THIS IS THE STORY OF BUDDY TUCKER

WHO WONDERED WHERE IS HIS MASTER

It all started November 14, 2008, when someone saw this little black dog with one flop ear and his little wife sitting on the edge of Manville/Trico Rd in Marana, Arizona. After two days of waiting for their master to come back and get them, they began wondering. Why did they leave us and drive away?

Where are we? Why are all these people yelling “Get out of the road”? What do we do now? Our master told us to stay here, but what are we going to eat and drink? After the two days had gone by, a pair of guardian angels came to their rescue more or less. Buddy Tucker and his wife, didn’t want to leave the spot, because they knew their master would be back to get them, if they just waited long enough. After all, their master told them to stay there. But their guardian angels also knew that some one would run over them, if they continued to sit on the edge of road waiting. They were finally able to get Buddy Tucker and his wife over to safety under a big mesquite tree in the desert across from the road.

There he and his wife sat and watched as people drove up and down Manville Road. He just knew that his master would be back to get them. But they were scared and wondering what were they going to eat and where could they get water in the desert. Meanwhile, still thinking what could they have wrong, they wondered why their master would leave them on the edge of the road without food or water. But once again, his guardian angels sensed their need and made sure that he and his wife had 3 square meals and plenty of water every day. Everyone began leaving toys, treats and food, but not their master, he had long deserted them. Several people tried to catch them, but no one could. Finally, his guardian angels put a small dog house covered with a comforter to keep out the winter cold under their tree home. They cleaned up their area of glass, bob wire and trash. Buddy Tucker and his wife touched the hearts of many people who drove on Manville Road every day. After the third day in the desert, Buddy Tucker had a huge gash in his throat, the size of grapefruit and was limping. Now, he really was scared, if anything happen to him what would become of his wife. Could she survive without him? Would his master be angry that he left her alone in the desert? Once again his guardians angels sensed his plea. They came to his rescue and he was put on antibiotics and healed in about a month.

Animal control came out and could not catch them. Anytime, anyone would try, they would run out on the road and disappear in the desert until dark. Everyone learned to approach with caution, so as not to scare them more than they already were. Did their master abuse them? Is that what made them so afraid? You could not raise your hand at them without both of them running off with their tails tucked under their bodies and hiding until you left their area.

Buddy Tucker and his wife became very close to each other, while they were waiting for their master to come to get them. They would look after at each other and at times played like 2 small children, running and chasing each other. But, never did they venture too far from the big mesquite tree which became their home in the desert.

While their master spent Thanksgiving day in a warm cozy home; Buddy Tucker and his wife sat under their tree home that cold rainy day, wondering, why their master still had not showed up to get them and take them back home. Again, their guardian angels appeared that evening and built them a large shelter with plastic on the sides to keep out the rain and wind. A local animal rescue donated Bermuda hay to keep them warm and give them bedding. They stayed under the tree in the shelter and waited and waited for their master to return. But no one came except a lot of strangers with food and snacks.

Time and time again volunteers tried to get them, but they would run off and hide in the desert till dark. They tried to tranquilize them and two generous people helped with a live cages, but nothing worked. They would not go in the cages. Time was of the essence because of coyotes, traffic, snakes, owls, pack of stray dogs and all the other dangers that lurk in the Arizona desert.

Christmas came and went, still Buddy Tucker and wife stayed under their tree house. Waiting and waiting, watching every car that would go by, wondering why their master still had come back to get them; it has been so long now. They were faithful and true; but their master was not.

Soon, it became apparent that Buddy Tucker’s wife was pregnant. Now, time was really running out and his guardian angels would have to do something, because soon there would be little kids running around. With all the coyotes and packs of dogs (that other ruthless and careless owners let run loose), they would surely get them. But faithful Buddy Tucker would not leave his watch, waiting for his master to return to get them.

January 6, 2009, his guardian angel (Carl) was giving them breakfast and realized the Buddy Tucker’s wife was giving birth. She had dug a small round hole in the dirt with Buddy Tucker digging another hole to be near her and guard her while she was in labor. Before too long, it became apparent that she was in trouble giving birth and already had lost one baby. She knew and Buddy Tucker knew she needed help. This time, she did not try to run away so Carl carried her to his car and returned to get the 2 remaining babies. He took her and the kids to his home, put them in a quiet area, and not too long after that she gave birth to another puppy. Three little boys, 1 black like their dad and 2 with brown/black markings like their mother. It was very hard to gather her and the kids up and leave Buddy Tucker. Their hearts became very heavy and ached with pain, because they had to leave without Buddy Tucker. But they knew if they didn’t take her and the kids, they would surely die. Now, he had lost everything and was alone in a strange place. It would be days before he got his appetite back. But Buddy Tucker was not going to leave, as he just knew his master would be coming for him. Still, days, weeks and then months pasted and no master showed up; Buddy Tucker still being faithful, waited and watched for his master to come. He always faced the Manville Road, so he would not miss his master when he came to get them.

