All dog parents think their dog is the best. And fun fact - they are not wrong. But my dog is truly something special. Dudley is the definition of happy. His tail is always wagging, his smile is always shining, and his butt is always wiggling.
The phrase "never met a stranger" was modeled after him. If you have a lap, he's in it. A free hand? It's petting Dudley now.
It wasn't always this way for my bright and beautiful pup. Late one night in December of 2018, a kind couple found him on the side of the road. He could not walk, or even wag his tail. Thankfully, they scooped him up and brought him to the Jacksonville Humane Society.
The medical team took X-rays and it was determined that he had a pelvic fracture, likely due to being hit by a car. It requires lots of medicine, crate rest, and no physical activity for six weeks. With Christmas approaching, a foster volunteer signed up to house and care for Dudley until he healed!
And then, on Christmas morning, as I was casually scrolling Facebook, a pair of big brown eyes filled the screen. This was my first Christmas in seven years without my beloved dog, Ruby, who had passed away in November. I didn't think I was ready for a new dog, but his face (okay, I'll admit it - it was the eyebrows) was just too cute to ignore.
I sent the foster mom a message... when Dudley was healed, could I meet him?
Fast forward six weeks, and Dudley was sitting in my office at JHS, flashing those puppy-dog-eyes and a mischievous grin at me. And now, in 2025, it's safe to say that he's my very best friend. No one loves me quite like this. In Dudley's eyes, I can do no wrong. I'm never too emotional, too messy, or too needy. I'm just me and that's enough for Duds.
And it is Dudley that I think about every day when I get the privilege to do my job at the Jacksonville Humane Society. I work not just for the other Dudleys, who are waiting in the kennels downstairs for a new family to find them, but for the other Lindsays who walk into our building looking for love. Making this magic happen is the true joy of my life.
But that magic can't happen without YOU. It is only thanks to our generous donors and supporters that dogs like Dudley (and dog moms like me!) are saved and given the second chances they deserve. Please send a gift today in honor of Dudley, or the Dudley in your life, and let's save even more animals together.
