Buster was a sack of bones when he was found on the streets of Philadelphia. He was still a pup then. But even at a young age, life had been hard for him. His hair was so long and deeply matted that he had trouble opening his eyes and mouth.
Fortunately for him, a no-kill shelter in New Jersey took him in. That is where a woman named Jacqueline Soccodato found him.
Trust issues
Jacqueline adopted Buster and took him to her home in New Rochelle, New York. Being a homeless dog at the start of his life, he had trust issues and refused to go near his new mother. He was also not used to being given food and would oftentimes steal his meal from the table.
To channel the dog’s high energy into something positive, Jacqueline decided to put him in an agility training program. The dog adapted to the classes instantly. His trainers were impressed with his natural dexterity and quickness. He really had so much potential, and it was being unleashed at a rapid pace.
Soon enough, Buster was joining small agility competitions on the weekends and was racking up a lot of wins. The dog’s training and competition experiences were having a huge impact on his character. He was becoming more confident with himself and has learned how to be a well-adjusted pooch.
Doesn’t fit in
All of his training and experience will now come into play as Jacqueline signed up Buster for the Westminster Dog Show. The mixed-breed dog shall be competing with purebreds that came from a long line of dog show champions. But despite not having the pedigree, his cool and calm demeanor gives him an edge.
According to Jacqueline, Buster’s life on the streets and the shelter has given him the ability to operate well in stressful environments.
Buster has somewhat become a crowd favorite because of his underdog status. Hopefully, he gets his place at the podium.
Source: Jacqueline Soccodato via Facebook
