Saving Buddy: The heartwarming story of a very special rescue

by Nicola Owst

'In my darkest hour, I reached for a hand and found your paw'

When Nicola found Buddy, abandoned and broken, she vowed to do all she could to help save him. What she didn't know at the time was that this little dog would in turn save her.

Monday morning, 27th April 2009.

The sat nav told us we'd reached our destination. The rain was pelting down, the kind that feels as if buckets of water are being chucked at the windscreen.

I'll never forget that day. The horror, fear and the uncertainty of what was to come are still etched on my memory. But I didn't know that in that moment, somewhere off the M1 in a place that seemed as unnerving as it was eerie, I would find something so precious that would change my life forever.

That was the day I discovered my Buddy, abandoned in a crate, unable to move and so frail that he only had moments to live. He stopped me in my tracks, and without pausing to think I scooped him up and quickly ran from the scene. This was no place for people or animals.

Slowly, as I learned to take care of this broken little dog, I began to realise with each new day that as I was saving him, he too was helping to free me from my past.

This is the story of Buddy and me: a remarkable true story of survival, hope, and never giving up, no matter how hard life gets.

Genres: Dogs, Memoir, Animals

210 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 12, 2019

Reviews

[Julie Haigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely book.

I really enjoyed 'Saving Buddy'. Such a heartbreaking, and ultimately heartwarming story as rescued Staffie Buddy gets better day by day, and Nicola loves him more and more. As well as Buddy, other animals feature too, such as horses. A magical book. And don't think it's all sad and a difficult read. It's not-it's very varied, and focuses mostly on after Buddy is found, their life with him, life in general, and all its ups and downs. So it's mostly uplifting really, and I had a few chuckles at some of the things Buddy does. Highly recommended, a lovely book.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
I am a huge dog lover and a couple of rescue dogs so I was excited to be approved for this book. Poor Buddy had a rough start to life but thankfully Nicola Owst found him and he couldn't have had a better life with anyone else. This book is excellent and I recommend it to anyone who loves animals.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saving Buddy by Nicola Owst is the heart-warming story of the rescue and recovery of a young Staffie named Buddy who was abused.
Staffie’s get a very bad press but they are loyal and loving (I have known a few). Buddy was rescued by Nicola Owst and with her love and care he was nursed back to life. Buddy gave joy to all those around him – he also has his own Facebook page. Buddy is an ambassador for rescue dogs everywhere.
We also hear Nicola Owst’s own story. Hers was similar to Buddy’s in that she needed to be rescued from her situation. Together Buddy and Nicola Owst came back to life. They rescued each other.
I loved the inclusion of photos of Buddy. It enables the reader to make a real connection with him. I only had the photos in black and white on the kindle. I imagine the paperback version will be even better.
Nicola Owst has a very personable style of writing. It feels more like hearing from an old friend than reading a book.
Saving Buddy is a powerful read of the huge love of a Staffie for his owner and of hers for him. Don’t forget to have the tissues ready!
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me cry and smile, it's heart wrenching and heartwarming.
I loved the story, rooted for Buddy and Nicola and couldn't put it down.
I think it's a must read for any animal lover.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

[Vina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartwarming story. What a truly wonderful ending

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book, purchased on a whim from Asda, it took me 2 hours to read in one sitting as I couldn't put it down! It starts with Nicola going with friends to rescue 2 foals and coming back with Buddy, a pup so close to death she doesn't know if he'll survive the car journey home let alone any longer. She also realises he's a Staffie and, like so many people, is wary of this possibly aggressive pup she's brought into her home. But, in true Staffie style, Buddy shows her what an amazing breed he is. This book follows the last 10 years, all the highs and lows, it touches on Nicola's childhood and her family without being too much about her. Thank you Nicola for mentioning Lucy's Law and PupAid, and for the brilliant little section at the back called Buddy's Facts. Thank you for such a lovely insight into this wonderful breed of dog.

[Debby Cash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saving Buddy.

Nicola Owst your brilliant tale of how you found and tell in love with this special dog had me in tears of sadness and of joy.I am so pleased I got this book. A wonderful book about an amazing dog. It also shows how good these dogs are as a companion. As a Staffie owner myself I found it great that someone would write a book that shows how dotty and lovable these dogs really are. The book shows how Staffies are very resilient dogs with big hearts and don't deserve the bad press they get. I am also happy that the author brought up the subject of so many Staffies in rescue centres, sometimes for years. Nicola Owst I sit writing this with tears in my eyes and I am so very grateful you write this book. Thank you very much for taking the chances and loving him and sharing you live with him in this way.