Carl and Sandy took his wife to see him in hopes that he would come up to them. But he sat afar, watching them pet his wife and talk to him and her. At times, he would jump around and wag his tail when they fed him; but never getting close enough to so they could catch him.

Everyone helped Carl and Sandy with food for the puppies, a heater to keep them warm, fences, crates, pads, toys, bowls, comforters, coupons, dog collars, harnesses and other much needed items. There was a day that several volunteers helped Carl put up a temporary kennel with Buddy Tucker’s wife inside in hopes he would go into it. Carl laid in the ditch for a day waiting to pull a string to shut the door if he went inside. But no luck. Buddy Tucker still knew he could not leave his watch. Faithfully, he would wait and watch as every car when by. Thinking, to himself, it has been so long, since we saw our master. He began wondering if his master was okay or did something happen to him; is that why his master hasn’t returned for them.

Well it wasn’t long before Buddy Tucker got injured again by either the pack of dogs or coyotes. Once more his guardian angel came to his rescue. But this time he could hardly walk. He had large and small cuts on his handsome body. He hid for a day and would not eat until days later. he was given antibiotics and vitamins for several weeks. After a while, he got better and began jumping around again. Everyone would go down and sit by his tree and softly talk to him. But he would sit at a distance on his cement area and look, but not come close. Buddy Tucker was still waiting for his master to come rescue him from his horrible nightmare. Dozens of large black crows would dive down at him, trying to get his food, water and treats. Coyotes would sit near by waiting and watching him. Several times a pack of 3 to 5 large dogs would run in his area and run him off.

He had many names, as everyone tried to figure out what his name could possibly be in hope he would come to someone. Another guardian angel called him Blackie and would sit and talk to him, hoping she could catch him. This guardian was willing to adopt him and give him a loving home. But nothing could seem to make him change his mind to leave his watch. He was finally given the names of Tucker and Buddy. His wife was named Pookie by Sandy. Buddy Tucker had many people whose heart he won over, because of his faithfulness, but never the one he really wanted to win. He became torn between all his human friends in trying to decide if he should leave his watch and go with them or stay on his watch. Needless to say, Buddy stayed on his watch as a good and faithful dog would.

Buddy Tucker would run off, if people showed up to feed him; but he always came back to his home under the tree. There were times, when you drove up to his tree home, then he would come out from under it, wagging his tail, to see if it was his master coming to get him. After, he found out it wasn’t, he would back off and stand and howl. This is how everyone knew, he was getting tore between going and staying. But he was a faithful little dog and he was not going to give up.

But you see, on April 17, 2009 in the early morning hours, Buddy Tucker’s watch came to an end. He was struck and killed by a hit and run driver on Manville Road almost in the exact spot where he was dumped. He always kept his little area under the mesquite tree neat. But this day, something had torn the plastic off his shelter and the comforter was ripped off his little house. It was a mess. His area was no longer his and he was gone. He did his best to protect his home until his master came back and got him. But he was no match for whatever came after him and torn through his home.

Is that why Pookie woke Sandy around 3 a..m. and wanted out and than just looked in the direction of her old home under the mesquite tree? Did she know that something had happened to Buddy Tucker? Did he try to run to safety, but didn’t make it? Did the pack of dogs, wild pigs or coyotes go after him? Did he think he heard his master finally coming to get him and didn’t want his master to miss him? Why was he out on the road again? No one will ever know.

It is quiet now and he will no longer have to wonder when his master was coming to get him or be scared of the dangers that would await him in the desert. Another guardian angel left a badge under his tree home. This was to represent Buddy Tucker’s courage and faithfulness for staying 5-1/2 months, waiting and watching for his master he loved so much to return. We are sure he knows that his wife and kids are all safe and at least they all have a loving home and never again will be deserted like he and she was.

Pookie now lives with Buddy Tucker’s guardian angels (Carl and Sandy) along with their other adopted stray dogs. The kids were given excellent homes, with some them being brought back, so Carl, Sandy and Pookie can see them.

Buddy Tucker was not buried under his desert tree home, but at a home not far from his last stand. He did not need to be alone in the desert anymore, but needed a real home that he had longed for, but never received until his death. He is buried at a private home in their pet cemetery with all their other animals and where no predators can ever get or scare him again.. He was buried with his blanket, red soft toy, ball and his rawhide bone.

This makes you wonder just what kind of person would dump these two helpless dogs in the middle of the hot unforgivable Arizona desert!!!

There were many guardian angels involved in this story. They all played a part in keeping Buddy Tucker alive and showed unconditional love for him during his 5-1/2 months ordeal. Buddy Tucker brought a lot different people together that otherwise may have never known each other. All his guardian angels have their own story to tell of Buddy Tucker.

Here, are just a sample of the many people’s hearts he touched while on his faithful watch.

Shelters List: Coming Soon!