We all watched in horror after a yellow lab named Buddy was set on fire by a kid who seemed to think that was an okay thing to do.

Buddy has fought an incredible battle since April, and is the definition of inspiration. There have been people all over the country and the world asking about him and keeping up with him.

Well, the Tunica Humane Society says it’s time to start trying to find the perfect home for Buddy. There will be some complications, they said, but Buddy deserves a loving home where he’s safe and protected.

We are so excited for Buddy! Here’s the text of their post.

“It was unthinkable. What happened to Buddy back in April, 2021 was devastating to the multitude of people that have followed his journey thru the pages of the Tunica Humane Society.

One minute, Buddy was a happy, carefree, playful lab running the neighborhood. In the blink of an eye, he was fighting for his life, after being set on fire by a 12 year old child.

Buddy’s heroic journey of healing is now closing in and he is ready to start a new chapter in his life.

After months and months of hospitalization at Mississippi State under Dr. Swanson’s constant care, Buddy is ready to move on to a loving, forever home. A decision we don’t take lightly at the Tunica Humane Society. We are committed to getting this right for this extraordinary dog that has touched a million hearts.

From the very first post on Buddy, we were flooded with inquiries and applications for this precious lab. People were so moved by his story and felt compelled to offer him a home when he recovered. Families from every corner of our country wanted to adopt Buddy and we truly appreciate their love and concern for him.
In reality, it was impossible to even think about where Buddy would live out his life until we knew more about him. Over the last 7 months, we have had to depend on his medical staff at MSU and most recently, his foster parents in Starkville, to get a clear picture of what Buddy is like and what home environment would be best for him in the future.

We feel we know Buddy now. We know where he is at in his healing process. We have a clear picture of his future medical needs. Buddy will continue to heal from the horrific injuries to his face for months to come. Burn wounds are the slowest to heal. He will be a work in progress for some time and his new family needs to understand that. And the responsibilities that go along with that.

At the end of the day, we just want Buddy to be a happy, healthy normal dog in a home where he will be protected and cherished for the remainder of his life.

Because the skin grafts that were applied to his face are still fragile, Buddy wears an e-collar for protection most of the time. There is a small area about an inch wide between his eyes that is being very stubborn about healing. It requires a bandage for protection and must be re-applied every few days. This is a minor thing and could be done by your local veterinarian working closely with Dr. Swanson.

We feel it is in Buddy’s best interest to place him with a family here in the Mid-South, so that MSU would be close by if ever needed.
Buddy has been in a foster home the last few weeks while we started his heartworm treatment. He gets his second injection next week and will need another 4 weeks of quiet activity.

In the words of his foster mom, Buddy is “All Dog”. He is big and strong and very energetic. He loves to take long walks and does very well on a leash. He also loves to ride in the car. He would do best with a very active family that can give him all the attention he craves. Older children in the home would be best. Right now, we feel he would do best as an only dog until he is completely healed. Possibly adding another dog to his family down the road.

Buddy has learned some basic commands. He will play fetch till the sun goes down. He loves his ball and carries it everywhere he goes. He is food motivated and easy to train. He is your typical loving lab.

Buddy is a dog of a lifetime. He deserves a Happy Ending after the horror he endured these past months. If you feel you are meant to be Buddy’s forever family, please submit an application found on our website.

If you have any further questions about Buddy and his future needs, please contact us by email. tmke1@aol.com or swrealty1@hotmail.com No phone calls, please.

It is our heart’s desire to have Buddy in a loving home by Christmas. How perfect that would be for him, after spending months and months in the hospital.

In the beginning we had hoped that Buddy and his friend, Snoop could be adopted together at some point. That isn’t realistic, sadly. Buddy’s face is very fragile. We are concentrating on what is best for him right now and he needs a calmer life.”