In April 2021, a peaceful walk through Kiroli Park in West Monroe, Louisiana, led Zach Medlin to a touching discovery hidden beneath pine needles and fallen leaves. While his one-eyed Staffordshire terrier, Serena, chased ducks by the lake, Medlin spotted a small square stone partially buried in the ground.
Clearing away the debris, he revealed an inscription: *“Buddie, 1928–1941. Born a dog, died a gentleman.”* The gravestone left Medlin wondering why a dog was buried in the 160-acre public park.
Local legend claims Buddie once served as a Boy Scouts’ mascot and famously saved a drowning boy by barking for help. But historical research tells a different story. According to a handwritten note on Findagrave.com from Mrs. Dee Strickland, Buddie belonged to Mr. and Mrs. Albert H. Jones of Monroe. The family often brought their beloved Irish setter to Kiroli Park, and when Buddie passed away, they chose to lay him to rest there.
Regardless of which account is true, the gravestone speaks to the deep bond between Buddie and his humans. “Knowing Buddie brought comfort during the Great Depression is heartening,” Medlin told Fox News. “All dogs deserve a grave marker.”
Today, Buddie’s resting place remains a quiet, poignant reminder of loyalty, love, and companionship — a hidden piece of history that continues to touch the hearts of those who stumble upon it.
