Little Lost Bubba

It was a steamy summer morning when he so mysteriously appeared, a little black dog wearing an old tattered, faded red collar. He couldn’t have been more than six months old, his young frame thin and dehydrated. In the intense summer heat he had sought refuge in the cool shade under our porch. That's where we found him, curled up in the cool earth, just under the back steps.

For days he made that shade his home, even though Phil tried to discourage him. We gave him food, shelter and plenty of fresh water, and for the moment life just couldn't be any sweeter. Just the same, I could only imagine a family somewhere frantically searching for him. How sad they must be, yet all our efforts to locate them went unnoticed. As incredible as it seemed, not one family responded to claim their beloved pet.

This sweet little black dog had been abandoned. Just thrown away, afraid and alone, left by the roadside to survive the best way he could. There wasn't even a child to mourn his absence. Althought we tried desperately, we never found a single clue to his life before that summer day, and so began our friendship, our future with the little black dog we called “Bubba”.

Life With Bubba

As he grew, there was no mistaking Bubba’s independence. He was really quite unique in the ways he displayed it. A loving, protective Lab, always eager to please, yet always original in his presentation. He was definitely one of a kind. Bubba had no problems making himself right at home, life was good. He had acres to run, lakes to swim in, coons to tree, cats to tease, deer to hunt, and his favorite game to play; tease the horses with the basketball. Adventurous and playful, Bubba never had a shortage of friends wanting to share along in the fun.

Bubba The Welcome Host

One of the most remarkable presentations of his affection was his self appointed role as welcome host of our household. It became his trademark. It was puzzling the first dozen or so times he displayed this behavior, but it soon became apparent that our Bubba had a big heart and an eagerness to share it.

Bubba would always bring anyone who visited a welcome gift. It would be in the form of a leaf from our magnolia tree, a nut from the hickory tree, a broken limb, a wildflower, a pecan, a rock or piece of gravel, a pine cone, or anything he could find lying around the yard that he could offer in exchange for a rub on the head or a kind "hello". It didn’t matter to Bubba who came, or how many times a day they came, he always greeted them with a gift, smiling eyes, and a happy tail. Even when we left the house and returned he NEVER failed, not once, to bring us a welcome home gift. Our friends and family marveled at his hospitality, and he was always the hit with anyone who came for a visit.

I always wondered if that was his way to express appreciation for the home he had come to know as his own.

Bubba - Guardian, Friend And Faithful Companion

Looking back to that first summer day, there was no way we could have known how much we would come to love this little thrown away dog. No way we could have begun to comprehend the impact he would have on our lives and the lives of those who came to know him. All we do know is that he chose us, and in doing so blessed us with a companion unlike any we’ve ever known.

He was by our side with every step we took, and one step ahead of us securing the way. He stood watch over our family, and the animals he had come to love with great pride and courage. He was faithful in his love for each of us, and was never slack in giving attention or affection. We were his family, this was his home, and he made it complete.