Animals Will Teach You: Remembering Buddy
As a puppy, he was given the name “Bud.” At age seven, when he came to live with us, I called him “Buddy”—my Buddy. He was a handsome pure-bred yellow Labrador Retriever; an American Lab, which tends to be taller than an English Lab. Buddy was large, gracing nearly thirty inches according to how they measure the height of these animals. He weighed 105 pounds. He was not overweight. His name fit him well—“Mr. Bud”—beautiful, gentle, obedient, happy, lovable, affectionate, and loyal. Oh, how loyal he was!
George Cansdale (1909-1993) was a prominent British zoologist and Superintendent of the London Zoo. He traveled widely and spoke extensively concerning his field of expertise. All the while he maintained an allegiance to the biblical worldview. His presentations on the animal world captured the attention of children and adults. He authored a book titled All the Animals of the Bible (Zondervan 1970). In the book’s Foreword, written by the late John Stott, the author is described as one who was “a keen Bible student all his life.” Cansdale’s book is fascinating and informative. In a chapter about bears, wolves, foxes, dogs, et al., Cansdale says, “Without doubt the dog is man’s oldest animal companion. . . . [The dog] assumed the role of honoured assistant and intimate companion of people all over the world” (121, 123).
On a crisp Fall Thursday evening (November 2, 2017) Bud’s former owner opened the back door of her Brecksville, OH, house and a big beautiful seven-year-old dog came bouncing in from outdoors to the living room where my wife Sharon and I were seated. At the time, I was reminded of Superman “leaping tall buildings with a single bound” as Mr. Bud leaped through the air and landed on my lap! As he began to affectionately attempt to lick our faces everyone was laughing. It was the first time Bud and I had seen one another. At that moment I recall thinking to myself that this animal is special. From that moment on, he and I bonded, and it continued every day thereafter unto Wednesday, August 31, 2022, when he, in just a matter of a few days, became so sick and weak that I had to pick him up in my arms and carry him to a room in a veterinarian clinic where his Vet, Dr. Casto, and her assistant, Melissa, gently and mercifully put our Buddy down with Sharon and me at his side comforting him as he had done at our side so many times during the past five years.
As Cansdale had stated, my Buddy “assumed the role of honourable assistant and intimate companion.” During most of those last five years he and I went everywhere together. One of the few places I never took him with me was the assemblies of the church. However, as I give thought to it now, I probably could have taken him there, and his behavior would have been as it always was—excellent! Of course, Buddy would never have worshipped God because, as wonderfully made as he was, he was not made “in the image of God” as you and I (cf. Genesis 1:25-28).
As this is being written, it now has been eleven years (2011-2022) that Sharon has battled stage four metastatic cancer. The prognosis was a survival expectation of five years. Her primary oncologist (Dr. Moore) has regularly described this cancer as “awful.” For eleven years, we have traveled to Cleveland Clinic every three weeks for treatments. Including these treatments plus scans, surgeries, etc., we have made more than 200 trips to Cleveland since 2011. Since coming to us in 2017, Buddy did not miss even one trip! Early on, he received a standing invitation to visit the Clinic’s Taussig Cancer Center, which we did at various times while Sharon underwent treatment. At other times, he and I took walks, rested with treats under the shade of a tree, visited PetPeople—his favorite store, etc.
On June 24, 2022, we made the trip to Cleveland for Sharon’s scans. Dr. Moore was tearful as she reported the results following the scans. They were tears of joy. For the first time since the metastasis was diagnosed in 2011 the scans showed no sign of cancer! Treatments would cease, with the next appointment at Cleveland Clinic scheduled for December 2022! To God, we give praise and thanksgiving. It is certain there are numerous elements, some of which remain unknown, that have contributed to the successful results in Sharon’s story: her Christian faith and positivity, the power of prayer, excellent physicians, et al. I am convinced the presence of Buddy was also one of these elements. He seemed at times to have an uncanny sense of when he was needed to just be there for us. God made these animals with remarkable sensitivity that is able to bring comfort and security to others.
Since that evening of November 2017 in Brecksville, OH, I have continued to believe that Buddy’s presence was providential (cf. Romans 8:28). At least I can say as Paul, “Perhaps . . .” (Philemon 15). Buddy made an impact for good everywhere he went with everyone he met. He impacted the work of the Warren Center with his regular visits to the Center’s office. Buddy became the office mascot spreading joy as he wagged that beautiful tail with his heart. Lyn, the Warren Center’s Office Administrator, spoiled him. It was powerful to observe how the two of them bonded and the lessons learned from their relationship. The Bible speaks of how the righteous cares for the needs of his animal (cf. Proverbs 12:10). I observed the application of this truth many times during the years Buddy was with us. The Scriptures profoundly summarize what has happened: “But ask the animals, and they will teach you . . . that the hand of the Lord has done this. In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind” (Job 12:7-9, NIV).
Dr. Warren observed that “the existence of animals in the world affords God a medium of teaching various spiritual truths . . . profound moral and spiritual lessons . . . “ (Have Atheists Proved There Is No God? 65-66). My Buddy taught me more than I ever taught him. I pray I never forget this beautiful animal, the joy his presence brought to my life, the lessons I learned from him, and, above all, that in the hand of God is the life of every creature (cf. Revelation 4:11). To God be the glory.
Charles C. Pugh III
Executive Director