[Susan Aubrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brave Buddy

I loved Nicola and Buddy’s story. Talk about meant to be! If she hadn’t gone with her friends to pick up the horse(s) on that day this wonderful story would never had been written. Both human and dog didn’t have the best starts in life but they both turned out to be amazing.

This is a love story of a wonderful human being called Nicola, a super, affectionate and intelligent Staffie called Buddy, a lovely man called Jon and a sweet little boy called Toby and not forgetting Susie the Springer Spaniel.

This story made me cry and laugh. It is well worth a read and I hope, like Nicola, it will make you realise what lovely, loyal and friendly dogs Staffordshire Bull Terriers are.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heart warming story of a saved dog called Buddy.
Buddy is found at death's door on a farm and Nicola immediately sees that she needs to do something to save this poor soul.
After several medical treatments and a lot of unconditional love thrown in Buddy becomes a soulmate and companion and gives back the love and care he received in bounds.
A beautifully written story of how Buddy is saved and also helps the author come over several difficult times.
Recommended for all animal lovers and this is a story that tells the virtues of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier breed of dog that is often misunderstood.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read in return for a review.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing story

Nicola, what a truly wonderful lady you are. I believe in fate and this is why this is such a touching story. I read this book as I have very recently lost my beloved girl who I loved with all my heart, but also came into my life at such an awful time.. we also saved each other so I really get that. My sister has 2 rescue staffies and has had previous ones so I know totally peoples preconceptions.. but also what amazing dogs they are. Maybe in time I will own a dog again but for now it is too soon. Am now a facebook fan of Buddy boy.

[Coffee & books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got the book after seeing Nicola and Buddy's interview at Crufts this year. It is a good book, but I took a star out because she talks about "aggressive breeds". A strong "owner not breed" message was more appropriate, from someone with her experience.

Besides this, I enjoyed the book and her story. The book is less about Buddy than the name suggests, but it is a lovely read and it makes it more relatable to a wider audience.

[Jemma Brankling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a heartwarming story that started so sadly and ended so beautifully. A sad time in my life to read this book as one week in, my beautiful Labrador Rollo unfortunately got diagnosed with the same cancer as Buddy. Very close to home, but also so relatable and it felt nice to have ready someone else perspective on a similar situation. Would definitely recommend as a quick easy read.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely story of how poor Buddy was rescued from a horrific life, and is now in loving, caring home. A heart warming read, however details of the cruelty to Buddy initially can be triggering for some. I since follow Buddy on Instagram and it's amazing to see the resilience that these animals have.

[Aimee Bolland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anything to do with a dog and I’m going to enjoy it. But this book was absolutely lovely. I fell in love with Buddy and wanted to hurry and finish this book just to make sure everything ended happily. It was written really nicely too.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a heart warming story. I cried, I laughed and most of all i fell in love with Buddy!

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story xx

[toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love staffys

If you're a staff lover, then I promise you"ll love this book. I literally could not put it down. It makes you sad and happy all rolled into one

[Abby Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a lovely and heartwarming story of Buddy the Staffy. Would recommend for any dog lover.

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

so wholesome, heartbreaking at times but a lovely read, especially if you love dogs. cried when i looked at buddy’s social media tho be warned

[Anne Pender · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly heart warming story and definitely changed my opinion of Staffies

[Gillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart breaking at times but TOTALLY amazing. A must read if you love dogs

[Vicky Spurrier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a lovely book! Starts a little sad but definitely dont let that put you off, it's a very good book and shows that staffys are lovely dogs and you need a dog as much as they need you 🙂

[mrs l fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tissues at the ready!

What a story. As a staffy rescuer myself it is lovely to see others finding out that staffies are lovely family dogs. Yes they are crazy and cheeky but they are so loving.

This story has you laughing and crying but what an amazing story. It's so good I'm going to read it again

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

A thoroughly enjoyable read, a heartfelt story from the worst neglect to a loving striving dog.its melted my heart and would definitely recommend to any one not just dog lovers.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This true story begins in April 2009 when Nicola goes with her friend Sally to rescue a frail, unwanted foal. Just before leaving they notice a dog, almost dead, tucked inside a rusty, metal crate. It’s the worst animal cruelty Nicola has ever seen. As she wraps him in a towel and lifts his limp body she says ” I’ve got you now, Buddy” and the rest is history.

The vet didn’t think Buddy’s chance of survival was good, but Nicola persevered and he began to grow stronger. As we learn more about Nicola’s childhood it is easy to see why she has such an affinity with the sad and broken dog. As Buddy gets older he develops a caring side to his personality, a sixth sense which tells him when someone is ill or struggling. He has turned into a playful, puppylike dog with a huge love for life.

