Buster’s Story

My name is Buster, but sometimes it is Buddy and sometimes it is Max. People commonly call me a Mutt or a Mexican dog, but I think I am quite handsome. I am tall, short haired, and have really quite good teeth.

I was born on the beach in the small village of Sayulita, on the Pacific coast of Mexico, but I barely remember my mother. When I was only 6 weeks old, I found myself alone on the beach and very, very frightened. I searched and searched, but I couldn’t find her anywhere. Some of the other dogs who lived on the beach, and didn’t have homes, taught me how to beg for food, and how to dig through garbage for tasty tidbits.

With envy, I would look at the dogs on leashes. I knew they had humans who were their owners. Some of them were very disobedient, and did not even listen to their owners. Did they not know how lucky they were? They had humans who loved them and took care of them. Sometimes I would hear the other homeless dogs talking about the humans and how wonderful it would be to have someone take care of them. I sadly walked away and positioned myself near a chair at a beachside restaurant and looked as handsome as I could, hoping one of the human tourists would throw me something to eat.

I have met quite a few really nice human tourists. They would fuss over me and feed me. I would follow some of them home to their rental houses, and they would take care of me and feed me for as long as they were on vacation, but then the time always came when they had to leave. I prayed every day that one of them would take me home with them permanently, but they would just smile at me and say, “Goodbye Max or Buddy, or Buster, we loved having you visit with us.” And then they would leave. I would sadly watch them go hoping that the next human tourists would love me enough to keep me.

Last June, a family with two little boys paid a lot of attention to me. They fed me and played with me for a whole week, and then one morning they were gone. They didn’t even say goodbye. It took me two weeks to get over it. Was I not handsome enough? I know I am a good dog? What was the matter with me? Would nobody every love me?

Then, one day in October, a man and his wife, adopted me for the whole two weeks they were here on vacation. They told me they loved me, and wanted to take me back to their home in the United States.

I heard the couple talking one day, and they were very sad. I just knew this meant they could not take me home with them. They said they had investigated every option, but every place they turned to and every idea was a dead end. Nothing seemed to pan out.

They took me on a trip to a dog doctor, and he gave me some needles and medicine, but then they said goodbye as well. I was very depressed and lonely. I just knew that this couple was my family. I was meant to have them as my Owners.

I kind of resigned myself to living on the beach and begging for scraps. It is not such a bad life, but there are a lot of mean people out there who call me names and kick me because I don’t have a family. Maybe someday another family will come along and be able to adopt me.

The next week, I was sitting by my favorite table at the beach restaurant, when I heard some people talking about a letter that had been written, asking if anyone could help them get a beach dog from our village back to the United States.

My ears perked up immediately! Were they talking about me? They said the dog’s name was Buster. I got very excited, because that is the name my man and woman called me. I stood tall, and barked at them. “Hey, I am Buster. Look at me.” The people didn’t even look at me, and after they finished lunch, they left the restaurant.

I was so happy. My couple really did love me. They wanted me. I just had to get to them, or get someone to notice me and know that I am the dog they want to adopt.

Two days ago, a lady came and put a collar and leash on me, and took me to a neighboring town. I have to admit I was a little nervous, because I did not know where I was going or even why. We stopped at this very nice place with lots of cages, and she gave me a huge dish of food and water. Well, this wasn’t my man and woman, but maybe I could get used to this way of living.

I lay down, quite contented, when I heard the two ladies talking. They were saying that many people had been working really hard to help my man find me, and get me to him in the United States. I couldn’t believe it. They had brought me to this doggie spa, fed me, put cream on my rash, booked a ticket on a plane for me, and now all they were waiting for was a large doggie crate (I am a little large) to send me to my new owner. A nice lady was going to take me part of the way, and then my man was going to come and get me.

It would have been nice to have had a few days to say goodbye to all my friends, because they are just going to think I disappeared into thin air. I really hope they hear the beach gossip and know what happened to me, and I pray they will find humans who want to adopt them as well. I am going to miss them and the beach.

Today, I begin my new life. Early this morning, my man opened the door to the doggie spa, and came in with a huge crate. He did not want to wait for someone else to take me to the United States and my new home. I knew I had finally found someone who loved me, for me. In a few minutes we are going to leave for the airport, and fly to my new family. I am so excited. I am totally ready to be a member of a family. My dreams have finally come true.
I had a really narrow escape. If not for the kindness of some humans who live here, and the devotion they have to animals, I would not be reunited with my man and woman, and I could have spent years being abused on the beach. Thank you to all the animal lovers in the world. I love you all.

By Janette Craig
Sayulita,Nayarit 2008