Rusty, the dog in the digital illustration, was my four year old Miniature Dachshund. The actual photograph was taken of him shortly after he was given to me by a deploying soldier, the previous owner. Several years later, while I was about to graduate college, news had come from my mother that my best friend, Rusty, had passed away from an accident. The news immediately broke my heart, and filled me with regret for not having him with me in Pittsburgh. To always remember Rusty, I redid the previous illustration and produced "Rusty Buddy".