Buddy Waffles

When you have a dog, the only logical next step is to get a dog for your dog. That is what lead us to Buddy in an incredibly beautiful and serendipitous way!

Finding Buddy

My husband, Eric, and I were a perfect little family with our female Golden Retriever, Roubaix-Salsa. After Roubaix’s 3rd birthday in March of 2021, Eric and I began talking about adding another Golden to our family, so I started reaching out to some contacts I had regarding the availability of puppies as well as applying for rescues that I came across online. Puppies were available and I got our name on some lists, but I was almost stunned that I never heard a peep back from any of the rescues. About the time I had that thought, my sister shared a post on Facebook with me from GRRoM about this “amazing and active dog” named Buddy. The post had over 7,000 shares and 800 comments, but there was something about the look in this sweet puppy’s face that made me feel like he was OUR dog.

After consulting with Eric and Roubaix (of course), I reached out to GRRoM for an application. At the time, I was visiting Chicago with my mom and sister to help take care of my niece. As I filled out the application, my mom was sharing with me that she thought this was going to be a huge undertaking and that maybe I should think about it a little more. I told her, “Mom, it is such a long shot that we will be considered for this dog, so if it happens, it was absolutely meant to be".

*Post application newborn niece snuggles*

Against All Odds

GRRoM got in touch with me once I sent in my application, but it wasn’t the answer I was hoping for. We do not have a fenced in yard and that was something they wanted for Buddy. He had been found as a stray and they were worried he would run again. My cousin, Julie, had some connections in the Detroit area, where Buddy was being fostered, and thought maybe “someone would know someone” at the rescue who could make a recommendation on our behalf.

Eric and I are both very active and had kept Roubaix in top shape with long walks, frisbee sessions (she would give Zeke the Wonderdog a run for his kibbles), trips to the beach and various nature trails around Michigan, and on our roadtrip adventures to remote locations. We felt that we could keep Buddy entertained, well fed, and loved enough that he would never want to run away again.

Somehow, Julie managed the impossible and met a volunteer through GRRoM and got us a phone call with Buddy’s foster mom, Karen. I could tell from the moment I picked up the phone that I had possibly met someone who loved dogs more than I did. Karen is an incredible woman who has fostered and adopted many dogs over the years, some who have come from unimaginable circumstances. We had a great conversation and talked through the issue with the fence. Although GRRoM prefers to adopt Goldens to homes with fences, Karen was able to get Eric and I into the top candidates to bring Buddy home because our lifestyle fit his needs.

*Buddy’s Foster Mom, Karen, with her Goldens (plus a new foster dog!)*

After a home visit with a GRRoM volunteer, the next step was to go and meet Buddy at Karen’s home on the east side of the state. Eric was away on a 2 week cycling trip out West, so Roubaix and I packed up to go to the initial meeting. We took the dogs out to an open field where they both met from the safety of their leashes. As a fun aside, Buddy was on a long rope attached to his harness. He was full of energy that day, and my ankle got tangled in the rope while he was running and ended up giving me a pretty good rope burn that has since left a scar. At the time, it smarted pretty good, and I wondered if it was a sign from a higher power that I was in over my head or that this was my dog and I’d have a little reminder of him forever. I’d like to think it was the latter.

Bringing Buddy Waffles Home

On my drive home, I called Eric, trying not to get too excited or get my hopes up. Always cool as a cucumber he said, “How could they not choose us? Roubaix alone had to have won them over.” Roubaix was indeed a large factor as she bonded with Buddy right away. The amount of photos on my camera roll of them snuggling may necessitate an iCloud storage upgrade.

In the end, we were chosen as Buddy’s forever home! It was August 20, 2021 (1 day before Eric’s birthday!) and we were on our way to pick Buddy up. Eric and I were talking through different names. We figured since he had only been given the name Buddy since May, it would be easy to change it. Leo, Cedar, Waffles, Oberon, Desi, Wrigley, Danny Ocean (because he is an escape artist), Aspen, Summit, Miles, Chase… Each name we tested out on him just didn’t seem to fit nor did it engender any reaction from him. (I think I even saw some eye rolls in there.) Then, as he sat on Roubaix on the way home, we both said “Buddy! What are you doing to your sister?” He looked at us right away and we knew the name was sealed. We did compromise a bit and gifted him the middle name of Waffles. Since then, we have realized the name Buddy is perfect for him because he is our little Bud, never wandering too far from us and always up for snuggles.

*Sitting on sister is the only way to travel.*

GRRoM helped so much with suggestions and information to help us get Buddy settled into his new home. Since adopting him, we have fallen into a new and better routine filled with more walks and adventures. We had to upgrade dog food because Buddy has a little more sensitive of a stomach than Roubaix, so I dare say things have improved for the furry family members since he arrived. We took a group socialization class with both dogs and hired a private dog trainer to work on some of Buddy’s excitability. He is an incredibly smart boy, (probably too smart) as he has figured out how to open the sliding door to his favorite part of the house - our enclosed deck!

*Sporting new* *Chaco* *gear on their favorite spot at home!*

Eric and I are so thankful for the work that GRRoM does. They take on many tough cases and work tirelessly to find great homes for the Goldens that come into their care. Thank you for allowing us to be Buddy’s family!

Follow along with our adventures on Instagram: @buddy_waffles

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