Posted on 01/31/2009 11:40:14 AM PST by El Whino
Airport, CAPS work to save stray dog AMANDA HICKEY January 27, 2009 - 6:27PM
Buddy has won the hearts of employees at Albert J. Ellis Airport.
And, in some cases, their breakfast biscuits.
The walker hound was first spotted about 14 months ago by Dolly Ramires, a security guard. Buddy was not in good shape.
"He was not very well taken care of ... he was malnourished," said Jerry Vickers, airport director.
The dog can often be seen hanging out on the outskirts of the parking lot or sleeping in the field next to the lot.
But the handsome dog is skittish and won't get close to humans - which brings the employees a bit of heartache.
Buddy's collar, which has been on his neck since he first arrived at Albert J. Ellis airport, appears to be embedded in his skin.
"It looks like the underside or buckle part of the collar is partially embedded in his neck. None of us have been able to get close enough to see how severe it is, but there is drainage there so we know it has cut into his neck," said Gail Whipple, founder of the Carolina Animal Protection Society.
The collar, Vickers said, is the biggest concern for Buddy.
"We're afraid it's going to kill him," he said.
Airport employees have joined forces with CAPS to lure Buddy into a humane trap, give him the medical attention he needs and get him ready to go home with Grace Price, a cab driver at the airport, who plans to adopt him.
"I'd like to get him off the street, out of the weather," Price said.
They've tried catching him so they could bring him to a veterinarian, but haven't had any luck, Vickers said.
"He is so elusive (and) he's smart. The typical efforts you'd apply to catching a dog just haven't applied to him," he said.
Cages that look like cages, Vickers said, are not a possibility since Buddy avoided them. This time, CAPS purchased a cage that will be disguised.
"We're putting it in the woods and trying to camouflage it like a shelter," he said.
Buddy's caretakers have begun moving his food near the woods, where the cage will be placed. They will move him closer and closer to the cage until he's comfortable with it, and then place his food inside.
"It may take me sneaking a filet mignon out of my wife's freezer but she's on board with the effort," Vickers said with a laugh.
Once they rescue him, they'll take him immediately to a veterinarian "and get the collar cut out of him and get him tested for heart worms, update his vaccinations and get him neutered," Whipple said.
Whipple is not sure how much the veterinary visit will be but knows it will cost "a bit."
The door of the cage will remain open and when Buddy enters, it will shut with rings locking it in place so he cannot escape, employees demonstrated.
Once Buddy is at the veterinarian's office, they will open the other side of it and get him out.
"Everything's in place if Buddy will cooperate," Vickers said. "He's got a place to go as soon as we can get him captured and get him the medical care he needs."
Buddy, employees said, is not aggressive - he will stay near employees once he's used to them.
While Ramires does the vehicle inventory at night, Buddy keeps vigil.
"He watches over me out there," she said with a smile.
One night, Buddy stood in front of Ramires' security vehicle and would not move. When Ramires got out to try and figure out what to do next, she noticed a unfamiliar vehicle there after hours.
"He wouldn't move until I noticed that car. Then he went on his way. He's a good little boy," she said.
When Ramires first met Buddy, she began feeding him but worried she'd get in trouble. She slowly brought other security guards in on her secret, then spread the word about her protector.
"He's a smart dog. I just wish he was a wee bit smarter so he'd know what this was all about and cooperate a little bit," Vickers said.
Those interested in donating funds for Operation Save Buddy can mail checks to CAPS at 213 Maplehurst Drive, Jacksonville, NC 28540. Whipple asks that donors write "Save Buddy," on the check.
"All the donations made for Buddy will go towards Buddy and nothing but Buddy," Whipple said.
Contact Jacksonville/Onslow County reporter Amanda Hickey at 910-219-8461 or ahickey@freedomenc.com.
Doggie ping!!!
That’s sad. We had a somewhat similar situation in my town last year. There was a large gold colored dog living in a vacant lot on the main street!
For a year it would walk up and down the street, careful of traffic, but avoid all people.
So, they started putting out food for it every day, and water. Then one day a doghouse appeared out in the lot! It took a year before it would come close enough to be captured and taken care of. Many were ready to adopt it.
Thank you for the aw shucks post.....
(chuckle)
Our morning began at 4:30, we help with the local spay and neuter program. Its 11 degrees, but we learned two ‘strays’ we found dumped in our neighborhood got good homes (we know the families, GOOD HOMES).
Nobody ya’ll know has a female in heat? That’s one call of nature he won’t ignore.
Stores sell deer hormones in hunting season. Wonder if a cooperative vet could supply eu de bitch in heat...
That’s a great recipe for success.
With constant attention, a dog will give in. They want the love.
A cat...now that could involve sleeping in a tent for years.
