For years, Buddy was "the little dog in the cage" along Jillian's jogging route. One day Jillian jogged by and, for the first time, the little dog didn't bark. Jillian worried that his spirit was breaking. Determined to offer to walk the dog, Jillian discovered that the house beyond the cage was unoccupied, and that someone appeared infrequently to care for the dog. Lately, according to the neighbor, the dog was often without food or water. The neighbor contacted the house's owner, and then conveyed the message that not only could Jillian walk the dog, but could have the dog.

When we went to get Buddy from his cage, he fought us viciously. We lassoed him with a rope and dragged him from the cage. His hair was matted into dreadlocks, and he smelled terrible. By the time we got him home, he had calmed down and we bathed him. In no time at all, he became a lovable little dog.

Buddy delights us daily.