Buddy Unchained

By Daisy Bix; Illustrated by Joe Hyatt

Book cover titled "Buddy Unchained, Tenth Anniversary Edition" featuring an illustrated dog with a light-colored coat, wearing a red collar with a black buckle and a silver tag. There are awards on the cover, including one from the ASPCA and another from the Humane Society Youth, indicating it is a children's book. The authors listed are Daisy Bix and Joe Hyatt.

What is life like for a dog left outside day after day—chained, alone, and forgotten in all kinds of weather? Buddy Unchained tells the powerful story of a once-neglected dog who endured loneliness, abuse, and indifference—until the day his life changed.

Now safe and loved in a new home, Buddy shares his past and the journey to finding a family that truly cares. This heartwarming story encourages empathy in young readers and opens up important conversations about animal welfare.

The book also includes valuable information for parents and adults on how to recognize and report animal abuse.

Also available in Spanish as Rufo liberado.

  • Dogs, Animal Welfare

  • 24 Pages

  • Hardcover

  • Kindergarten - 2nd Grade

  • 0940719010

  • 9780940719019

Illustration of a yellow Labrador retriever sitting with eyes closed, wearing a red collar.
A colorful collage of animated animal and character illustrations.

Awards & Honors

Gold medal with black text reading 'Humane Society Youth KIND Children's Book Award Winner 2007'.

Winner of the 2007 Humane Society of the United States KIND Award for Best Children's Picture Book of the Year

A gold medal with a black silhouette of a person wearing a top hat and a horse, surrounded by text that reads 'The ASPCA Humane Award' and 'The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals'.

Winner of the 2007 ASPCA Henry Bergh Award for Best Children's Picture Book in the Companion Animal category

A colorful collage of various cartoon and realistic animals, people, and characters in a horizontal strip.

Reviews

  • Lauren Briskin (Interim Humane Education Coordinator, Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society)

    "The Gryphon Press's inspiring books bring education about empathy and the human-animal bond to children in the form of beautiful fictional picture books. These books have become an integral part of our humane education library program, since they provoke thoughtful dialogue about responsible pet care among our young participants. "

  • Lisa Desjardins (Vice-President, Aroostook Animal Welfare Awareness Group)

    Buddy Unchained is a valuable tool in teaching the message of compassion and empathy toward animals.”

  • Blair Christolon (Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA)

    “(K-2) A yellow, mixed-breed dog narrates his life story. Buddy’s former owner did not feed him enough or provide clean water, and frequently left him chained outside. But things changed for the better when the animal was rescued and taken to a shelter, where he was subsequently adopted by a caring family. Attractive, realistic paintings invite readers to look into Buddy’s eyes and experience his emotions, both of neglect and of contentment in his new home. The author appends additional information about how to help an abused dog…”

  • Catherine Ciarrocchi, Reader

    “I wanted to say how much my nephew and I have been enjoying Buddy Unchained. He asks me to read it twice in a row each time and the wonderful and moving images make such an impression on him. I can see it in his eyes, facial expressions and comments. I would like to commend firstly, the artist’s sensitive and expressive drawings which truly came from the heart. And I would like to commend Gryphon Press for their dedication to the voiceless. I am only now learning more about Gryphon Press and will certainly consider further purchases. More importantly, it has inspired me even more so to become involved in saving animals in need.”

  • Janet Leimeister (The Capitola Book Store)

    Buddy Unchained is a deeply moving look at a dog abandoned and adopted. The story is simple yet of vast importance, and at the end we want nothing more than to make sure that all the Buddys of the world are loved and cared for like this patient, easy-to-please pup.”