Buzz (Sammy)

Hi There,

My name is Sammy. I am currently in La Paz Mexico but will be on my way to Calgary very soon. I was found by myself, trying to survive. Luckily the nice folks at the refuge had room for me. They are now taking care of me here. They say I am very sweet, calm and loving.

Just a quick note to let you know that Buzz is just fantastic and it seems like he has always been a member of our pack! We love him to bits! I am attaching an article that I wrote about him which I am submitting to our local pet publication in the hopes that it will provide your organizations more exposure to the dog lovers of the Comox Valley. Please feel free to post it, in whole or in part, as our "happy tail". I have also attached some pics that can be used in conjunction with the story. Thanks again for the great work you do, you guys are amazing. I will pass along love and kisses to Buzz for you!!

They say when you find “the one”, you'll know. While surfing through animal rescue sites one night, I happened upon the profile of a scruffy tan terrier mix on Petfinder. One look at the expression on his sweet face and I knew. We weren't exactly looking to add a fourth dog to our family, but it soon became apparent that little Buzz was meant to be. Buzz grew up as a stray scrounging for food on the streets of La Paz, Mexico. One fateful day in January he was spotted on a busy street by Dhorea, the founder of Baja Dogs Rescue. A kind man offered to catch the frightened little dog so she could take him back to the safety of the shelter. Buzz (known then as Sammy Bart) was in terrible shape - malnourished, suffering from mange, and infested with ticks and fleas. He had badly infected gashes on his head, likely the result of human abuse or a fight with another dog. His left front leg was also injured and his upper incisor teeth were missing. Despite his compromised condition, Buzz endeared himself to the refuge volunteers with his wagging tail, hopeful eyes and gentle nature. After a couple months of loving care and recuperation, Buzz was deemed healthy enough for adoption. He was being placed by Pawsitive Match, a Calgary based group that rescues abused and abandoned dogs from Canada, USA and Mexico. The adoption process was extremely simple and with the assistance of two amazing Canadian volunteers, Buzz was soon accompanied on a flight from Mexico to Vancouver. From the moment I laid eyes on him at the airport, I was in love! Hungry and terrified, he bravely followed me out of the terminal headlong into his strange new reality. As I write this, it has been one month since Buzz arrived home to Vancouver Island. Having never rescued an adult street dog before, I am astounded daily by his progress. Buzz lives in the moment. He has let go of his tragic past and overcomes hurdles faster than I ever could have imagined. He accepts that laminate floors, televisions, noisy household appliances and telephones are all part of living in a home. When he first met our three dogs, he tucked his tail in fear and prepared to defend himself. Now he plays with absolute joyful abandon. Oncoming traffic no longer stops him in his tracks and he has discovered that couches are definitely better than sidewalks. Most importantly though, he has come a long way in trusting that nobody is going to hurt him anymore and lucky dogs do, in fact, get fed every day! Yes, we saved Buzz from a miserable existence but he has more than repaid us with the lessons we have already learned from him– live in the now, appreciate the simple things in life and most importantly, LOVE!