This year, I’ve become more familiar with Emotional Support Animal’s and how they can help relieve anxiety and provide therapeutic benefits for their owners. ESA’s are such a gift! When Isabelle reached out to me to share Buddy’s story, I was thrilled! Below is Buddy’s interview and I know you will really enjoy reading how he helps her at college. Do you have an ESA? Share your story in the comments below!
What is your name?
Hi DailyBarker! My name is Buddy. When my mom first got me, she was in third grade and had just done a report on the first seeing eye dog, who’s name was Buddy. So she was inspired!
Where are you from?
Point Pleasant, NJ, but I just moved to Stony Brook University in Long Island, New York.
Tell us a little bit about yourself!
My human family doesn’t know much about where I came from. Something about a puppy mill and inhumane conditions? My family found me on Petfinders, drove a few hours to a farm to meet me… and instantly fell in love!
I love my family so much, especially my mom who started college in 2017. I have six dog brothers and sisters! Five are English Toy Spaniels (you can see them randomly on my Instagram) named Sushi, Tofu, Bo, Dumpling, and Millie, and a labradoodle named Mack.
We live a pretty normal life, but mine recently changed for the better. Last year, my mom was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease at the beginning of her sophomore year. It was really hard on her and she almost had to drop out of school. She came home often to deal with her anxiety and she always told me I made her feel better. During this past summer, after a long year with little improvement in her condition, she decided to have me registered as her emotional support animal and bring me to school with her. We spent a lot of the summer together and became even more attached. I don’t know what I would do if she didn’t bring me to school with her! Now I live in a really nice dorm with my mom and a bunch of her friends who love to help her take care of me! It’s a lot of fun and I get to walk around campus and make friends. It’s a very different life than I’ve ever lived before but I am enjoying every minute.
Do you have any nicknames?
Thunder Buddy, Baby Boy, Budster, Bud-the-Stud, Beach Buddy, Budson, and sometimes Buddy Shut Up when my pawrents are worried about the RA.
How many years have you been on Instagram?
This is my first year! I started in late June 2019.
What got you started on Instagram?
It just started as a small page for friends and family because my pawrents wanted somewhere to share all of the hundreds of pictures they take of me, but it grew really quickly and they love the community they found!
What does a typical day look like for you?
Now that I’m at school, I sleep in until 8-10am depending on the day. Then mom takes me on a walk and I give her a hard time about eating all my breakfast. Depending on the day, my mom has to leave for a little bit and go to classes and clubs. My pawrents try to take me most places, but they told me since I already got an A+ in “How to be a Good Boy 101”, I don’t need to go to classes. I usually get to walk around campus and go for car rides though. I love college because everyone is so happy to see me! People stop what they’re doing and run over to pet me and of course I love the attention! When I was at home, I had to share the attention with a lot of other dogs, so I think college life is pretty great. In the evenings, I hang out with my pawrents in their dorms. They usually have friends come over. Every month or so, mom has to go to the hospital to get her medicine for about an hour. Luckily the hospital is right across the street, so we all drive over and I get to sit on her lap for an hour and make her feel better, what a life! I went from being an average dog who missed her mom for months at a time, to living with her full-time and being the most spoiled old pup in the world. Even though I give my pawrents a hard time, I am truly thankful for all the love they give me.
What is your favorite travel spot?
I love to go to the beach. The water is can be scary, so I prefer the sand. But I will make an exception for boats! There is a little park near my house that has a beach area and a large field, that’s one of my favorite places.
If you could be another animal, what would you be?
I would be a chipmunk. I am a little shy of strangers and have three colors to my fur!
What is the one thing, you can’t live without?
I can’t live without my pawrents, especially my mom. I had really bad separation anxiety when getting adjusted to college life if she had to leave me.
Besides her, probably my bandanas that match with my mom’s accessories! I love wearing bandanas, but these came with a matching scrunchie, and headband for her. We also have matching scarves! I love my accessories, so being a model pup has its perks. Always got to look spiffy for the gram!
What is your favorite meal or thing to eat?
I love most food really, but I especially enjoy chicken and green beans.
Tell us one random fact about you that no one knows!
Fun fact: I have half an ear on my left side! It is hard to notice because my family let the hair grow out, but my left ear is significantly shorter than my right ear. We don’t know why, but my mom’s theory is when I was a puppy and my skin was softer it got bitten off by a littermate. But the fact that I am a little imperfect is what made my family fall in love with me even more.
Where can the DailyBarker community connect with you?
Follow my adventures and and my mom’s college career at @thunderbuddy_thecavalier! See you on Instagram!
One comment
You are awesome Buddy!!! So glad you were featured and could share your story!!