HAPPY TAILS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
“Puppy Sings a Happy Tune in Music City”
By: Justin Sutton
Thursday, Feb. 15, 2007

Columbus, Miss.--- At first, life on the street was not that bad. The sun was shining, and it was quite comfortable during the dog days of summer. A next meal was not always a guarantee, but there was enough food to get from day to day. There were not any real responsibilities, other than playing around with brothers and sisters to pass the time; sleeping was important too.
Summer changed to autumn, and then autumn changed to winter. The temperature dropped and food began to disappear. Those brothers and sisters started to succumb to the conditions. All of a sudden, any given day was best described as cold and hungry. Before long, Buckley could add alone to that list; his mother was gone, and the rest of his litter had died.
Buckley was brought out of these conditions and taken to the Columbus Lowndes Humane Society. Once he was taken there, he was examined by Dr. Meg Sutton and her veterinary assistant Angela Knight. They discussed tough decisions, matters of life or death for Buckley. Then, they noticed his teeth.
“We thought he had been a young puppy based on his size,” said Sutton. “That was until we saw his teeth, and we realized that he was five months old.”

Before photo: Buckley on the day he is brought to the humane society. He weighed eight pounds; he should have weighed closer between twenty and thirty pounds.

They decided that if Buckley had survived that long, perhaps he could make it in the right situation. Buckley was not assured of being able to live due to his condition, Sutton said. He was very underweight and malnourished.
After spending months as a homeless puppy, Buckley enjoyed the opportunity to eat everyday. In fact, he nearly doubled his weight in two weeks time, according to Sutton.
“His weight gain is somewhat misleading though because based on his paw size, he should have weighed close to 30 pounds,” said Sutton. She added that he only weighed eight pounds when he was brought to the humane society.
“When he first came in, you could see each vertebra and his hipbones,” said Sutton. “He looks so different now; it is hard to believe that he is the same puppy.”
Even though Buckley had found a place to eat everyday, he still had several problems to overcome. His body had a tough time accepting food at first, and he was in constant need of fluids to fight dehydration. Buckley stuck it out, and he soon found himself in foster care.
In foster care, Buckley was able once again to be a puppy. He played with other dogs. He ran through the house, but he loved cuddling with someone the most. While he was in foster care, many people started an effort to find a home for Buckley. A student attending the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine found Buckley a home.
Nashville, Tenn. is the home of country music, and it is the home of at least one dog lover. A volunteer for the humane society had found a potential home for Buckley there. All that was left was for the family to agree to the decision and plan the transportation.
The decision came quickly, and so did the big trip. Buckley was going from the streets to a

After photo: Buckley on the day of his transport. After two weeks, he had doubled in weight. Notice his bone structure is not visible in the picture.

new home in Tenn. His new family was excited; the children were up at five A.M., according to their mother. They could not wait to meet their new puppy.

Now Buckley finds himself in a new home. Sure it may turn cold in Nashville, but now a warm home and loving family provide him with the things he did not have wandering the cold streets before he was rescued. Buckley’s story is one of triumph and joy, but it is a story that too often is not repeated.
Many animals suffer the fate of Buckley’s litter, and one simple step could end much of that suffering, said Sutton. Owners should have their pets spayed or neutered.
“Buckley’s story has a happy ending, but he was the lucky one,” said Sutton. “On average, 300 animals per month find their way to the humane society, and all of their stories are not so happy.”

     
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About Columbus-Lowndes Humane Society:
It is the mission of the Columbus-Lowndes Humane Society to protect animals from suffering and cruelty, to provide care for animals afflicted by neglect, abandonment and exploitation, and to enhance the lives of animals and people through education, adoption and compassion.