This biweekly column is written by Suzanne Lawter, Director of Community Outreach for Mutts Matter Rescue, a local nonprofit, all-volunteer dog rescue. Mutts Matter is a network of volunteers who love animals and want to make a difference by helping forgotten and discarded dogs find loving families. Since our founding in 2010, we have successfully rescued and placed more than 1,400 dogs in the local Washington Metropolitan area.
Hey, everyone! My name is Buddy and I’m a handsome and active 2.5-year-old Lab mix who is very affectionate and loves to play. I bond closely with my family and will make a great companion for walks in the neighborhood, training for a 5K, or just hanging out on the couch to watch TV. I’m also the undisputed champion of playing fetch, and have the typical Lab passion to retrieve things, so anyone who will throw the ball and play with me is tops in my book.
My foster mom, Jasmine, calls me a “guy’s dog” because I’m a solid 65 pounds and love to play and wrestle, but the truth is she’s my favorite person in the world. She takes me on long walks, gives me treats and belly rubs, and has had such a positive impact on my life. Since I’ve been with her, I’ve learned how to walk properly on a leash and greet visitors who come to the house. I’ve been taught to go to my special spot when someone comes to the door and, once I see my family approves of them, I greet guests with joy and enthusiasm. Sometimes I still have a little too much enthusiasm and will jump up to see if they want to play with me, but we’re working on that.
This was my first Halloween in my foster home, and my foster mom was so proud of me. I take my watchdog duties seriously and will typically let my foster mom know when someone comes to the door or is outside the house, but once I saw how this Halloween thing works, I let her take the lead and was the perfect host to our many little visitors. I stayed calm and was respectful of all the new people who came to my house, and would poke my snout around my foster sister’s leg as she handed out candy to get a good look at their costumes. It was fun!
I’m very close with my foster mom, but I have a foster sister and brother that I adore too. My foster brother, Yannick, recently went to college and sometimes we take road trips to visit him. Last weekend, I got to hang out in his new apartment and meet all his roommates, and we had a blast. I must admit though, I love it most when he’s home on break. We go on morning runs and play soccer together. He teaches me cool tricks, and gave me my treasured basketball and football that I kick around the house. He also takes me on play dates with his friends and their dogs, and we always have fun together.
As much as I love my foster family and am thankful for all they’ve done for me, I want to find my new home and have been waiting patiently for someone to choose me. I’m such a great dog and don’t understand why I’ve been overlooked for so long. I’m a good-looking pup; I’m already crate-trained, potty-trained, and know my basic commands, and my foster mom trusts me to have free roam of the house. I walk well on a leash and am friendly when I see other dogs in my neighborhood, though I ignore most of them even if they bark at me.
Like all pups, I have a goofy side. I have a thing for slippers, but not shoes. I never destroy the slippers, but I like to throw them in the air and then chase them, which makes my foster mom laugh. I also like to flop on my belly in the grass and crawl around like a soldier on the front lines. I am a HUGE fan of popcorn, and as soon as I hear or smell some being made I get very excited, and will do just about anything for a buttery nugget. I love it so much that my family uses it for training over any other kind of treat.
I’m a sweet dog who needs an active, structured home and a family who will commit to my daily exercise, training, and playtime. I will do well as an only dog, or paired with another confident dog who likes to play, but NO CATS. A fenced yard would be ideal, since my favorite thing to do is to chase balls in the back yard, but I also like to bask in the sun, play tug with my rope toys, and of course always enjoy a good bone chew. Although I’m good with older kids (12 and up), I’m not the ideal fit for families with small children. I’m a big, active dog and still have a lot of energy and excitement, and could accidentally knock over a small child while we’re playing.
So that’s me in a nutshell. I’m a sweet, affectionate, and playful pup who just needs a family to love.
To learn more about Buddy, go to the Mutts Matter Adoption Page and fill out an application, or you can contact Suzanne at suzanne@muttsmatterrescue.com