Buddy went on to represent Staffordshire Bull Terriers at Crufts in 2016 and has become a regular ever since.

There are lots of amazing photos showing Buddy’s recovery and more recent pictures of him as an adored family dog. What strikes me about the recent photos is that Buddy appears to be smiling in all of them!

There is a chapter at the end of the book called ‘Adopting A Rescue Dog’ which takes you through the adoption process and offers useful tips about adoption.

All dog lovers will enjoy this story and it shows the Staffie to be a far different breed than so harshly perceived by many.

I think what I loved most about this book is that it shows how a dog so cruelly let down by humans can move on, trust, love again and find enormous joy in the world. This is such an inspiring story, one that I will never forget.

[Astrid Galactic · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've looked around lately, you'll have noticed that this world has gone to the dogs. There are dogs everywhere! On the beach, up and down the sidewalks, alongside you at dog-friendly restaurants, memes, dog prints, YouTube, commercials... you name it. You'll also find plenty of books on dogs. Why? Because we love them so much. One of those newer books is Saving Buddy: The heartwarming story of a very special rescue by Nicola Owst.

One rainy English day, Nicola was out on a mission to pick up a horse rescue from a farm where quality of life was not one of the owner's goals. Seeing the disgustingly deplorable conditions of a couple of the animals, they ended up going home with two horses and one caged, feces covered, very abused Staffordshire Bull Terrier on the verge of taking his last breath. This tore Nicola's heart apart. She didn't ask, she just took the poor little boy who turned around and stole her heart.

As with any animal rescue book, it's loaded with parts that will make you cry. You'll get most of your crying over with in the front of the book as Nicola talks about how she found Buddy, or Buddy Boy, and how badly he was abused. But as the book continues, you'll also find yourself weeping tears of joy as the story tells of healing and triumphs along the way. Not just for Buddy but also Nicola as she too was inadvertently rescued by Buddy after her own personal turmoils.

Nicola's early life is a true Cinderella story complete with finding her prince with the prince being Buddy Boy. Actually, she found two as she eventually meets Jon, her husband, who is one of the good ones. Although, there was no glass slipper which was probably a good thing because Buddy probably would have just chewed it up. When Nicola was still just a young girl, her mother passed away leaving her under the care of her father who had become a broken man who quickly married the woman who would play the role of Nicola's literal wicked step-mother. Those tales of neglect and abuse too will wet your eyes.

Fortunately for Nicola, she had a good network of others in her life who would eventually step in and help her along the way. Once she was just old enough to move along, she moved out and started to establish herself as an independent young woman. She still worked at the stable but also found other work to pay the bills. This was also when Buddy found a permanent place in Nicola's life. This is a tale of the true love of two partners saving the lives of each other through thick and thin.

Buddy is still with Nicola and her family but slowing down as we all do with age. You'll read of their interactions at dog shows, various medical scares with both Buddy and Nicola, vacations with friends of both the two and four legged variety, and trips scaling mountains, as well as how Buddy was involved with Nicola making peace with her broken father. There's also plenty of information regarding animal rescue missions and some basic information on how you too can get involved.

As sad as some of this book is, it was still a delight to read with many of its endearing stories and Buddy anecdotes. By the end, I found that I was ready to leave the book, though I found it to be the perfect length. All had been told and it almost started to get a little too much with the many dog shows and details involving rescue organizations. All good but any more would have ventured into the preachy zone.

The world may have gone to the dogs but those best friends of ours are often who save us. No, they can't save the whole world but every saving connection is one dog step closer to saving each other. The story of Buddy Boy and Nicola is just one of those tales.


Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of the eBook in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Shannon Rochester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am the proud "owner" of a rescue pitbull mix so I knew as soon as I saw the cover of this book that I would be requesting it. Staffies and Pitbulls are obviously not the same breed but they do get lumped together most of the time. A Bully Breed in general gets many negative stories put out there. Are there mean dogs in the world? Heck yeah, but that includes all breeds. You just don't hear all of the stories about them because the news doesn't want you to. Any dog can be turned mean and aggressive. Anyway, I digress.

