to his near death. Had Buddy have barked, they
or someone would surely have heard him; for when he was found, he was not that far from the home.

Some dogs, like people, when loved have a will to survive. They are capable of overcoming insurmountable obstacles,
enduring many hardships in their determination to perseverance. "Love" can heal like no medicine a doctor or veterinarian can administer.

Be kind to animals. Make sure your pets are watered, fed and sheltered from bad weather. If you can not care for your animals, give them someone you know who will give them a good home. They are one of God's creatures; they deserve to be loved and properly cared for.

Betty King [email protected]
Copyright @ 2003
Please visit Betty's website www.Bettyking.net
You will find more Moments of Reflections there.

Betty is an author, freelance writer, newspaper columnist and speaker.
Also be sure and check out excerpts from both Betty's books,
"It Takes Two Mountains to Make a Valley"and
"But - It Was in the Valleys I Grew."

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