Buddy, a scrappy stray dog with a heart of gold, to compete for America’s Favorite Pet 2023
Buddy, a scrappy stray dog with a heart of gold, to compete for America’s Favorite Pet 2023
[Fostoria, OH – Jan. 6, 2023] – Buddy, a lovable rescue dog from Fostoria with a heart of gold has been nominated to compete in the 2023 America’s Favorite Pet contest.
The contest, organized by Dogster Magazine, gives pet owners the chance to win $5,000 and a feature in the magazine by sharing their pet’s story and encouraging others to vote for them.
Marquita Smith, Buddy’s owner, submitted his story and a picture for the contest after adopting him from the Seneca County Dog Warden several years ago.
“Buddy was living in a pipe at a grain elevator when he was found,” Smith said. “He was in very poor health and had hundreds of sores from ticks all over him. But the dog warden, Kelly Marker, was determined to help him. She spent hours picking off the ticks and nursing him back to health.”
Marker said Buddy was a stray with no owner claim or dog license. She was worried that it may be difficult to find a home for him due to his underbite, physical condition and shy temperament.
It wasn’t long before Smith and her husband Jerry decided to adopt Buddy. They had been searching for the perfect dog to add to their family, and they knew that Buddy was the one they had been looking for.
“I am so happy that Marquita’s husband found him, and they chose to adopt. I remember her husband feeding Buddy his lunch regularly, and we had to set up a trap to catch the little guy,” Marker said.
Despite his initial shyness and mistrust of people, Buddy quickly adapted to his new home and became a beloved member of the family. His big, goofy underbite gives him the appearance of a permanent smile, and his playful personality endears him to everyone he meets.
Smith shared a story that shows how unique and special Buddy is. She said the family had a rescue dog named Jake that had hip issues when he was older. Jake had problems getting up and down the stairs.
“Buddy would not leave his side,” Smith said. “He would lay right there with him, and he’d always keep an eye on him.”
As the years passed, Buddy continued to thrive, and when Smith heard about the competition, she knew that Buddy was the perfect candidate.
Voting for the first round of the competition begins at 1 p.m. EST on Jan. 16th. Voting runs through Jan. 26th. Save the following link so you can vote for Buddy starting on Jan. 16.
Smith said if Buddy wins the competition, she plans to donate all of the $5,000 prize to the Seneca County Dog Warden’s Office and the Seneca County Humane Society.
“This is a great opportunity to bring attention to our local animal shelters and the Seneca County Dog Warden’s Office,” she said. “It’s also a great opportunity to highlight the dogs that are available for adoption.”
Buddy’s journey from stray to the America’s Favorite Pet competition is a testament to the resilience and love of animals and a reminder of the good that can come from giving a chance to those in need.
The contest is also sponsored by America’s Favorite Pet LLC, an organization that assists PAWS (Progressive Animal Welfare Society) to raise money and national awareness for the PAWS mission to help cats, dogs and wild animals go home and thrive – whether home is the family room or the forest.
In addition to Buddy’s entrance into the contest, the Seneca County Commissioners are also planning to present Buddy a proclamation naming him Seneca County Dog of the Year.
“I was inspired by Buddy’s story, and we can’t wait to meet him and present him with this honor,” Commissioner Tyler Shuff said.
If you are interested in adopting a stray dog or have questions about the process, you can call the dog warden’s office, (419) 448-5097. All dogs are available for adoption for $30 which includes a dog license.