Stray dog shot in head in Bosnia up for adoption with Cornish charity

Launceston-based Paws2Freedom is hoping to find Buddy a forever home

Author: Emma HartPublished 8th Sep 2022
Last updated 8th Sep 2022

A stray dog, shot in the head on the streets of Bosnia, is coming to Cornwall in search of a forever home.

Buddy the Pulin Cross (Balkan Collie) needed reconstructive surgery after being left for dead.

Approx two - three years old, he is up for adoption with Paws2Freedom - a dog rescue charity based in Launceston.

Founder Susan Sheldon said: "I feel so strongly and I think this dog is just such a hero. He is just so amazing and how he just gets on with things - he just really deserves the best".

Buddy's Story

"Buddy was found on the streets of Bosnia by a lovely girl called Andrea who spotted his suffering. Buddy had been shot in the head and left to die. The dog-loving girl alerted Bojan from the Bark Ark rescue shelter who wanted to give Buddy a second chance. He took him to the best vet he knew, Bojan Lukac, who did amazing reconstructive surgery on this wonderful dog.

"Buddy is one of life's heroes who is taking the changes in his stride, just as if nobody told him that he has lost his upper jaw! He has come through so much and is going from strength to strength. We hope you have watched his videos which are testament to this beautiful dog's mind-blowing will to live and to enjoy life no matter what. Amazing!"

Paws2Freedom's 'Buddy' page says: "Buddy is very friendly, cuddly, super intelligent and submissive with people. He absolutely loves humans and wants to please them. He is very smart and quick with great potential for learning. Strong confident character in general. Especially responsive to assertive yet kind and loving people who make the effort to understand him".

They added that while Buddy is child-friendly, he is better suited to older children because he is "highly energetic, fast and jumpy". He is dog-friendly but can get a bit jealous of other, male dogs at times.

Buddy's Ideal Home

"Rural/semi rural with enough space for Buddy. Would like to share his life with a female dog for company, to run and play with and to be a role model for Buddy to help him learn and adjust. With active, sympathetic adopters who will take the time to understand him and his breed.

"Like our border collies here in the UK Pulin dogs are bred to work with livestock. They need space, are active and love to run and need activities which channel those breed traits or they will get frustrated in time. Best suited for active homes.

"Whoever takes Buddy into their heart and home will also need to keep in mind his past. A young dog on the streets, fending for himself where there would have never been enough of anything, be it love, kindness or food, he would have met all the cruelties that cannot be imagined and in the end being shot in the head and then... operation, pain, being an inpatient for a long time and kept on cage rest.

"A dog like Buddy will need patience, tolerance and requires a home where people are willing to learn for him and adjust.

"Buddy's progress will have to happen at his pace. He will need a home where people put him first and don't have many expectations on him. He is already a super dog and needs time, love and patience to become the best he can be".

You can read more about Buddy and how to apply to adopt him on Paws2Freedom's website.