Revisiting Chewy!

Buzz after being caught by Animal Control

You might remember hearing about a dog that came to the Cheyenne Animal Shelter after roaming the streets for years. Chewy was left without a home or owner after a tragic fire in 2019. Animal Control and several people in the neighborhood had been working to capture him without any luck, until September of this year.

Once Chewy arrived at the Shelter, he received a medical assessment, a much-needed haircut, and spent some time acclimating to being around people again. Despite avoiding humans for the last four years, Chewy quickly took to one of our dedicated Animal Care Specialists, Cal Drudge. After some socialization, enrichment, and a plethora of treats, Chewy swiftly made his way to the adoption floor! 

20 days after Chewy’s arrival, the Pring family made their way to the Shelter to meet some of our adoptable dogs. As they walked through the Dog Adoption rooms, Chewy sat on his bed with his puppy dog eyes and his stylish new haircut. “From the moment we laid eyes on Chewy at the shelter, he stole our hearts,” Elizabeth Pring recalls. “After my husband kept calling him Buster, our son suggested Buzz (Aldrin, not Lightyear), and it stuck.” With his new furever family, Buzz was ready to take on the world.

Buzz helping Elizabeth Pring design her quilts!

Thanks to the support of the Prings, this sweet boy was able to blossom into an incredible companion. “We spent the first few days worried that he would be an escape artist. However, that has not turned out to be true. He has never been more than a few steps away from me. When out on walks, he stays right by our side, never tugging or pulling at his leash. He loves to go on car rides with us, racing us to the car. My heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest the first time he pushed past us on the way out the door without a leash. Three feet in front of the porch, he sat down and looked at us with an expectant doggy grin, waiting for us to say the magic words, ‘Let's go!’ Then he ran to the car and sat by the door.”

As he continued to work on his timidness, Buzz eventually found his voice, happy to alert the Prings to any movement outside or strangers. Buzz even worked up the confidence to make some other four-legged friends! “We have slowly introduced him to other animals, and he is most comfortable with little dogs. We take Buzz to visit my StepMom so that he can play with her dog, who is also a shelter rescue. It was a pleasant surprise watching the two of them play tag. Thanksgiving left us grateful for his presence in our lives, and even more grateful that he was able to relax and join us in the same room with our extended family.”

Buzz sunbathing in his fenced-in backyard!

Buzz loves to spend his time in their fenced-in backyard, playing with his pink squeaky ball and sliding through the snow on his belly like an otter. “He hasn't quit figured out how to play fetch - I throw the ball, he races to it, touches it with his nose, and races back to me. Then he waits for me to retrieve it and toss the ball so he can tag it again and again. He has been far more interested in the snow the last few days. He slides through it on his belly like an otter, eventually rolling onto his back and wriggling around to make dog-shaped snow angels. Then he leaps into the air, wiggling and shaking snow off, only to put his nose to the ground, plowing through it again.”

After four long years roaming the streets and fending for himself, Buzz can now sleep at night knowing he has a family who will love and protect him unconditionally. “We are very thankful to Animal Control and the Shelter staff for bringing Buzz into our lives. He is the perfect addition to our family.” Our beloved pets hold a special place in our hearts, as we do theirs. This holiday season, you can make a difference in the life of a pet like Buzz when you donate to the Cheyenne Animal Shelter. Your contribution, whether big or small, can make a significant difference in the lives of animals in need. It's a heartwarming way to celebrate the joy and love our furry friends bring into our lives, while also ensuring that others have the chance to experience the same.