Shelley and Buddy's story is part of a series on Hawkesbury people and their pets, featuring the work of Hawkesbury Gazette and Courier photographer, Geoff Jones.
BUDDY the six-year-old bob-tail boxer is famous. Not only does he have his own social media account, but he is also a character on a long-running Channel 7 soap opera.
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He has been on television for four years, and has starred in numerous commercials.
His owner, Shelley Thorpe from Ebenezer, said Buddy "loves going to work".
"He knows the drill. The night before [going on set] he'll have a bath and I'll pack all his bags and put them at the door. He knows what's going on and he just changes," Shelley said.
"That's the one time he won't listen to me, when he wants to go to work. He even knows then they say 'cut' and he re-sets for the next take."
Boxers are high energy dogs, and Buddy is no exception.
"He just wants to please, and he's extremely intelligent," his proud owner said.
Shelley trains animals for film and television, and she and Buddy work with South Windsor-based Kirsko Film Animals.
"I also run my own business taking people's pets to their weddings for them," said Shelley, who is the founder of Pets As Guests, a wedding day pet chaperone company.
"Thirteen years ago my dog [at the time] was a ring-bearer at my own wedding, and everyone thought we were mad back then. She was in our wedding photos and it was an amazing experience.
"It's getting really popular now, but people don't have any way of getting their animals to the wedding. I take them to the wedding and afterwards I take them home and feed them. I do weddings most weekends and people who use my service are always really grateful to be able to have their pet as part of their special day."
Buddy was born with a 'bob' tail. "It means he has no tail. He hasn't been docked; he was born that way," said Shelley.
She owned his uncle and loved him so much she bought Buddy from the same breeder as she wanted a pet from the same genetic line.
Buddy has been a great comfort for Shelley over the years, as she has battled with post traumatic stress disorder sustained during her former job as a police officer.
"I was in the police for about 15 years. When I left the police I began doing dog training on the side and this niche makes me so happy. To be able to do this type of work with your best friend is a dream come true," Shelley said.
"Buddy is one of the reasons I am functioning as well as I am. He gave me a purpose and a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear, he's just everything, he's my best mate, my sidekick, I go to work with him, I couldn't ask for a better dog."
Follow Buddy at www.instagram.com/buddy_n_shelley or check out Pets As Guests at www.instagram.com/petsasguests.
Sarah Falson
Daily Liberal journalist. I love telling people's stories. Get in touch at sarah.falson@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Daily Liberal journalist. I love telling people's stories. Get in touch at sarah.falson@austcommunitymedia.com.au
