Good Bye Mr. Bear...

For three years now I have had a faithful little traveling partner who would travel in the navigators chair beside me while we tootled down the highway either in the motorhome or the car. Never complaining while doing so and always happy to go on the next adventure. Good ole Mr. Bear.

We got Mr. Bear from a couple in Texas in 2009 who could not take care of him any longer as they traveled too much. He was not sure of his place in the house as we had two dogs already, but he quickly established himself as the Alpha dog as so many little dogs do and just as quickly won a place in our hearts. 

The Three Amigos

He went on many adventures with the family and was a seasoned traveler.  

On the road again!

All ready for the Trip to Washington DC

He never objected to when our grandson or granddaughter hauled him around the yard on his lead. He happily followed. 

Andy and Maggie having a load of fun with Bear who never objected

Sometimes he would get himself into trouble with his barking, especially in the motorhome. RV Parks will kick you out if your dogs disturb other people. 

OK, The cat made me do it.

I heard a noise outside...so I bark, a lot!

Come on guys, let's get this party started, I want cake!

Did you say it was time to drink coffee? Oh Fitz!

Boy oh Boy, on the road again!

This last adventure he was so excited to hop in the car and was ready to go see his big brother Fitz and sister Lizzy in Kansas City and as always to "give 'em hell" in don't mess with me. We arrived and everyone was excited to greet each other. This was on Friday.

Saturday was good and he was playful and happy, but during the night sometime Bear started to become restless and not quite so playful, sort of like he was tired. This was Sunday.

Monday early, I could hear him becoming more restless and when I woke up he had pooped all over the floor which he never does and he was pacing. He made it downstairs, but he constantly walked from one end of the condo to the other, getting lost and standing in one place for long periods of time.

We finally called a Vet Service which came to the house and it was determined that Bear had a stroke and now was blind and deaf due to the swelling in his brain. We determined he could see shadows enough to avoid objects but could not hear us. The Vet started him on some steroids to reduce the swelling  to see if we could get him back on an even kilter.

We enclosed him in a smaller space for safety when away and put him in his house for sleeping for the remainder of the visit. The other dogs were very patient with him and at one point it looked like he might become his old self again as he started a tussle with Fitz. 

On Monday I drove home with him and he did fairly well, but a six hour drive was almost too much for him. The last hour he kept wanting to get up and try to walk around the car. It was all I could do to keep him still and drive. 

We finally made it home and I put him outside and it was like he knew the place, went to his water, got a drink and started to wander the yard and I thought to myself that we might make it after all. Tuesday morning I put him out and he trotted off around the corner of the house like it was normal, later I found him asleep in my granddaughter playhouse. Unfortunately when he woke up, he woke up really confused and unsteady.  

As this week progressed, Bear had another stroke. He wanders in tight little circles not knowing where he is going, bumping into things and crying, where before he was avoiding them. I can't pick him up as he has the worst scream in the world and tries to bite me when I do. He will wander for hours on end before he finally will collapse out of exhaustion. 

Now he can't find his food or water and if he does he steps in it knocking it all over the floor. The light in his eyes is gone. There is no recognition of anything. The quality of his life is not there, he is just existing.

Last night I was able to cover him in a big fluffy towel and pick him up and sit in my recliner and hold him and rock him for almost two hours while he slept. What a joy to hold the little guy. 

He has now progressed to the point of not being able to walk as of this afternoon or find his food or water and is crying with every breath. It is time for him to cross the Rainbow Bridge. My dear "daughter" Grace who is a Vet will lovingly administer the doses tomorrow at 3:00 pm. We have known Grace since grade school and know what a compassionate and caring person she is. He will be surrounded by people who know him and love him as he quietly slips into peace. 

Do I want to put him down? Not really, I would prefer God just gently take him over the Rainbow bridge like he did Tara and Pepper. I just want to say you were a faithful little companion who had a rough start, but were loved even if you were ornery. We love you dearly my little man. Rest well, you deserve it.   

Bear, always loving his bath!
i love his smile!