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NORFOLK - Buddy, beaten with a baseball bat a little over three months ago, is back on four legs and ready to go home.

Now, Animal Control Officer Hilary Cohen just needs to find him one.

Applications for adoption are being accepted for the German shepherd mix who was less than a year old when he was beaten in early November, requiring two surgeries to repair a severely broken leg.

He has been in Cohen's custody since then, and received a clean bill of health Thursday from veterinarian Andrew Weitzman to clear him for adoption.

"He's incredible," Cohen said of Buddy's comeback - his personality intact, as well as his leg. What the 13-month-old dog needs now is a home where someone will

encourage him to use his leg, she said.

"They need to learn what his limits are," Cohen said, noting running and jumping at full speed is not in Buddy's repertoire.

"He has good days and bad days" where he has been "cranky" from his injury, "but 80 percent of the time he does well," she said.

The bone has totally healed, now he needs to get his muscles back in shape.

She describes Buddy as 100 percent housebroken and a "clown" who loves attention.

Ahh, and he's still a puppy who likes to teethe and chew - she has three power cords and four pairs of shoes as evidence.

"But that was human error," Cohen said, laughing. "He does mind his manners if he's given toys or bones."

Buddy weighs in at 60 pounds and has been vaccinated, neutered and micro-chipped. He has one pin in his leg from the surgery that is permanent.

Other than regular veterinary exams, he does not need any special medical treatment. There is a possibility in the long term of osteoarthritis based on his injury. Unfortunately, the fracture happened in the joint, Cohen said, "but you'd never know it right now."

Buddy does get overly excited and so any family that might consider adopting him should have older children.

"He loves other dogs and is very respectful of cats - if they're strong (willed) cats," Cohen added.

His former owner, Patricia King, formerly of 65 Mirror Lake Ave. in Norfolk, was arrested and charged with cruelty to animals after Cohen received a tip that a dog had a broken leg and was not receiving treatment.

The charges allege King did not seek timely medical care for the puppy, deprived him of food and water and kept him in an unsafe environment. She has forfeited all rights to the dog.

King, 45, now lives in North Attleboro.

She is on probation in Wrentham District Court, where her case was continued without a finding for one year in December.

Cohen said the case is still open, and authorities still are trying to determine who beat the dog - a felony with a 10-year statue of limitations.

Despite all that has happened to Buddy, "it's been a great outcome," she said.

In addition, publicity about Buddy's plight aided other animals in her care.

More than $10,000 was donated to cover medical and other costs associated with Buddy's injuries, Cohen said.

"It was overwhelming and drew attention to other animals here," she said.

Cohen said some people expressed an interest in adopting Buddy when news of his situation was published, but that does not preclude anyone from applying for adoption. She said people who previously expressed an interest in adopting should contact her again so that she knows they are still interested.

Contact Cohen by calling 508-528-3232 or e-mailing her at norfolkk9@aol.com.

"I want to find the perfect home for him," she said. "I would love to transition him into his forever home sooner than later."