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.
A great, heart-warming story about airport employees trying help save an animal.
forgot who the doggie ping person is!
Great story about man’s best friend. GO Buddy!!!!
Thanks for posting this and please update when Buddy is treated and adopted.
BUDDY PING
Can’t animal control shoot it with one of those drug things? That way they could get him to a vet to remove that collar. Otherwise...it will choke him to death or it will tear his skin and get infected. I think what they use for bears and the like would work here. I hope so. Hate to keep the thought of that little dog with that awful collar embedded in his neck. Can’t someone do something???
I wonder how we could get an update and know when he gets rescued?
I had the same problem with a cat that had been abused and took to the woods around my house. It took me over a month of doing the same thing they are.
I put food out about 30 feet from my door. Each day, I'd move the dish one foot closer. She kept a constant eye on me as she ate and would skitter away if I made any motion to open the door.
We kept up this game until she was eating at the porch steps and got used to me watching through the door. Then letting me sit on the porch. I finally got ahold of her.
That was over 10 years ago. Her favorite place to sleep is in the curve of my waist or on the pillows over my head.
A watercolor I did of her...
awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They'll never get him now!
He’ll yell to the airport people as he hangs out the window of the car...’hey everybody!!! I’m going to get TUTORED’
that poor dog has been out there over a year - by now, he’s acclimated to people on the base. Were I there, I’d pitch a pup tent and stay as long as it took...probably not that long...you feed it, put out water...talk to him. Even after you can reach out to pat him - leave it be for a day or so...pretty soon, you’d have a tent buddy...and then the poor animal could get treatment before it’s too late.
About a year ago there was a woman whose dog got loose on a tarmac and they could not find the dog. It was like a whippet or greyhound. I remember the greyhound adoption groups were searching around to find it and I never read anywhere that it was found. Don’t remember the airport. This could be a lost pet that got out of his cage before being loaded onto a plane.
Animal Control will not dart Buddy...they claim he will haul it into the dense woods near the airport after he’s shot and we’d never be able to find him while he’s “out”.
That’s sad. Sure he could haul but...he couldn’t stand for long could he? Can’t imagine they couldn’t find him afterwards. Makes me want to cry.
It takes a while for the dart to take effect...and dogs typically try and retreat to a safe haven when they feel the effects. In this case, there are dense woods where Buddy takes refuge. We also tried drugging his food several weeks ago and he same thing happened. When he started feeling drowsy, he took refuge in the woods and we couldn’t find him.
Wow...that just makes me really sad. I am sure he could take care of himself but it’s that collar that has me so upset. Can’t SOMEONE come up with some kind of idea?????
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