Salzburg's Vanessa Kovtun mourns her dog Buddy, dead at five and a half

Vanessa Kovtun, a candidate on the show "Forsthaus Rampensau," mourns the death of her five-and-a-half-year-old dog Buddy, who was euthanized on Thursday after suffering from lymphatic cancer. The 26-year-old from Salzburg described him as her "best friend" and protector. Kovtun met Buddy during the COVID-19 pandemic at a circus, where she visited the animals regularly. She formed an immediate bond with the puppy, who fell asleep suckling her finger. She now plans to raise awareness about the health problems caused by overbreeding of purebred dogs, citing Buddy's allergies as a contributing factor to his cancer. Buddy was cared for by Kovtun's friends during the filming of "Forsthaus Rampensau." The show, featuring Kovtun and her companion "Krappi," will premiere on JOYN and ATV on October 9.