The West Point Cruiser
In California often the best treasures/outposts lie on blue highways. Blue highways are the roads less traveled. In Calaveras County one such outpost is West Point. This past November as I dove up to Bob Brown’s House to do this interview the wind was blowing hard through the almost empty streets in the center of town. West Point is one of those places that people move to and never want to leave. Memories are made on the mostly vacant streets. As I drove into town I felt one of those memories running alongside my car, I sensed Buddy aka the West Point Cruiser running alongside the car. His ghost was welcoming me to his home town.
He came by the nickname of the West Point Cruiser via Bob. This story begins the day when Buddy’s owners were moving from West Point. Buddy (part pit bulldog, age four) who loved West Point didn’t want to move so he grabbed all his toys picked what he figured was the best place in town to live and came to rest on Bob’s porch. Bob’s house on Pine Street was a great place to reside for a dog. From there it was just a short distance to Main Street, the school and for that matter everywhere else in town. And like everything else in Buddy’s life when he wanted something he took it.
Bob thought it was ok for buddy to stay with him. Bob’s idea was that Buddy would be an outside dog but Buddy didn’t like that idea so after he eventually chewed through three screen doors in attempts to break into the house until his domain came to be in the warmth of Bob’s home. To complete each day he would come in and want to be petted before bedtime. He wouldn’t give up until he got his way. At times when Bob wasn’t available then Buddy would find Bobs wife for one final pat on the head before sleep (which included heavy snoring)..
Buddy who loved attention spent his days going up to the West Point elementary school where he had many friends. The students and Faculty adored buddy. Buddy also would make the rounds of the merchants on Main Street. He knew that he was welcome everywhere and would count on getting a tasty treat or two for his efforts.
All the residents were fond of Buddy but there were a few people who wanted him behind bars (or at least a chain link fence). He without a license came to be Calaveras county’s animal control most wanted dog. The white truck with words Animal Control on the side would be cruising one street and when the man (Mike) wearing the green suit spotted buddy the chase would be on with Buddy trying to make it to Bob’s screened in porch before the net came down on him. Buddy may have had short legs but he could run. Mike never did catch him. To avoid the inevitable phone call telling him his dog was at the pound Bob decided to buy Buddy a license making him street legal.
Still there was the matter of roaming. Buddy was known to have jumped in a neighbor’s pickup through an open window and made himself a bed by digging a hole in the upholstery in the front seat. Buddy also managed to get to John’s female dog making the dog’s owner unhappy. Buddy however could care less, he just continued his trek down to Glenda’s hardware store where he knew a cool cement floor awaited him to rest on. He would lie there for hours watching the world go by.
Finally Bob put up a fence to contain Buddy but escape artist that he was he would dig under the wire mesh until he was free. Once free he would waddle down to the bar where the owner and patrons would give him beef sticks then he would head to Bobs work place. Buddy often was not content with just what people gave him if he saw something good to eat he would go to great measures to get it. He once stole a whole BBQ chicken off Joe’s (a neighbor) hot grill. He also helped himself one blustery day to Paulette’s (a neighbor down the street) Christmas cookies. Buddy would often be found in a neighbor’s house lying next to the fridge waiting to be fed. While peoples initial reaction would be anger their hearts would quickly warm to Buddy.
Buddy liked the big bruiser reputation but underneath that brindle coat lie the heart of a big gentle dog. One day on a visit Bob’s granddaughter managed to paint his toenails red. The two were the best of friends.
So Buddy came to be known and loved by all whose lives he touched. Buddy passed away a few years back. The whole town mourned, even animal control keeps a picture of him. To this day when Bob talks about Buddy, tears still come to his eyes for buddy truly personified the meaning of the phrase that a “Dog is man’s best friend”
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