When you first meet Buddy it’s easy to be captivated by his big, joyful eyes that beg for a cuddle. But Buddy isn’t just about cuddles – he’s about connections, opportunity, and acceptance.

The inspiration for Buddy Treats stems from Michele (Founder of Buddy Treats) family’s journey to connect with Sebastian, her grandson with autism.

When Sebastian was diagnosed with autism at age 2, being non verbal at the time, her family was searching for meaningful ways to connect with Sebastian…Michele, who had previously worked with therapy dogs in Autism programming, believed a dog can help build that bridge.

“My sole purpose was to get Buddy to work with Sebastian, so he felt a certain sense of comfort and acceptance”.

When the bond occurred with Buddy and Sebastian, it sparked something bigger than all of us – it showed what’s possible when love, patience, and play come together.

Buddy is a spirited and high-energy golden retriever. He failed his therapy dog test more than once and struggled in traditional training classes. But one thing was clear—he wanted to connect. 

Using a different approach, such as smaller class sizes and personalized training, Buddy finally earned his therapy dog license. His journey became a reflection of a larger truth Michele knows well: not everyone follows the same path to success.