He is definitely smart as a whip!”
By Stephen Messenger
Published on June 13, 2026 at 5:55 PM
Sure, Buckwheat has already had dinner. But what about second dinner?
He’s got a solution for that.
A few years ago, shortly after moving into a house next door to her husband’s parents, Buckwheat’s mom, Stephanie, made an unusual discovery. Nearly every time after she fed the pup his dinner, he would polish off the bowl and then carry it outdoors.
“I would see him pick up his bowl and start walking up his path towards my in-laws’ house,” Stephanie told The Dodo. “After seeing him do that a few times, I followed him.”
Turns out, every time Buckwheat arrived at Stephanie’s in-laws’ house, he was getting sneaky seconds:
Sadly, Stephanie’s mother-in-law, who doted upon Buckwheat the most, recently passed away. But her husband has kept the routine going — making sure the pup gets that extra portion upon request whenever he visits with his bowl, even though they have a bowl for him there, too.
“He eats from one bowl and carries the other back with him,” Stephanie said.
Buckwheat gets plenty of exercise, but the extra dinners have added a bit of pudge to his waistline. Any extra pounds are well-earned, however, considering the effort he puts into tracking down seconds.
“You can tell by looking at him that he has been more than successful at this many, many times,” Stephanie said. “He is definitely smart as a whip!”
Related
Security Camera Captures Stray Dog Checking Herself Into Animal Shelter
“It was like she was showing up for a dinner reservation.”
Want more animals?
Get a daily dose of uplifting animal stories straight to your inbox
Subscribe
By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services.
Read Full Article
- Daily Dodo
- Pets
‘Gentle’ Dog Surrendered To Shelter In 2018 Still Hasn’t Found A Home
“It’s heartbreaking.”
By Alana Francis-Crow
This is Tucker. He’s a gentle, sweet-tempered dog with lots of love to give.
Unfortunately, at 8 years old, Tucker has spent the vast majority of his life in a shelter.
In 2018, the family that adopted Tucker as a puppy surrendered him to the rescue they’d gotten him from, who declined to take him back. When Tucker had nowhere else to go, Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter stepped in and cared for the homeless dog.
The Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter staff hoped the pup would soon be adopted by a new family. Since Tucker has certain restrictions, like needing to be in a family with no children or other pets, they figured it might take a little while — but not seven years.
In 2024, after six long years in the shelter, Tucker thought his dreams were finally coming true: He was adopted. Finally, he got a taste of life outside his kennel. After sending Tucker off, the shelter staff expected to never see him again.
But just 10 months later, he was returned.
“He got lots of freedom and quiet time,” Ashley Behrens, Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter’s acting director, told The Dodo. “We here at the shelter were very saddened to see him come back as he seemed so content in the home environment.”
As much as the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter staff love Tucker, it disheartens them to walk by his kennel and see him there day after day.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Behrens said. “He really has come such a long way from when he first came in, and he’s a pretty easy dog.”
While Tucker can come across a bit shy at first, he craves being around people more than anything.
“He enjoys time with people he trusts and is a sweet companion to those who appreciate his gentle ways,” Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter staff wrote on Instagram.
If you’ve been thinking about adopting a dog and think you’d be a good fit for an older, calm soul, look no further than Tucker.
“He just wants to live out his golden years with peace and comfort, and we want that for him too,” Behrens said.
If you’re interested in adopting Tucker, you can reach out to Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter at adoption@hempsteadny.gov or rescue@hempsteadny.gov.
Related
Driver Passes ‘Garbage Bag’ On Side Of Highway — Then Sees It Move
“[M]y main focus was to get that sweet girl to safety.”
Want more animals?
Get a daily dose of uplifting animal stories straight to your inbox
Subscribe
By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services.