The Buddy Project (TBP) was uptown this past Saturday meeting with Kearny pet owners. They were completing the final steps for TBP to transport pets to a low cost spay/neuter clinic on Oct. 20, 2021.
Pinal County MASH has been very open to working with The Buddy Project. The MASH veterinarian is allowing the group to schedule several pets at once to be spayed/neutered at the clinic. The Buddy Project volunteers are providing the scheduled transport for free, but donations would be appreciated to help with the cost of transport. The next tentative spay/neuter trip will be in February/March.
René Dow was inspired to form The Buddy Project by a little brown and white dog. His circumstances were risky because he lived on the streets of Kearny for 2 ½ to 3 months. He got food and water where he could and slept where he could. Many people recognized “Buddy” but nobody would claim him as their dog. René named him “Buddy” to differentiate him from other roaming dogs. Community members would post on Facebook where he was traveling, where he was sleeping, and the close calls he had with cars and trucks. The little escape artist was finally humanely trapped and was taken in by René to foster him, provide veterinarian care and get him used to being around people. He is making great progress.
Volunteers from The Buddy Project have met with Kearny town management and police to learn from each other. They have been in contact with Pinal County Animal Control and will be helping with the next January rabies clinic. There will be a booth at the Nov. 13 car show to introduce community members to the services provided by The Buddy Project with information packets and raffle baskets. Owners and their dogs are welcome to stop by and sample homemade treats.
Mission Statement:
The “Buddy Project” intends to reduce the stray pet population of the Copper Basin by facilitating spay, neuter, and rescue opportunities for at risk animals. The project will offer reasonable assistance to struggling pet owners allowing them to enjoy the benefits of pet ownership.