Have you ever come across an animal that touched your heart the moment you saw them?

I once found a stray that had.. well its more like he found me. Here is a little story about my stray I named Buddy.

I recall one year where I had been walking home one time in late summer. Approaching my unfenced yard I came upon an amusing sight of a big ball of fluff rolling around in the grass having a great time sunning his pale blond belly, his giant paws flailing in the air with his tongue lulling out as his fluffy tail wagged. It was quite the sight, but I had a feeling of dread.. 'Oh no.. another stray..' Was my thoughts.. Not that I didnt like strays, it was because my mother didnt. I rounded my yard and walked up the drive way, and paused to watch him a moment more before approaching him. I stopped a few feet away and he froze, probably from spotting my shoes.. He rolled onto his stomach, and my breath caught in my throat as my hazel eyes met large warm brown eyes that stared back at me. It was right then and there that he stole my heart.. I knew I was in trouble right there, and I quickly went inside. I hoped he would go away if I ignored him.. But I found I couldnt stay away.. He was still laying there when I came back out side. This odd fluff beast of a mutt looked to be a mix of golden retriever and german shephard.. I knew my mother wouldnt let me keep him just because of that.. Then I heard someone calling for Checkers..

A little girl came walking down the street, and I called to her asking if the dog was hers. .She gave me an odd reply, "No.. he is just some stray we have been taking care of" Then she turned and ran off.. I opened my mouth to call for her to take the dog with her.. But it was too late. I was glad he hadnt moved to go after the girl, and I never saw her again. The name checkers didnt puzzle me, the dog had a mottled tongue.. But I decided the name didnt fit him at all, and I knew I shouldnt name him, but the name Buddy came to mind.. Little did I know how that name suited him so well at the time.

My mother indeed hadnt been pleased, and after several attempts to chase the dog away, they all failed. Buddy had claimed our home, even if we didnt let him inside.. That dog would do anything for a cheese stick I found.. Sit, roll over, lay down, beg.. He had to have had a home at one point.. but he didnt seem to mind being a roamer.. He had this air that he didnt mind that life, but I had a feeling if we just let him stay he would be happy to.

Unfortunitly that didnt happen, my mother got tired of him and called the pound one day.. They took him away when I wasnt home. I thought Id never see him again, but I remember it was a month later that he was back sitting on the porch waiting for me. He had a collar, but no tags, so I had no one to call to come and get him.. although I admit I was glad of that.. Buddy had learned to make himself scarce when my mother was around, but I knew he slept on the porch at night.

I remember one night that there was a loud noise out my window, and I had woken up to see a dark shape through my curtains.. There was a rucus and the shape was gone. I had thought in the morning that it had been a dream, but when I checked out side, in the snow there were foot prints by my window, and several dog prints. I knew then that Buddy had chased a stranger away that night.

Later in the year when I went back to school Buddy would walk me to the bus. The bus stop was all the way down the block and around the corner.. It was a long walk in the dark in the morning.. I was glad for his company, and he would wait with me for the bus, and then go wandering while I was gone.. But he would always be at home waiting when I got out of school.

I was sad when one day my Buddy was gone for good. I do not know where he went, and remember him fondly.. My stray that stole my heart. I wish I could have kept you Buddy. I hope you are resting in peace where ever you are.

Just some doodles of a stray that I had the pleasure of knowing for little over a year.. The buttom one bugs me..The anatomy is a little off. Oh well.