Buddy entered Nicola's life by accident as she was on a different kind of rescue mission at the time. She was trying to save some horses and found poor Buddy, who she obviously couldn't leave behind. Being a single woman, she decides that she is going to keep Buddy and they become each other's whole world while he heals and comes back to life. The book goes on to describe the bond that these two have and the people that enter their lives as she tries to get more positive attention to her Staffy. She wants to show the world that these dogs are NOT all bad and she does a great job of it. Along the way, she meets her future husband, who also has to be approved by Buddy, she has a child, who Buddy loves as his own, and she adopts another rescue dog. She enters Buddy in dog shows and they meet so many new friends (both canine and human) that a whole little community is created that became like family to them. I loved reading about the adventures she had in her life all because she had a good heart and decided to help this dog. I wish there were more people like her in the world. I also loved that she included some pictures in her book. That is always an added bonus to a nonfiction book, in my opinion.

I volunteer with a local shelter and I see just how cruel people can be to their animals because there are so many puppy mills, abandoned dogs, and dog fighting in general here in the South. I see and hear some stories that the general public might not hear that it truly sickens me and has changed me to the very core of who I am. The government needs to step up in ALL the states and create harsher laws and harsher consequences. I love that some states have started this and I hope the rest catch up.

[Jennifer Kirkwood (Levac) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book caught my attention right from the cute doggy picture on the front cover to the book synopsis. I have rescued my Buddy (or as we call him Budrick) about 4 years ago and more recently we adopted our beautiful Lachinia. We also open a spot in our house and our hearts for one rescue foster dog at a time. This is something I feel so strongly about and can't stand watching poor puppies suffer at a humans hands. I wish I rescue more at a time.

This book really resonated with me. I have been lucky that the couple dogs we have adopted came to us as they were not wanted anymore but no harm physically was done to them (that we are aware of), mentally I am sure they have went through tremendous hurt. Nicola has a heart of gold picking Buddy up and not worrying what might happen to her when she left the property with him. Fighting for Buddy to make a full recovery from his horrendous start in life. The bond and love that Buddy and Nicola share through their story is so heartwarming. Nicola shares her personal struggles in life and the joys, along with all the dog shows Buddy took part in. I don't know a lot about Staffies but that they are in the "bad" dog rep. espescially in Ontario Canada as we are not allowed any kind of Pit bull/Staffordshire Terrier or even a dog that resembles them. Unfortunately there have been a few dogs over the years that I wanted to adopt but can't because of the ban. I don't believe these dogs are bad and that some where breed for the wrong reasons.

I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars as it was a heartwarming story of love, companionship and survival. I did find the author over used telling us that Staffies are not mean dogs and that they can be trusted. A couple mentions would have sufficed. Overall I did enjoy this book and hope all the best for Buddy and Nicola as they both have been through a lot.

[Linn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saving Buddy by Nicola Owst

I need to start by saying that I volunteer at 2 rescues finding homes for dogs and cats who have sometime been through some of what Buddy went through so a book about rescuing a very abused dog definitely resonates with me. Buddy’s story was amazing and inspiring and also made me very angry that he had been allowed to get into the state that he was in when Nicola found him. I loved the way she and Buddy have been opening people’s eyes to what marvelous dogs Staffie’s can be. And, being from the States, I also loved the insights into the dog world in the UK. My only concern (and a very minor one) was that there was periodically very UK words or phrases that I couldn’t quite figure out. They didn’t interfere with the story but left me a little curious as to what the meanings might be. I will indeed recommend this book, especially to my friends who are also involved in finding homes for rescued animals. And for anyone who is especially tenderhearted and may be bothered by the early descriptions of the condition that Buddy was in when Nicola found him, I would simply say that the rest of the book shows what can come of loving a dog in whatever situation he is found. Keep reading....it is well worth it! The book was a bit of a “two-fer” with the opportunity to see the strength and courage in both Buddy and Nicola.
I reviewed a digital ARC generously provided by the author via NetGalley at no cost, obligation, or remuneration.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is truly a dog lover’s dream book. Nicola finds an abandoned dog, Buddy who, it seems, has had as tumultuous a life as she has, with enough heartaches to break even the strongest of hearts. The book chronicles Nicola’s and Buddy’s life as they piece things back together. Nicola and Buddy are definitely a match made in heaven, who just happened to come upon each other when they were both at a very low point in life. The book is not really sad. Yes, some of the events and actions may be a downer, but the good that comes out of it all is very heartwarming and makes for a nice read. The book starts out on a sad note, as finding Buddy is discussed/presented, but it soon moves on to rehabilitating—both Buddy and Nicola. I just hope others in situations similar to Nicola (mother dead and father married to what can best be described as a “wicked step-mother”, making life as difficult as she can for Nicola) get lucky enough to find their own Buddy. Buddy is, in many ways the hero of the story, though Nicola is also a heroine and deserves credit for rescuing and bringing out the very best in Buddy. This book is a must-read for all animal lovers/animal rescuers and, especially, dog lovers. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.