Buddy 805

Buddy with Dad

Christina, a member of the Copy Center team at the PETCO corporate office, noticed a little dog trying to cross the I-805 Freeway’s off-ramp. This particular part of the freeway is extremely busy – especially during lunch hour each day.

Being the animal lover she is, Christina pulled to the side to try and help the tiny runaway. Luckily, the little dog came right to her, and she drove off with him to the office.

“I called Susan from the PETCO Foundation right away because I knew she could help out,” said Christina. “Susan ran down here in two minutes flat!”

Susan has been known to move fast when there is an animal in need, and this was no different. She scooped up the little Pomeranian and took him to the Foundation offices. She contacted San Diego Animal Services and a number of other local rescue shelters to report the found dog and asked if there were any inquiries about him.

“I just refused to believe that anyone would dump a sweet little dog like this out of their car on the freeway,” Susan said. “He looked like he had some sort of skin condition or maybe something else going on because a lot of his fur was missing.”

Everyone who met him knew someone had to be missing him, and you could tell that otherwise he was well cared for and very friendly.

PETCO Foundation Executive Director Paul Jolly spent the remainder of the day with the tiny dog on his lap. Susan took the pooch home, after stopping at the veterinarian on the way. The puppy was scanned for a microchip and had a quick check-up. With no microchip, there was nothing else to be done but take him home and hope his guardians would be found.

“He wouldn’t eat anything I gave him, except grilled salmon and brown rice – don’t ask,” joked Susan. “He spent his days looking at the door or the gates waiting for his family to find him.”

On Monday, Christina called Susan to say that her sister may have found his family. A little Pomeranian was reported missing on the Web site Craigslist.org, three miles away from where the little guy was found.

Susan called the woman and got a description of the dog – it was him, and his name was Buddy.

“I didn’t want to get my hopes up about finding the owner, so I asked them to come by my house to see the dog,” said Susan. “I kind of thought it may be them because, really, how many little Pomeranians could there be with fur only on their head and legs?”

The family was so anxious they arrived at Susan’s home before she did. As soon as Buddy heard his Mother’s voice he perked up and ran towards the door.

There was no doubt they belonged together.

“After a good cry we all got to know each other and filled in some blanks about Buddy’s adventure,” Susan said. “One mystery still remains – how did little Buddy get from Balboa Ave to Noble Drive – three miles away? Oh well, he is safe at home now.”

The family promises to get him and the other family’s dogs microchipped, and to keep a good eye on their little escape artist. They will also be making a donation to the PETCO Foundation in Buddy’s name.

Since Susan already has a Buddy at home, this one is now known at the NSC as Buddy 805 and we hope to see him again sometime as his mother will now volunteer from time to time.

Thank you Christina, you are Buddy’s hero!