LOL
However - read my post #9 regarding just that...
Beautiful water color!
Buddy moves closer to capture
February 6, 2009 - 6:58 PM
AMANDA HICKEY
The Walker Hound that has taken up residence at the Albert J. Ellis Airport is getting closer to being captured, airport officials say.
Recently, airport employees put a “humane” cage out covered in tarps and camouflage in hopes that Buddy, who avoided the last cage attempt, would take his food out of the new one.
By Monday, Buddy was eating his meals within a foot of the trap door.
Airport Director Jerry Vickers explained the plan was to keep moving the food further into the trap as Buddy follows.
By the end of the week, CAPS Director Gail Whipple said Buddy had eaten one of his meals inside the crate.
Whipple said they want him to eat at least two meals inside before they attempt to set the trigger that closes the cage.
Buddy arrived at Albert J. Ellis Airport more than a year ago, and employees are worried about the health of the dog that walks security guards around the property as they do the final checks at night. They’re hoping to catch him and get him veterinarian treatment for the collar that is embedded in his neck.
Once Buddy is captured, he will be brought to a veterinarian for surgery, shots and neutering. He will then go home with cab driver Grace Price who plans to adopt him.
Those interested in donating funds for Operation Save Buddy can mail checks to CAPS at 213 Maplehurst Drive, Jacksonville, NC 28540. Whipple asks that donors write “Save Buddy” on the check.
Airport dog out of surgery
AMANDA HICKEY
April 14, 2009 - 10:41AM
This story was updated at 5:44 p.m.
He was saved by love.
Buddy, Albert J. Ellis Airport’s resident walker hound, was captured Monday night and had surgery to remove the collar that was embedded in his neck Tuesday, said Gail Whipple, founder of the Carolina Animal Protection Society.
His capture came not from the lure of food but from the lure of a four-legged companion.
“It was ... Roxie, the darling beagle he fell in love with,” Whipple said.
After being captured at about 6 p.m. Monday, Buddy spent Tuesday with a veterinarian - in surgery and getting neutered vaccinations and a check up, she said.
The vet said Buddy was clear of heartworms and tick fever, but that he appeared to have about four inches of rotten flesh underneath his neck from the collar, she said.
“(Buddy’s) entire neck was enflamed, all the way around,” Whipple said.
Buddy’s rescue came after four visits by Roxie.
Sunday, after what was Roxie’s third visit to introduce her to Buddy, Buddy chased the car the beagle was in as they left.
“He chased us and barked and I felt bad. ... I thought if we’re that close, I’m going to come out (Monday) and see, and it worked,” Roxie’s owner, Terri Riggs of Maysville, said.
Buddy eventually came close enough to slip a rope around his neck, she said.
“When he let me pet him, what a feeling. That was awesome,” Riggs said. “Then I stood up and he jumped up and kissed me on the nose. ... You can tell that all he wants is to be loved.”
After Riggs got the rope on him, Buddy was escorted into the airport firehouse where a canine carrier waited for him, Airport Director Jerry Vickers said.
The rescue, however, came at a cost to Roxie’s self-esteem.
“I think she finally figured out that she’s been used,” Riggs said, explaining that Roxie was upset with the commotion but is fine. “When he gets better, they’re going to meet again. We’re going to set up a play date. This way they don’t have to be on leashes and stuff. They can play however they want to.”
Riggs learned about Buddy after reading about him in The Daily News, she said, and sent CAPS a donation for him in honor of her dog, Buddy, who died in March.
After receiving a thank-you note from Whipple, they began talking about a plan.
“(Roxie’s) very timid and I thought she would do very well with him. ... She was close to going into heat; that was the main reason. I knew that if she’s in heat, he would follow her anywhere she goes, and he did,” Riggs said.
After his vet visit, Buddy will go to a CAPS member’s home in order to recover and be socialized before going to his adoptive owner, Dolly Ramires, the airport police officer who gave Buddy his first taste of Bojangles.
“He’s going to be with me and spoiled just like my other three dogs,” Ramires said. Ramires has two beagles and a lab at home waiting to meet their new friend.
Buddy will have a seven-acre fenced yard at his disposal.
“I’m just so thrilled; it took so long. I just hope he knows that it’s all for the best of him and that he’s not going to a home of abuse,” Ramires said. “He’ll be loved to death.”
More than $3,200 in donations were sent to CAPS for Buddy, all of which will go to his veterinary care and whatever he needs, Whipple said.
“It’s going to be kind of lonely not having him out (at the airport),” Vickers said. “But this is, obviously, what’s best for him.”
Contact Jacksonville/Onslow County reporter Amanda Hickey at 910-219-8461 or ahickey@freedomenc.com.
After all this time. I’m glad all turned out well. Thanks
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