Who is Buddy?
- A service animal, as per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- An assistance animal as per the Fair Housing Act
- A fluffy ball of love and joy
The answer is 3.
The differences among a pet and a service animal and an assistance animal have confused many, but no one Is confused when they look at Buddy, a fluffy ball of love and joy. What is so special about Buddy in addition to his photogenic adorability? Last year WDOMI had a Bring Your Pet to Work Day, and staff (and Board) showed off their dogs, cats, lizards, and snakes on Zoom. Lizards and snakes? There is nothing ordinary about our staff that has inspired us to wonder about our disability community and which four-legged, two-legged, no legged members of their family they feel are more than only pets, service or assistance animals, goes the extra mile to make a disability livable, help make you function better, or help to make life more wonderful just by being there.
Enter 11-month-old Buddy Italiano. He refused to participate in the Zoom event, but the picture sent in by human friend Charlie, wowed us. When we heard he not only does his part to make life more wonderful and also has a hidden disability (Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AHA), a blood disorder and disability according to the Social Security Administration), we knew we had our first newsletter winner. As far as we are concerned, the only disability Buddy has is TLC – Tender Loving Cutenessitis.
Do you have a Buddy living with you as a member of your family in Westchester County but is also
- A trained service animal as per the ADA? or
- An assistance animal as per the Fair Housing Act? or
- An animal with a disability that you love?
Send a clear photo and three lines, telling us what is special about your Buddy, and send it to [email protected]
In 2022, each of our quarterly newsletters will feature one winner and a runner-up. How did Buddy win the first award? Shhh…he was the only one that entered.
According to his human Charlie, “Buddy has been a great way to cope with the pandemic and the new normal. But more important, he is a friend and a great addition to my family. He’s also stubborn and likes to have his own way.”
One thing for sure, if it wasn’t for the pandemic, Buddy would be comforting many all over town with his TLC.