I admit to a double standard with Bud. His first two years in the world – he lived out in the elements for the first two years of his life, all of his penmates died of exposure.

Bud nearly perished himself but was saved when a worried neighbor alerted a rescue group. Bud had piled up $1,000 in medical bills buy the time I found him.

Our Boston Terrier puppy Gus had just died of megaesophagus and I spent a lot of time searching online.

Bud has trouble with extreme weather, sometimes he just can’t put his feet on icy ground. We have a pad on the ground in a corner of the bathroom and once in awhile, he has to go eliminate inside.

He rarely does this, and always goes on the pad when he does.

Generally, Fate and Zinnia are not permitted on sofas, but Bud is permitted anywhere. Tonight, I threw one of my winter sweaters on a chair in the living room, Bud spotted it and curled up there. It is close to the woodstove.

I call him the Little King, he is a cuddler and a sweet and gentle dog. We are happy to have him and lucky to have him, thanks to a heroic animal rescuer named Carol Johnson.