Written by Anita Staines Judnick of St Francis Animal Rescue
Professional photography by The LetterBox Productions
We vaccinated Buddy as a puppy, but our first proper meeting with this boy was when we had him neutered in December 2023.
At that time, we recorded his name as Bullet. He was underweight, covered in fleas and seemed nervous.
The next time we saw him was when he was found wandering and lost in the village. His owner at that time was a drug addict who was suspected of stealing. His shack had been destroyed by the neighbours. The owner fled and one of his friends took Bullet. Over the next couple of months, he was passed from hand to hand by a group of addicts.
He was confiscated by St Francis Animal Rescue on the 8th of January 2025, taken into kennels and renamed Brian. Bullet-now-Brian spent a year in kennels, being walked, loved and trained by Juadeen, one of our dog walkers.
In February 2025, he was taken into foster care with our volunteer foster extraordinaire, Grant Pearce.
One month later, in March 2025, he was adopted into Tamarin Moelan’s loving home in Cape Town, where his life changed forever – and he got a new name: Buddy.
Throughout his early life, Buddy remained hopeful. He always wore a smile and his tail wagged. No matter the conditions he endured – and he was treated for biliary and gastrointestinal problems during that time – he remained brave and stoic and always hopeful. Everyone who’s ever met Buddy adores him right away.
His life now, with Tamarin and her loving family, is the stuff dog dreams are made of.
We’re all so happy for our Buddy.
Tamarin, Buddy’s new owner, shares...
Buddy Boy, Bud, Budster, Mommy’s Boy, GOOOOD Boy (LOVES BEING CALLED THIS), Granny’s Boy, Grandpa’s Boy (Pal)... Our blessing!
On the 24th of January 2025, my little girl Riley lost her battle to aplastic anaemia. It broke my heart and I still cry hot tears for my baby girl. I was scrolling on Facebook in late February and saw a picture that St Francis Bay Animal Rescue had posted of Buddy. My heart melted! He looked so dapper, sat like a distinguished gentleman, and his gorgeous eyes drew me in.
I immediately left a comment: I love him, but live in Cape Town…
A week later, he hitched a ride with two kind gents from St Francis Bay and on the 4th of March 2025, Buddy came to his forever home and blessed our lives abundantly.
Buddy loves everyone!
I teach 16-18-year-old students and he adores them – and they adore him. It makes my heart happy to see Buddy sitting next to the students, and as they’re working, they’re tickling and stroking him. He moves from one student to the next so they can all have a tickle. I live in a flat on my parent’s property, so Buddy has access to both my spot and my parent’s place. They have friends passing through their house all the time. He’s so gentle and greets all their friends. He loves to sit next to one gentleman who has a Zimmer frame; Buddy leans in so gently and he strokes Buddy (a special sight).
He gets frustrated that he can’t say hello to every doggo that’s leashed. I think he was so used to roaming the village and being sociable with all the animals that he gets frustrated when he can’t say “HOWZIT!”.
I say, “My boy, I understand, but that dog is leashed and the owner doesn’t want you to say hello and so we have to just walk on by.” He’s hilarious!
We enjoy having a late night stroll around the neighbourhood – with his tail wagging and a big grin, he will howl a Scooby-Doo type “HEEELLLLOOOO!” and wait for replies from doggos behind the walls. When they respond – and they do – he’s chuffed that he’s got the communication-ball rolling…
I’m sure his response is: “HEY BRU! HAVE A LEKKA EVENING! I CAN’T SEE YOU BUT MY NAME IS BUDDY AND I’M A HAPPY BOY!”
I take him to the beach, on hikes and places where he can run off the leash and greet new mates.
He’s gaining more confidence every day, although our poor guy still has triggers. I reckon he felt like he had to sleep with one eye open for the first two years of his life. So, if he’s in a deep sleep and gets startled, he’ll get a fright and cry. We feel so sad for the little guy when that happens – but he’s so much better. We just gently say his name when approaching him if he’s in a deep sleep and then he just falls into his loving, belly rubs and kisses. We also massage him every day when he’s lying down and this helps to desensitise him.
Although he still has one or two triggers (who doesn’t, right?) he lives in the NOW and enjoys each day.
Buddy has taught us so much. He’s so loving and compassionate, and to be like that after such a rough start is truly amazing!
Thank you to Sue and her whole team at St Francis Bay Animal Rescue for being incredible human beings.
Thank you for choosing us to be his forever Mom, Grandpa and Granny.
We’re truly grateful.
Sometimes in life, when overthinking stops for a second, you end up making the best decisions.
We could have hesitated when Sue chatted to us about Buddy. But we didn’t – and now we’re blessed with such a sweetheart who brings us daily joy.
