My Special Girl…Bucky!

As many of you know, I am the very proud “caretaker” of quite a crew of my own four-footed friends. There is a story behind each one of them and how they ended up coming to me (and staying w/ me!). Most of them started out as Chance Foundation dogs, but due to severe injuries or illnesses, behavioral issues and/or age….it was unlikely that they would be adopted. The longer they stayed, the more comfortable they became in their belief that “this was home”. This is how my family has grown!

Of all my wonderful dogs, many of you are familiar w/ my “special girl…Bucky”. Bucky came to me twelve years ago when I first started Country Club Kennels and Training. She was actually one of my first trainees and was very shy and skittish when she arrived. Her owner had adopted her from the local SPCA and had called me the next day to ask if she could send her to my two week training course. I recommended that she wait a little while so that Bucky could settle into her new home and she could bond with her new family. The woman quickly responded that she “could not have an untrained dog in her home!” Realizing what I was dealing with, I agreed to take her into my two week program. I found a very timid but incredibly sweet girl who wanted to trust and was so eager to please. Bucky was a dream dog that anyone would have been proud to call their own. The woman came for her graduation lesson and said that she couldn't have selected a better dog. She appeared to be very pleased and proud of her new family addition.

Unfortunately, about two weeks later I received a phone call from the local SPCA informing me that a dog had arrived that they thought I knew. I rushed over to find sweet Bucky looking very confused and quivering w/ fear. I was allowed to bring her home and phoned the woman to find out if she realized Bucky was missing and if she'd like to come pick her up. I was shocked to hear her response that Bucky had gotten out of the yard when her son was watching her and that they didn't want her back because they had gone ahead and gotten a new, smaller, purebred dog instead, and certainly couldn't have two dogs! Needless to say, I was in shock! I cried a lot of tears for sweet Bucky who had done no wrong and I learned a hard lesson about how some people view their dogs. To this woman…Bucky was a belonging and when she found someone cuter….she was thrown away and replaced. I promised Bucky that evening that she would never be given up again and that I would cherish her forever. This woman's loss was definitely my gain as Bucky quickly became my most special girl.

Bucky was my trusted companion. She was always at the office to greet my customers (especially if they had children, whom she adored.) Many of you may have encountered Bucky enforcing our “drive slow” policy. Her nickname was “speed bump” as she took her job very seriously and would plant herself in the middle of the driveway making sure everyone saw her and knew she was in charge. Once she inspected who was behind the wheel she would politely move out of the way and allow you to pass. Bucky also loved to help me during my training sessions with other dogs. Whenever I was doing a lesson, she would join me and show my trainee “how it's supposed to be done”. She was an excellent teacher and had a very calming effect on even the most unruly of dogs. She was my “rock” during a lot of difficult times and always was my source of comfort and balance. Every night, I would say “Bucky, you are my most special girl and you are not allowed to ever leave me”. I thought if I said it enough times…maybe it could happen.

I have been fortunate to be in a position to get to know so many of my customer's dogs…many I have watched grow from puppies to seniors. With this, I have also often times been in a position of trying to comfort my customers after they have lost a beloved member of their family. I always say and firmly believe that “I would rather love and lose than to have not known such a special love at all.” Dogs are a gift to us humans. They help us to become better people and teach us how to truly love.

I'm so glad that I have learned to love my dogs with all my heart and soul because, as we all know, they don't stay with us forever. My special girl, Bucky, succumbed to liver cancer this past summer. It came on quickly and we had ten special days to enjoy together before I finally had to kiss her good-bye and send her off to Heaven.

Bucky, I'm so fortunate to have known and loved you. You have been my greatest gift. Thank you for being a such a special part of my life. You will always be my “most special girl”!

I will always love you.

Carla