I still remember the first time I saw Nikki during my search for dog adoption. She was tucked into the corner of her kennel, not making eye contact with anyone walking by. A big German Shepherd with a limp. The staff told me she had hip dysplasia. She had already been returned once. I knelt by the bars, and she finally lifted her head. Her eyes locked on mine. She leaned forward and pressed her head against the metal. That was all it took. I signed the papers.
The First Weeks
Bringing Nikki home was rough at first. She paced the house, unsure of her place. She cried at night if I wasn’t nearby. So I slept on the floor beside her bed until she settled. We found our rhythm. Breakfast at the same time every day. Evening walks, slow ones that her hips could manage. She got a blanket that was hers and hers alone. That seemed to matter.
Discovering Joy Again
Running was never going to be in the cards. But swimming was. The first time I coaxed her into a lake, something lit up inside her. She paddled around like she’d been waiting her whole life for that moment. Her limp disappeared in the water. I stood on the shore laughing and cheering like a fool. That became our thing. Whenever we found water, Nikki dove right in. She also reminded me about the small joys. Sun on the floor. A cool breeze. Lying her head on my lap while I read. She slowed me down. Taught me to notice.
Our Adventures
We didn’t climb mountains, but we traveled. Road trips up the coast. Quiet weekends in the woods. I planned them with her hips in mind, gentle trails, plenty of rest stops, places where she could just be free. One of my clearest memories is her in the car, nose out the window, ears flapping. She looked so alive in those moments. Pure happiness.
Why I Built Buddy
Nikki wasn’t the easiest dog. She needed care, patience, and adjustments. But she gave me back more than I ever gave her. I kept thinking about all the other dogs like her. The ones people skip over during dog adoption. Too old. Medical issues. Nervous. They get passed by. Sometimes adopted, then returned again. Not because people don’t care, but because they don’t always have the support they need. That thought sat heavily with me. I’ve spent my career building companies. With Nikki, I realized I could use those skills to help pets and families stay together. That’s how [Buddy]was born. A way to match people with the right dog, and to give them guidance so they don’t have to go through it alone. Buddy exists because of Nikki.
Saying Goodbye
Nikki’s gone now. Writing that still hurts. The house feels quieter. The routine we built together is missing pieces. But she left me with something lasting. Patience. Gratitude. A reminder that love is found in small moments, not grand ones. She gave me purpose too. I thought I was rescuing her. But really, she was rescuing me.
For Anyone Thinking About Adoption
If you’re considering dog adoption, please don’t walk past the dogs like Nikki. The ones that look like “too much work.” They may not be perfect on paper, but their love will change you. Your soulmate might be sitting in the back of a kennel right now, waiting.
What Stays With Me
When I picture Nikki, I see her in the lake, paddling with her whole heart. Or with her head out the window, ears flying. Or asleep at my feet, snoring softly. She’s gone, but she’s still with me. She always will be.
Author Bio
Ryan Howard is a three-time social entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Buddy, an AI-powered platform revolutionizing pet adoption and lifelong care. Previously, he founded Practice Fusion, which grew into the largest Electronic Health Record platform in the United States before being acquired by Allscripts (MDRX). He also founded 100Plus, one of the first remote patient monitoring solutions for seniors, which was later acquired by Connect America.
Ryan was inspired to create Buddy in 2025 after rescuing a German Shepherd named Nikki, who had been returned to a shelter due to hip dysplasia. Motivated by Nikki’s story, he applied his expertise in scaling mission-driven technology to address systemic gaps in the adoption and pet care ecosystem.
He is currently a contributor to Forbes and Entrepreneur, where he writes about innovation, technology, and the pet care industry. His leadership has earned him recognition as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum, one of the Goldman Sachs 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs, San Francisco Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40, and inclusion in Business Insider’s Silicon Valley Top 100.
