Happy Tails: Buddy the Beagle Goes from Foster Home to Fame

Adopting a dog of any kind will change your life in unexpected ways. And when it comes to showing love and loyalty, a rescue pup appreciates a good home like no other dog. Just take a look at a beagle named Buddy.

From stray to internet celebrity, Buddy the beagle sure has something to sing about. Known as Buddy Mercury, the howling hound plays the piano, has over 33,000 followers on Instagram, and his most popular YouTube video has over 15 million views. But his life didn't start out with a loyal following of adoring fans.

Originally, Buddy lived in North Carolina as a stray. Eventually, he was picked up and sent to New York to be with a foster rescue group. On the day he arrived, his family found him at an adoption event at a local Petco.

“I couldn't get over how cute he was and wanted to bring him home to get cleaned up and loved," says Laurie Wolfe, Buddy's mom. “Buddy's dad liked his calm, quiet demeanor." But, with a hidden talent like Buddy's, that was about to change.

Ain't nothin' but a howlin' dog

Laurie and her husband Glen first discovered Buddy's musical talent about a month after being adopted. He began howling with the local firehouse siren that went off. “We laughed so hard," says Wolfe. “We were brand new beagle owners and didn't know much about the breed."

Not long after, Buddy began howling along with music, especially instrumental piano music. “I was listening to a lot of classical music while pregnant with Lil Sis (Buddy's human sister and co-star). Buddy would always lay on my belly. I think they were bonding."

Once the Wolfes got Buddy on the piano, it wasn't long before his videos went viral. Buddy won Good Morning America's “Most Tail-ented Pet of the Year" award in 2019, and he's starred in many commercials, one of which aired during Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve. Now, Buddy's available for private video shout-outs for birthdays and special occasions.

Buddy the Beagle changed his family's life and they changed his. To help shelter and foster dogs looking for a home, the Wolfes donate a percentage of every purchase from buddymercury.com to shelters that save animals. They also put together a yearly Buddy Mercury calendar that calls out a rescued pet each month, and a donation is made to the featured animal's shelter.

“There are thousands upon thousands of unwanted animals who are stuck in shelters," says Wolfe. “They are such sweet babies looking to share their love with you. When you adopt, they will rescue you."

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