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PAGE 22 MONTANA SENIOR NEWS • AUGUST // SEPTEMBER 2018
Fluffy Critters

PET TIPS•BREEDS•CARE•GROOMING

Not One for Little Dogs? Shop Dog

Billy Buddy will Change That.

WINNING HEARTS FROM THE BIG APPLE TO THE GARDEN CITY

neighborhood walks twice a day. They would go over to the “grassy
BY JAY GORE knoll” a couple blocks away where Billy would do his business and
play with other dogs.
A friend suggested a nice walk down to Park Avenue and 38th street When I would make my weekly Sunday call to sister, most of what we
for coffee. Sure, my sister Marcia responded, it was a beautiful day. talked about was Billy Buddy. I hunt, and the dogs I’ve had were black
It was in the Mid-1990’s in New York city. Labrador Retrievers. I really don’t have a ‘thing’ for little dogs. But I was
On the way they passed a pet store and popped in for a look. They happy for my sister.
saw birds, cats, and other animals and finally got back to the dog area. Two events came together in late 2008. Marcia’s memory was failing,
All the while, a little dog was loose in the store, who kept following and I was concerned about her being out on New York’s streets, getting
Marcia around. Kind of a nuisance! Sister kept tripping over the dog. turned around and not being able to find home. Also, her apartment
They looked at all the dogs on display, with no intentions of getting owners were upgrading and remodeling rooms and wanted to move her
one, then turned to leave. There again was that darn little dog to step to another apartment two floors up.
over. Marcia asked a nearby clerk what was wrong with the little guy? My son and I flew to New York to check the situation and visit with
He was a Chihuahua, but he was too big for the breed. Many had looked the apartment manager. Marcia looked at another apartment and became
but rejected him for his size. They proceeded to the coffee shop. disturbed. They offered to buy her out of her apartment as an alternative,
Angst began to set in with Marcia as they had coffee. She’d had and she accepted. I made plans to move her and Billy to Missoula, to reside
Maltese and Lhasa Apso dogs in the past, but had been seriously ill for in a nice, fifth-floor apartment at the Clark Fork Riverside overlooking
several years and without dogs. She was feeling sorry and taking pity the river. She moved there in January 2009.
on the little pet store dog and suggested they go back to see him again. On a very stormy winter night, my sister, Billy Buddy, and I
She ended up taking him home. made the plane trip back to Missoula from New York via Minneapolis
Billy Buddy settled right into city apartment living and for on the last flight. I was a wreck, worrying about getting stuck late
many years made Marcia a fine companion. He got her out for night in LaGuardia Airport. We made all our flights, however, tired
and on nerves.
DISCOVERING, CAPTURING a trooper. I was most worried about his barking or presenting other
The best passenger was Billy. He rode his doggy travel bag like
S
& HARING problems, but neither happened.
At the Clark Fork Riverside, Marcia settled in, and Billy was a social
A Treasury of Life Stories hit with the other occupants. He is cute and a very engaging little dog.

(And we would like to hear yours, too!) The complex has a nice riverside trail for walks, and the two could visit
with folks.
After 2-½ years, Marcia’s memory worsened. She and Billy were
moved to an assisted living apartment unit, which also had access to nice
sidewalks and grassy areas for walking, along with someone to watch
after them. But in time, Billy’s pulling and leash tripping led to Marcia
having several falls, so I needed to find him a new home. Marcia was
saddened but understood the need to let him go.
One of the apartment tenants was an older, wheelchair-bound gen-
Valley Building tleman named Gilbert, who hailed from Pennsylvania. He offered to take
207 N Broadway, Billings Billy back to the Clark Fork Apartments, which did wonders for Gilbert’s
The Sego Lily, like a Woman is more than just a pretty face (406) 861-4602 social life. As soon as he had a dog, folks downstairs in the lobby talked
to Gilbert regularly. Billy was a real conversation starter. It was a match
made in heaven. Gilbert dearly loved Billy Buddy
and had two loving years with the little dog.
Senior for Senior CONTINUED ON PAGE 69

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