"Ain’t It Kinda Funny"… from dream to rescue 🎵🐾
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Meet Buddy, one special dog whose humans came together for the best possible outcome for him.
Buddy’s wonderful guardians, Vanessa and Mick, had adopted him from a home where he had worked as a mustering dog for a time, via the Home2Home program. Buddy was young and soft-natured, which made him better suited as a pet than a full-time working dog. Experienced and dedicated dog guardians, Vanessa and Mick also had another male working dog who was a pet out of work hours.
Despite their best efforts, Buddy’s endless curiosity and desire to herd made it difficult for him to settle at the farm. Their other dog was not keen on sharing his home and family, and Buddy found the household’s cats and horses too intriguing, sometimes chasing them in moments of excitement. It was a stressful situation for Vanessa and Mick, and ultimately, they made the difficult decision to find Buddy a new home.
Searching for Buddy’s new home
It was then that Vanessa got in touch with Home2Home and re-entered Buddy into the program, which meant she could give him the extra time in a loving home he wouldn't have had if they had surrendered him to a shelter. That time and understanding with no judgment from Home2Home allowed Vanessa to learn more about Buddy and what his ideal home and humans would look like. With that information and help from Dr Diana Rayment, Home2Home’s Program Specialist, Buddy’s profile was updated. Once the enquiries started to come in she was able to have direct 1:1 conversations with potential adopters to make sure it would be a good fit for everyone.
It wasn’t long before an enquiry came through from Michelle and Tim. The couple are lifelong dog lovers who have always had rescue dogs and have previously cared for dogs with special needs. An active couple who love hiking, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding, they were searching for a companion who could be a part of their outdoorsy lifestyle. They were searching for a social, friendly dog who would love the beach, enjoy camping, and adapt to spending time with Michelle’s mother, who the couple lives with and cares for.
“We had just lost our dog, and although we weren’t ready to adopt, I found comfort in browsing PetRescue, knowing that another dog would join our family someday. The moment I saw Buddy online, I was drawn to his beautiful face and expressive eyes. I submitted the adoption enquiry, thinking the process would take weeks or even months. The process was relatively seamless, and everything happened much faster than expected. Before we knew it, Buddy was coming home with us.”
“When we arrived to meet him and saw him sitting outside at Vanessa’s, we were both so excited to get to know him. After spending a couple of hours together, his affectionate nature shone through, and we just knew he was the one.” Michelle shares.
The Home2Home experience
After speaking with them, Vanessa knew that Michelle and Tim would be a great fit based on their dedication to meeting their previous dogs' needs. She says about the process:
“It didn't take long in our phone conversation to realise that Michelle and Tim could be the right people. The way they spoke about their own dogs, the lengths they had gone to to ensure their previous dog’s needs were seen and met made it clear that they would be willing to do whatever Buddy needed to make their lifestyle work for him.
We arranged to meet up in person. They were so respectful and understanding of Buddy, there were no demands, no force, and a genuine desire on their part to connect with Buddy on his terms to allow him the space and time needed to get to know them, their willingness to adapt their dog communication style immediately to suit Buddy’s way of communicating and interacting with people helped me be so confident that they would be the right people for Buddy. They were so keen to have Buddy join them but also wanted to make sure I was happy with the decision, which gave me so much confidence in allowing them to adopt Buddy.
The process of being able to speak directly with potential adoptees gave me so much confidence to be able to have really open and honest conversations. I spoke for ages to Michelle about Buddy and his needs, and their needs and wants in a dog and to discuss any possible areas of concern from both sides. The level of honesty in those conversations was just so good as it allowed both sides to really consider the needs of Buddy and the potential adopters. Direct communication was so valuable, nothing was lost in translation as there was no person in the middle filtering what was shared.”
Finding his new home via the Home2Home program also meant that Buddy was able to stay in a loving home until his new home was found, keeping him out of shelters where he could face an uncertain future in a stressful environment.
Buddy’s new life with Michelle and Tim
In the months since living with Michelle and Tim, Buddy has been camping, loves the beach, enjoys café outings, and has become an integral part of their family. Michelle describes Buddy as a “ray of sunshine” during a difficult time after losing their other dog, and “a dream dog.” His gentle nature has made him an excellent companion for Michelle’s mother, and he is thriving in his new life.
“Buddy is such a joy,” Michelle shares. “He is so social, and he just fits into our lives perfectly. He loves meeting people, he’s happy to be part of whatever we’re doing, and he’s just so affectionate. It feels like he was meant to be with us.”
She continues, “he spreads his love around and enjoys cuddles from anyone willing to give them. We absolutely adore having him around and watching him adjust to his new life with us. He’s always up for an adventure and keen to join us in any activity. His name suits him perfectly because he truly is my best buddy, I take him almost everywhere with me! Our mornings start with a walk to the park, and when I work from home, he naps in his bed next to my desk.
In the short time we’ve had him, he’s already been on a few holidays with us, staying in dog-friendly Airbnbs and camping. Although he wasn’t keen on water at first, he now enjoys kayaking and even sits calmly on the stand-up paddleboard. His absolute favourite thing is chasing balls, frisbees, and toys - he’d go all day if we let him!”
The Impact of Home2Home
Michelle praises the Home2Home program for the way it supports both adopters and guardians, ensuring that every step of the journey is smooth and reassuring. “It’s such a wonderful program because it allows for direct conversations between everyone involved. That made all the difference in us finding Buddy and knowing that he was the right dog for us.”
Vanessa says about the experience of finding Buddy’s new home through Home2Home;
“PetRescue's Home2Home program has been such a positive experience for me. Buddy loved being with us and I adored him but a few things about him didn't suit our lifestyle, he was always switched on to work mode and couldn't seem to truly relax. He learned lots of things with us, we got him out and about, took him into town, he learned to play a highly energetic play style with our other dog, and to manage some pretty intense dog behaviours from our other dog but finding his family in Michelle and Tim through Home2Home has been the most positive experience for all of us.
I can't say I'd ever imagined a working-bred Kelpie would be a happy cafe-visiting dog but he has truly found his place in the world! Buddy has found his people, he has his family and Michelle and Tim continue to respect and love Buddy and give him exactly what he needs each and every day and I'm so pleased that he has found a home with them.”
From initially being a curious working doggo to now being a relaxed beach-loving, adventure-seeking family member, Buddy’s journey highlights the importance of finding the right match for both the dog and their adopters. With time, patience, and the right support, every dog has the chance to find a home where they can truly thrive, while staying in a safe and loving environment.
