Banfield Success Story: Buster

Buster is a 10-week-old catahoula/border collie puppy who had an unfortunate encounter with a one-ton pickup when he and his family weren’t paying attention. Thankfully, Buster escaped with nothing more than injured sinus cavities and bruised lungs.

Buster is from a family of five who have hit some hard times. They reached out to the Foundation for help because Buster’s bills were more than they could handle at the time. We are happy to report that he's now well on his way to being a playful puppy.

As a side note: Buster’s predicament could have been much worse than what it was. One of the best things to do with a new puppy is leash train them. This not only helps when you walk your dog, but it also helps you supervise a new puppy to keep them out of mischief -- such as pottying inside, shredding your favorite pair of shoes, roughhousing with an older pet, or even getting under the tires of a pickup that is moving.

Many of the local vet offices will offer their clients free leashes for puppies; however, it’s always a good idea to fit your puppy with a collar/harness and a leash that is more suited to them. (And, while you’re getting a leash, be sure to get a name tag with contact information for them as well.) Make putting on the collar/harness and leash a positive experience by praising or using treats as rewards, and be sure to use a command with it as well. If you need more information on leash training, consider contacting a local trainer, or check out the blogs below for some more leash training tips:

1. AKC: How to teach a puppy to walk on a leash
2. Animal Planet: How to leash train your active puppy
3. Cesar’s Way: Introducing a puppy to walk on a leash
   

​Fur Kids Foundation was recently awarded a $3,500 grant from the Banfield Foundation® to be used to help the Gillette, Wyoming charity with their emergency veterinary assistance program. This funding helped the Foundation grant money to help Buster’s family with his vet trip. ​If you would like to help Fur Kids Foundation continue to help families with animals, please consider making a tax-deductible donation. The money helps families during a time when they may not be able to afford adequate veterinary care. Check out more Success Stories.