Jimmy Buffett
by Tanya M. Jackson

It was nearly noon on a very busy day at the Nassau Humane Society and the door opened for the umpteenth time - to reveal an elderly gentleman with a very small puppy in his hands. "I found him all alone beside the path where I walk," the man said. "I can't keep him; I live in an apartment."

When a puppy is very young and without a mother, he seldom makes it in a shelter without a lot of special care, which a busy and harried staff does not have time to give. Again, a volunteer is needed.

Patsy's eyes met mine. "Can you take him?" she asked. "We'll have to put him down if we can't find someone to care for him until he is older." "Lordy!" we all said. "Pour a drink! IT'S FIVE O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE!"We were kidding of course, as we made reference to the Alan Jackson/Jimmy Buffett song currently popular on the local Country and Western radio station.

But Little Jimmy Buffett was named in that moment. He was adorable - a golden honey red color with a dark muzzle and bright shoe button brown eyes. His body was stocky and sturdy, and his little tail was always wagging! His ears perked up and flipped over at the tips, and he was spunky and energetic.

I took him home and set up my "puppy pen" and got him some special blankets and toys to keep him company. My own dog, Gretel, is not too keen on wee puppies. She likes them to stay in their place and out of her way until they are old enough to really play.

Jimmy was special from the beginning. He was just so cute! He immediately made sense of the "puppy piddle pads" near the door and headed there as soon as he needed to go outside. Puppy piddles on the pads very quickly became a simple request for OUT!

I was amazed! I am pretty good at dog-training, but Jimmy was doing it all by himself. He understood "no", sat for his supper and his treats, and generally surprised everyone in my family. He grew fast, and I took him to the shelter periodically for check-ups with Patsy and his shots and worming meds.

Everyone loved him - he live up to his Jimmy Buffett connection, always ready for fun and seeming to smile at every admiring word directed his way. I knew I would soon have to start the search for a forever home for him find it very difficult to part with him. Friends ask "how can you do that?" but you just know from the beginning that you are raising this baby for someone else, and that is your purpose.

So up on the website Little Jimmy went, pictures and all. I updated his biography almost daily, recounting his newest accomplishments like any new mom does. Requests to adopt him mounted in number, and Sparky told me that I had raised him, so I could choose his new family.

The interview process began in earnest. I listed off my requirements: fenced yard, special place INSIDE the house, part of the family, lots of attention, training and love. Maybe a puppy pal or a kitty - there were both at my home and he got along well. He loved little children, spending many a nap time in the laps of my 5 year old and 8 year of grandsons.

The family I finally chose was a young couple with another puppy - a beautiful registered German Shepherd named Cain. His pointed ears already stood up and he was headed to being a big dog! He was one week older than our estimated age of Jimmy.

They wanted a dog as a pal for Cain, who would be able to hold his own, as well enjoy playing with a very large dog when they were both grown. He was used to wrestling with my mini-Schnauzer by this time, and he could hold his own with anything!

They had the money and the space to give a wonderful life to both dogs. Jimmy fit their bill perfectly and they filled my desires for Jimmy. We set the date for adoption and I prepared to say good-bye to my little one.

The day before Jimmy was adopted we traveled to St. Augustine to meet some friends at a campground. Of course Jimmy went along, traveling like an angel, decked out with a new halter and leash, and ready for fun. At the campground we went for a long walk, our friends and their three small dogs, our mini-Schnauzer, Gretel, and Little Jimmy Buffett, keeping up with the best of them. We even stopped traffic!

Jimmy insisted on walking the whole walk, although I wanted to carry him and hug him and love and baby him for just another day. He wanted to be one of the big guys. I knew he was ready for his adoption.

Since then I have heard from his family that he is doing well, growing like little weed, and tearing the place apart with his new big brother. He is a happy loving dog, and I am ready to take on another foster baby - it's just that satisfying a job! There'll never be another Little Jimmy Buffett, but there will be lots more babies who need help to grow up to be wonderful dogs.