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This is Buster, affectionately known as "Roo" by family and friends. I have had numerous dogs in my life and loved them all. Grew up with Airedales (my parents favorite dog), I've had the pleasure of many dog friends, especially a Vizsla (Thor) who was a tremendous bird hunter who could do it all and we roamed California, Virginia and Maryland together in pursuit, and a Yellow Lab (Belle) who I had intentions of training for birds but she was a joker for sure and had other ideas of how her life would be and that's how it went.
Buster "Roo" was our last K9 member of our family. We lost him to cancer FRI 07APR23. He graced us with his goofy, at times challenging but always entertaining ways for 12 years. Everyone loved him, and he loved everyone. He was a pure bred American Pitbull Terrier. Ferocious? Scary? Intimidating? Nope, not an ounce of what the media and some nuts want you to believe. If he wanted attention, food, water or outside he would walk up to you and make a "Roo Roo Roo" sound. Hence his nickname.
My Wife, was a Deputy who had a passion for animals. And one day she said she was transferring to the County Animal Control Department to become an Animal Control Officer/Cruelty Investigator. It meant giving up rank and some other things, but it was important to her. It brought us Buster. One of her first cases was a box of puppies reported seen on the side of a very rural road, in the middle of the night, in the dead of winter. When my Wife arrived on scene, she found the box, empty. A short distance away she found the pups, all cuddled up to the dead body of the mother trying to stay warm. They all had severe mange, and were starving. Long story short, she and the Sheriffs Dept investigated and was able to identify and track down the foul disgusting excuses of human life responsible. It was an underground dog fighting ring. The pups and Mother had contracted mange, and were discarded. During the raid on the property, dozens of dogs in terrible condition were seized. Along with drugs, weapons, stolen property, etc...the filth responsible were lathered in charges, most of which stuck and there was jail time. Our Correction Officers friends made sure all the inmates knew what they had done. There was some "cell justice" carried out by other inmates, as we were informed. All of Busters siblings were saved, brought to good health and adopted by good loving families. I hand picked Buster from the pups. If I could have taken them all I would have. So, I don't have "favorites" of the dogs I have shared my life with, but Buster was special in how he was saved by my Wife and brought into our lives. It's tough to let our dogs go. As tough as I may think I am I will be honest and say I'm a bit misty eyed right now just typing this. I miss them all.
