New Leash On Life: Buster’s Retirement

The year was 2020. It was November, and I was standing in a section of Union University’s campus known as Heritage, where all the freshmen live, listening to a tour guide explain freshman housing and its community.

“That building there is McAfee Commons, the freshman commons building,” she was saying. “That is also where Buster the Bulldog lives.”

I remember thinking about how fun it would be to live so close to the school mascot and see him around all the time, which I did even though he had moved into the upperclassman housing my freshman year.

Nowadays, Buster is getting up there in age though. Far from the puppy that was gifted to the university by a past senior class, he is now seven years old, an old man for a breed with an estimated lifespan of 8-10 years. Therefore, the decision was made this summer that it was time for Buster to move off-campus and into retirement. Just the place was found for the beloved bulldog. John Lawrence, who has worked for Safety and Security since 2017, leapt at the opportunity to take care of Buster.

“I’ve seen him around campus, and I loved seeing him when he was out. My supervisor, Johnny Jines, came back from a meeting one day and said, ‘I got some good news for you,’” Lawrence said. “He said, ‘They’re retiring Buster and they’re looking for a home,’ and when I heard that, I wanted to get my name in the hat.”

The past two years, I have gotten the opportunity to be a Buster Buddy (one of his handlers out in public). Buster is a goofball who loves toys, but especially loves his ball. He has that bulldog stubbornness but is not entirely unreasonable, especially if you have food. He is a celebrity, and he knows when it is time to go to work. When I took him to events, something switched, and he turned every ounce of bulldog charm on prospective students and their families.

“He kind of takes you by surprise. He’s kind of quirky,” Bria Kastens, a junior public relations major and former Buster Buddy, said. “He seems like a grouchy old man, but he’s really young at heart. He loves meeting students. He goes crazy for treats, he will jump for them, and he loves to roll in the grass.”

Now, Buster is enjoying life out of the spotlight. According to Lawrence, Buster adjusted quickly.

“We took to each other pretty good right off the bat and he seemed to enjoy it out there,” Lawrence said. “He’s got a lot more area out there to run and he’s always doing something.”

Lawrence was also happy to talk about Buster’s new job. Buster is not just a school mascot in retirement, he is a big brother too.

“My wife came home with another little puppy, a little dachshund,” Lawrence explained. “At first Buster was a little picky about him being there. I think Buster wanted all the attention, but they get along fine now. They play together and they have a ball.”

Buster has a lot to do in his new home. He rides around on the golf cart, oversees Lawrence feeding the deer, accidentally tried swimming once when he fell into the pool in pursuit of a balloon and makes occasional appearances on campus like at Family Weekend.

“I know he loves being out there,” Lawrence said. “I think he’s really, really happy, and I’m happy for him. Well deserved, you know?”

Lawrence was also happy to answer when asked about his thoughts on the university getting a new Buster.

“I kinda hope they get another one, keep the tradition going,” Lawrence said. “After all, it is the Union University Bulldogs.”

Lawrence also thinks meeting a live bulldog as a prospective student or parent would improve his time.

“To know I was going somewhere where they had a live mascot you could see, you could even maybe someday be the one to take care of the mascot,” Lawrence said. “That would be something to look forward to.”

Yet, though he is for a new Buster, his love for the old Buster is clear.

“I don’t even want to think about when he’s not around,” Lawrence said. “He’s really easy to get attached to.”

Buster really is easy to get attached to. He is quirky, stubborn and sometimes maybe a bit smelly, but that dog is lovable as can be. He made the visit for many a prospective student and their families and spiced up the lives of those lucky enough to take care of him. If we do get a new Buster, that pup will have some big, lovable paw prints to fill.