Date Posted:20:16:53 10/08/09 Thu Author: Dick Subject: Bear
Today I buried my best friend, Bear. He came to us in November,1995. We were at the cabin when Jay came in the door with a bundle of black fur. It was a 6 week old Lab.
Can I keep him PLEASE? That was the beginning of a friendship that would last for 14 years. Later on, when he was in college he brought home another Lab (sort of) that he had rescued from a street sewer. Drake became the second member of our dog household. Though Drake was the larger of the two, there was no doubt who was the dominant one. That pecking order remained until just recently when Bear began to have problems. First, arthritis began to slow him down and most recently, a melanoma developed in his cheek. Dr. Thomas, our Vet, told us that nothing but extensive and disfiguring surgery would give a slight chance of prolonging his life and at his age and general condition, he would not recommend it. We accepted it and brought him home where his health rapidly deteriorated.
This morning, he could not get up from the floor and we new the time had come to say goodby. That was one of the hardest trips i have ever made but Dr. King made it as easy on Bear and us as he possibly could. Out on the office lawn he gave him an IV injection that put him to sleep and then an additional injection that stopped his heart. We brought him home where Jay had dug a grave in the garden and where 10 other pets from dogs to hamsters are buried and put him to rest.
Thanks for allowing me to share my grief with you.
Dick
