Bryon's Christmas Miracle...

How was that for a title? It didn't so much happen on Christmas and it really wasn't so much a miracle as it was a heart-breaking story of a boys love for his best buddy and the little pup with some big paw prints to fill. On November 3rd 2009 Bryon experienced a loss of epic proportions. His favorite hunting partner, Buddy went missing. We have only lived in our new house for about 5 months but the dogs have a great sense of direction and home that when they occasionally felt the need to make a break from the fenced in yard it wasn't long before they found their way back. Talon, my old lab is notorious for making a break for it at any opportunity given. Buddy was a follower and just wanted to run. Anytime Talon got out you knew Buddy was right behind him. On November 3rd, we were going to be out all day and completely spaced securing Talon in the back yard. When we came home neither Talon nor Buddy were anywhere to be seen. At first we didn't panic because we knew where they usually ran off to so we got in the truck and went looking. When we didn't see them we still tried not to panic because there are a lot of big open fields they play in and we hoped they were just on their way home. The next morning there was still no sign of the dogs. As I was packing up Madi in the car I saw a very weak and trembling old Talon dog making his way around the front of the house. He looked horrible! I immediately ran to the side of the house to get Buddy but he wasn't there. My heart sank! I knew that wasn't a good sign. We didn't know what happened to Talon but whatever it was didn't play out so favorably for Buddy. That afternoon Bryon ran into our horse shoer who was in the area checking on some horses that had been attacked by what they thought was a cougar. The horses just so happened to be in a pasture really close to our house. We don't want to even verbalize what one would deduce as the reason our poor dog didn't come home that day. We hold out hope that someone has him. We have posted on KSL for him and we check the shelters regularly, but still no sign of Buddy. Bryon was having a really hard time with the loss of his dog and even Madi would talk about Buddy on a daily basis. I decided that it was time for Bryon to get a new puppy to help him get over his loss. I know Sadie won't replace Buddy and that we will always be reminded of Buddy and miss him everyday, but hopefully Sadie will help heal our hearts and help us to move on. I had really hoped to surprise Bryon on Christmas but I thought it would be better if he picked his own dog out. On Thanksgiving weekend we found some puppies that we thought would be a great fit. We went and picked Sadie out and have enjoyed her ever since.
Here are a few pics of Buddy, the man, the myth, the legend.... and here are some of the pictures we have of the new addition....