Jenny DeShields

Staff Writer n jenniferd@nwanews.com

Buddy Bear, one of the village's longtime stray dogs, has managed to have two happy endings in less than a week.

The 2-year-old Tibetan-mastiff mix was adopted Dec. 23 after having been at the Bella Vista Animal Shelter for about a month. The dog had roamed free behind Bella Vista Fire Station No. 3 in the Highlands for nearly six months before he was captured Nov. 29 by Merle Weaver, animal control officer for the Bella Vista division of the Benton County Sheriff's Office.

Buddy's stay with his new family didn't last long, however. On Dec. 23, just hours after arriving at the family's home in the Manchester and Crathorne area, Buddy bolted, Bella Vista Animal Shelter manager Donna Miles said.

Several Buddy sightings were reported over the course of several days, but a story in Thursday's Daily Record prompted an even greater response from the community and led to the dog's safe return to the shelter.

"He's in pretty rough shape," Miles said, "but he's alive." Buddy went almost a week without much-needed medication for a skin infection, and "he's skin and bones," she added.

The shelter staff received a number of calls Thursday morning from people who had spotted the runaway. Two of the callers mentioned seeing him on a walking trail off Manchester.

Miles contacted shelter employee Ginger Wells, who had the day off. Wells and her 8-year-old son, Devin, immediately drove to the walking trail and started calling Buddy's name. "He came right to them," Miles said.

Finding Buddy may have been easy for Wells, but getting him back to the shelter proved to be a problem. "(Wells) drives a Corvette and didn't have room for Buddy and her child," Miles said.

So Wells contacted Miles, who had a vehicle with plenty of room to accommodate Buddy's bulk.

Miles expressed gratitude for the community's help in bringing Buddy back. "The shelter staff thanks everyone who spotted him and called in. And thanks for just caring. We so appreciate it."

It remains to be seen as to whether Buddy will return to his adoptive family's home.

"We'll see what is best for Buddy," Miles said.