How Buster the Bulldog was saved from shelter in Mackay, and rehomed

An American bulldog who stayed by his owner’s side after a fatal heart attack was booted from his next home — but a tenacious breeder travelled through a flood-ravaged region to free him.

Buster the American Bulldog was retrieved by his previous owner Amanda Purchase from the Mackay Regional Council pound on February 26 after being neglected for weeks by a backyard breeder. Photo: Supplied

A Queensland woman has recalled the moment she had to fight to retrieve her late ex-husband’s dog after it spent weeks in the hands of a private home and in a pound, only for him to come home “sketchy and skinny”.

After his master of seven years suffered a devastating heart attack late in 2024, Buster — an American Bulldog — didn’t leave his side, and was found on the man’s lifeless body.

It was here that Buster’s struggles began, said Amanda Purchase, his late-owners ex-wife and Townsville mother of two.

Rehomed to a private home in Mackay, Ms Purchase said Buster was used as a stud before being booted after he reportedly bit a child.

A pound notice of Buster after he was taken in by the Mackay pound on January 16, 2025

“We told them that he’s never been around children before,” Ms Purchase said.

Ms Purchase said the stress around Buster’s future added to the grief experienced by her and her twin daughters who had just lost their dad.

“My twins were suffering really bad already and they didn’t have to go through what happened to Buster as well,” she said.

Impounded, and a struggle for freedom

Buster was impounded on January 16 after reports were made to council of an “animal wandering at large”.

He spent a month in the care of Mackay Regional Council, which said it worked with the legal owner to find appropriate accommodation.

Buster’s original breeder, Patrick McKewn from Magnetic Island, was notified of Buster’s impoundment because he was legally registered to the dog, and worked with Ms Purchase to free him.

Mr McKewn said he made “multiple” attempts to reclaim him, but council would only give him back to the previous private home in Mackay.

Fearful Buster would be euthanised, Mr McKewn campaigned for weeks to save him.

On February 26, he was able to finally make the eight hour trip through a flood ravaged region to retrieve him, only for him and Ms Purchase to find Buster severely malnourished.

“I brought him out and he was all emaciated,” he said.

Buster after being retrieved from the pound on February 26, 2025. Photo: Supplied

“I gave him some food and he inhaled every bit of that food like he hadn’t seen food before.”

Ms Purchase said Buster’s poor treatment included the time they were working to free him from the pound.

“I had to fight for nearly two months to get him to me. I had to show proof big time,” she said.

“I saw him come home so skinny and so sketchy.”

Mackay Regional Council strongly denied any allegations Buster was mistreated at the pound.

Mayor Greg Williamson said “experienced, dedicated and caring Council staff members” ensured that animals in the shelter were “being cared for appropriately within the standards of the Animal Care Protection Act 2001”.

Mackay council added that animals in their shelter would receive a daily meal service based on their size, routine checks for signs of illnesses and a daily clean of their kennel, water and food bowl.

‘Dark’ trend plaguing purebred dogs

Ms Purchase said that Buster’s case was reminiscent of a dark trend plaguing purebred dogs that are used for their variety in private breeding.

Queensland’s dog breeder register mandates that all dog breeders have a unique identification number, however Mackay Pet Rescue Secretary, Janet Ambrose said it isn’t enforced in the community.

“That has an enormous impact on rescue groups,” she said.

“They have this litter of puppies, they get older, they can’t get rid of them … there’s only a certain age window and once they’ve passed that window we get contact because they can’t get rid of them.”

Photos of Buster the American Bulldog after being retrieved by his previous owner Amanda Purchase from the Mackay Regional Council pound on February 26, 2025

According to their annual statistics, the RSPCA investigated a total of 56,969 animal cruelty complaints in 2023 to 2024, 13,875 of which we in Queensland.

Mr Williamson said Buster’s story highlights the importance of making sure that animal registrations are up to date, and that if there have been changes in ownership that microchip details are also updated.

“When purchasing from a backyard breeder buyers have no guarantee over the pedigree or condition on the animal, and in some instances backyard breeders are operating unlawfully with no regulatory oversight,” Mayor Greg Williamson said.

Thankfully, Buster has found a forever home since, as Ms Purchase was not in a position to care for him after she pulled him from the pound.

“I have given him to a new home because I got dachshunds,” Ms Purchase said.

“I could not have him full time. I found the most perfect home. He is looking beautiful and healthy.”

Buster was rehomed into a no-kill bulldog rescue in NSW, where he remains today.

Originally published as How Buster the Bulldog was saved from shelter in Mackay, and rehomed