One Greyt Year

Today marked one year since Buford came into our lives. What a wonderful year it has been! We got Buford just three and a half short months after we adopted Macy. I was completely in love with Macy before we even met her and from the moment I laid eyes on her, we had this incredible bond that took me by surprise. It was like no other I could explain - she instantly captured my heart. And my obsession with greyhounds began! After spending a few months with our seemingly perfect girl (she didn't turn into a bully until after Buford), Buford arrived! I must admit, things just didn't click instantly with Buford like they did with Macy. Of course, that all changed!

GPA/GO selected three boys that were a match for us - they were all brindle! The decision to choose who got a home and who had to keep waiting was just too hard for us. After several phone calls between me, Debbie, and GPA/GO staff I told them just to pick one for us because I was certain we would love any one of them. Obviously, they chose Buford - and we are very thankful for that! Of the other two, one has since found his forever home. I am very saddened by the fact that the third boy is still waiting at the GPA/GO kennel. Here are a couple pictures of sweet Kimsam. Just think about everything he has missed out on for the last year by not having a family to love.

Back to our boy, Buford. He was a very special hound at the kennel and everyone there still remembers him because he too was there for nearly a year. Poor Buford had been run into the ground. They "ran his back off" which is a racing phrase used to describe when they run a dog too hard that is not in the proper condition. He was in such terrible condition that the GPA/GO volunteers were surprised that the owners even turned him over given the shape he was in! I can't imagine my life without him now so thank God they didn't put him down and bless the GPA/GO volunteers for taking such good care of him! When he arrived at GPA/GO, they could literally wrap their hands around him and even worse, their fingers overlapped! While under GPA/GO care, he spent many months in and out of the hospital and had test after test run. He also had Giardia and some of the other more common parasites. He slowly recovered and his adoption book is very thick with medical papers! Hopefully, those days aren't even in his memory anymore!

After everything he had been through, we were told that he was a "very small" male which worked in our favor since we only had cars and two greyhounds are a tight fit. On adoption day (June 29, 2008), when he stepped out of Kristen's car I remember saying to Tracy "Oh my God, he's gorgeous!!! He looks so much better than his kennel picture!!!" We also noticed that he was not "very small", but was an average size male - hence the minivan!

Then the craziness set in! I had to hand him off to Tracy because he was pulling so hard on the leash that he was dragging me around. Everyone there that day will recall that he peed on every shrub, every flower, and pretty much every blade of grass in Carolyn's yard. He also slopped water in a 10 foot radius around him when he got a drink - a trait he still has today! He continued marking once we got home (inside and out) and in less than 24 hours, Tracy said I knew we should have got a girl, this is why I don't like boy dogs. I knew we couldn't give up on him that easily though. So, after a belly band and a little "evil voice" training by a VAGA volunteer, we were able to break that habit in a few days! What took a little longer was his chewing habit which some of you may remember. The worst of that ultimately ended when he got something very dangerous - the needle incident!

Although it wasn't instant, within a couple weeks I was very much in love with our boy. During his recovery from surgery is when I truly began bonding with Mr. Buford though. He was such a love, so sweet, always wanting to cuddle and give kisses! He has never wanted me out of sight - Macy was like this for a few months, but for a solid year Buford has been my constant shadow. He follows me no matter where I go, even to the bathroom. He is a mama's boy through and through!

He is such a happy boy - always playing, always wagging his tail, always showering us with kisses, and always ready to go! He puts up with his sister - Miss Meanness! He always lets her have her way (fortunately for us!). He never barks at her, even though she barks at him nearly every day. He growled at her once over a bully stick, after which she promptly put him in his place! He takes whatever she doles out, and then goes about his business in a happy state of bliss! And a year later, he still waits in line to pee behind Macy. Sometimes I wonder what he would do without her.

He's not the brightest boy, but I've always said that what he lacks in brains he more than makes up for in heart! Macy has an understanding of a large vocabulary. Buford on the other hand only knows a few words - kisses, cheese, and outside. He certainly knows actions though! No matter how many times we've said it, he has no idea what the word walk means. However, as soon as we begin putting on our socks and shoes in the morning, he knows what's coming. Touch the leash and...well, you've seen what happens! We can say do you want to go for a ride ten times and he won't move, but as soon as we touch the keys, he comes running so he can go with us! As soon as we turn the TV off at night, he heads straight up the stairs and waits for his bedtime snack. So, I guess he's actually very smart in his own way.

Well, I think I've reminisced enough (and if you've read this far, you are probably bored out of your mind)! We are so thankful to have Buford in our lives. A few weeks ago I said to Tracy, "After we got Macy, I never imagined that I could possibly love another dog as much as I loved her..." He interrupted saying "...and now you have one you love more"! That's not exactly true, not more - just different. I know, I know, you're not supposed to have favorites when it comes to your kids, but everyone does (even if they won't admit it). We love them both dearly, beyond what any words could express. If we had to pick, Macy is his favorite and Buford is mine. The reverse is true as well - Buford comes up to me and gives me tons of kisses...he walks up to Tracy and sneezes in his face every time! Macy comes up to me and barks in my face...she walks up to Tracy and wants to snuggle. So...it all works out in the end!

Macy and Buford shared a chicken breast tonight in honor of Buford's anniversary :) I just took this picture a few minutes ago....this is how Buford ended his evening! Believe it or not, this is the first true ETS picture I have ever got of him!