Grateful dachshund owners invest in pet care for others

Self-described dog lovers J.T. and Pam Brown make no bones about it — when it comes to football, they cheer for the Georgia Bulldogs. But when their beloved dachshund Buddy needed back surgery, they became big fans of Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine (AUCVM).

“We learned about Auburn’s animal hospital from our veterinarian who was a University of Georgia graduate,” J.T. said. “During our first appointment with Buddy, he handed us information about Auburn and said, ‘You’re going to need this sooner or later.’”

In 2015, their veterinarian’s prediction came true. Dachshunds are prone to back problems, often diagnosed as Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD), which can include pain, weakness and even paralysis. Buddy exhibited sudden symptoms of the condition, so the Browns rushed him to Auburn’s Bailey Small Animal Teaching Hospital for emergency surgery.

It was there they discovered firsthand the exceptional care available through AUCVM. It was also through this experience that the Browns determined to make this care possible for other families with dachshunds in the future.

Giving to Auburn allows donors to tailor their gifts to the cause they most care about. For the Browns, that means investing in helping other families have access to pet care at Auburn.

“Surgeries like this are expensive,” Pam said. “We considered Buddy our other child — there’s nothing we wouldn’t have done for him. We are fortunate that we could pay for it. But we know there are families who might not be able to afford this surgery. We want to help.”

Creating the Buddy Cares Fund

It was love at first sight — for Buddy and the Browns. They found each other in 2004 and spent the next 16 years together on travel adventures and logging countless miles and memories. The Browns took excellent care of the pup they describe as their late-in-life baby, implementing all the preventative measures. But statistically, dachshunds have a one in four chance of contracting IVDD, so they always knew it was a possibility that Buddy would develop the condition.

“We were in Florida when it happened,” Pam said. “We came home from dinner, and Buddy jumped up on my legs for me to pick him up. I did and that was it. We told our daughter and son-in-law, ‘We’re going to Auburn.’” 

Staff and veterinarians at Auburn’s Bailey Small Animal Hospital are no strangers to middle-of-the-night pet emergencies — but the Browns were.

“From the moment we walked in, they were very kind,” she said. “A doctor walked us through what the surgery would be and what we could expect financially. That was nice and helpful to know. And it gave us hope." 

Dr. Wesley Snell, a 2017 AUCVM graduate, was a student when Buddy came to Auburn. The two of them bonded, enjoying sunshine outside the teaching hospital together and even celebrating Buddy’s birthday with a special treat.

“He was a tough little guy,” Snell said. “Coming out of surgery and having to relearn some day-to-day functions was no small feat, and I was always impressed by his resilience.”

Much to the relief of the Browns, Buddy did well during and after surgery. It was a tough road, but he also navigated recovery and rehabilitation like a champ.

“This case speaks volumes about the human–animal bond and how pets can bring out the best in people, even during difficult times,” Snell said. “My father, also an AUCVM graduate, always told me that we do this work not just for the pets, but for the owners as well. I can’t help but believe that the Auburn Family had a hand in shaping that perspective in both of us.”

Buddy’s legacy at Auburn

The IVDD surgery Buddy received at Auburn ensured the Browns had five additional years with him. He died in 2021 but they still treasure every extra minute they had with him.

Buddy and the Browns have already had a tremendous impact on other dachshund patients and their families who have sought treatment at the Bailey Small Animal Hospital, and on Auburn students like Snell. Now in private practice in Southeast Alabama, he is committed to practicing in a way that would make Buddy and the Browns proud. 

“Buddy’s case thoroughly prepared me for the similar cases I would soon encounter in my own in practice,” he said. “I see cases like his on a weekly basis where owners are unable to afford the gold-standard care of disc surgery. That’s why it’s incredibly moving to see that the Browns have created a fund to help pets and their families access this kind of life-changing care.”

Buddy’s Auburn legacy will endure for generations to come, thanks to the Browns’ generosity.

“Our hope is that what we’ve created will just be the beginning,” J.T. said. “We would love to see others — maybe even those who have benefited from the fund — one day also contribute to it so we can just keep paying it forward to help as many families as possible.”