Bear is an 11-year-old Newfoundland mix in Highland Lake, NY, who needs $1,305 for surgery to remove a mass.

You could label Bear a rescue, but really, he is a gift.

In August 2014, my sister, Sammi, saw him tied to a post, in front of a cemetery. She was on her way to work and he was still there after her shift. She went home, got a leash and treats to coax him into her car. She has her own pup and was not able to keep Bear at her apartment. Sam gave Bear to our brother, Mike, as a birthday gift. He was away on a birthday vacation, so his friend who was house sitting & their 5 year old daughter, met Bear first. He was gentle and affectionate to her and the other dogs, so it was decided Bear would be Mikes. When he returned he met Bear and fell in love. The vet they brought him to stated he was about 5 or 6 Newfoundland Mix. Bear loved nothing more than the sleep, roam around the property with his canine friends, and scratch. Mike and his family loved animals and it was such a joy to see this huge dog have such a happy life.

Flash forward to next year, October 2015, Mike is murdered in front of his 10 year old son, in a home invasion robbery gone wrong. Both dogs Mike owned were maced by the perpetrators.

Asking my family where was Bear going to live, my step-dad was unsure as everyone already had reach capacity for the dogs they were permitted to own.

I asked if I could please have Bear.

October 18th 2015, My 26th birthday, our family said our goodbyes to Mike at his funeral, and Bear came home to live with me. It was such a heart breaking day, that to be able to snuggle him and bury my face in his fur and cry my eyes out that Mike was really gone.

He's twice a birthday gift, and he truly has been A GIFT!

He acclimated well to his new home and fellow animal inhabitants, two other dogs, small corgi mixes, six cats, a hedgehog, a love bird, and various barn yard fowl. Gentle and un-bothered by the lot of them. Walking with us to let the chicken and geese out in the mornings he would be unfazed by their doodles and honks. We even had a duck briefly, with cerebral palsy, who lived in on the living room floor, they were buddies.

We learned Bear LOVES car rides, when it came time to do the weekly recycling, Bear would see us gathering the bins to be brought to the transfer station, and sit by them, as if to say, I'm going too right? It got to where we would have to spell out Car Ride in front of him.
Bear also loves swimming. Being a Newfie Mix, he was all about going to the river to soak up the sun and cool his fur in the gentle currents of the Delaware. Wading in and doggy paddling in a circle, swimming after sticks. We spent many a sunset on the river.

Hikes also were a fun way to spend time with Bear. We would hit up local trails as well as in the off season do laps at the local camp ground before he would go for a dip in the Delaware. We also learned that due to his breed, his ear anatomy made it perfect for bacteria to breed. He developed a hematoma on his ear from scratching and shaking. After getting a recommendation from by friend with beagles, we went to Quality Pet Care. Where we met Dr. Quick and their office Manager Rachel. I found out Bear had 6 different kinds of bacteria growing in his ears. Cue the oral and topical antibiotics as well as an ear wash after swimming, and twice a week for maintenance.

Flash forward to April 2018, Bear and I move out, after making a life changing choice to end my five year relationship. If it weren't for Bears snuggles it would have been an even more chaotic time, little did we know it was about to get more hectic!

May 2018, a tornado blew thru out tiny New York, Delaware River Valley Hamlet, and destroyed the home we had moved into, barely a month prior. My roommate and I arrived home to see our home with gargantuan pine boughs across the roof. Both worried sick about our animals, we entered the house. Bear wet from the holes in the roof where the storm had pierced it, yet smiling that we were home.

I went to go live with my adoptive parents, Bear went to live with his Aunt Sammi; about half an hour away from my house and about an hour away from my job. I would go visit him as often as I could, twice a week usually. It never felt like enough. My Adoptive Mom said to think of him being away at summer camp with his dog friends. Which helped, but still hurt that I didn't get to listen to his snores at night or snuggle him tight when I was lonely or sad. Or Brush him when I was anxious or stressed. To cope I would listen to "Two Drops in the Ocean" by 311 to sooth my sadness. Its a song about two coming together. Which also helped my bitter post break up heart, that if I could think of innocent love to my dog, when I heard a love song, I wouldnt have to be bitter about making the choice to restart my life. While living with his Aunt, Bear started to struggle with urinary incontinence. Thank goodness for internet shopping, I had a carpet shampooer shipped to the house to clean up his messes. We took a trip to QPC to see Dr. Quick and Rachel, come to find he needs prescription food to treat his ureter crystals. Thankfully it was treated soon enough that they had not traveled to his bladder.

Later that summer Sammi moved out due to her unreliable roommate. Unfortunately, her new apartment, she could only have one dog.

I was still working to get my feet back under, me after leaving my long term relationship and the natural disaster that spring.

Bear went to live a mile away, with a friend of mine, Jay, who also had gone thru a life changing break up. Knowing how supportive Bear is, I knew he would be a perfect fit as a room mate. Jay's upstairs neighbors were also friends of mine and would care for Bear when Jay or I were working late. I could now go see Bear every morning before work, and every night after work. The old boy had a great support team growing. Things were getting back to normal.
In February 2019 Bear had his biannual wellness exam and Dr. Quick suggested he have dental work done as he had never had any done. I had enough money in my savings to afford this. I used sick time from work to bring him in that morning. I was a wreck, so nervous about him being put under, I myself never have been so I was even more nervous for Bear to be put under. Rachel assured me at drop off she would be with him thru surgery and recovery, that he would not be alone. Still anxious I drove myself to work while crying my eyes out thinking how devistated and hollow I would be without Bear in my life any more. I stopped at his apartment on the way to work and grabbed his dinosaur stuffie and held it all day at work. Sniffing it, crying into it. Luckily all my fellow staff and day program members were all understanding of the feelings. Rachel called me when he was out of surgery and my heart lifted. She called me later to let me know he was waking up and when he saw her started to wag his tail. I was so overjoyed he was ok that I cried some more. I picked him up that evening after work and gave Rachel the biggest hug for keeping me posted about my Boi.

It was around this time we discussed Bear going on medication for his arthritus. He was put on caraprofen and tri-cox chews to help, which they did, and still do.

From having come to the office so often for his ear infections and rechecks, Bear was hesitant when coming. We would get to the door of the office and he would plant himself to say NOPE!
Now that he was on monthly maintenance medication regimine, It gave Bear a reason to go on a car ride once a month. At first he remained hesitant, but once he realized all he got was scratchies from his "Auntie Rachel" and all the other office staff, Bear happily burst thru the doors to get his lovins.
Again the family at Quality Pet Care quelling my concerns over his well being.

To spoil him even more, I customized a toddler bed for him with the help of his neighbor, June. I even brought him with me to our local music festival, at the same camp ground we would walk around in the off season. Where we tent camped all weekend and made so many new friends.

Flash forward to Summer 2019, Bear and I go on a hike with work friends and he is unable to keep up. He takes a lot of breaks, he is lagging, half way thru, he just lays down. You can see in his eyes he is exhausted. So I sit with him a bit til he is ready to go back to the car. My heart is breaking at I gaze into his cloudy old man eyes while I scratch his greying snout, how do I help him, how can I help his Pain go away? Is he really going to start showing his 11-ish years now?

I call my Vet and burst into tears, bawling on the phone to the staff, my dog, he isn't himself, what do I do?!

He was already on a maintenance anti-inflammatory, and supplement chew.

The angelic staff tell me about laser therapy.
Non-invasive, holistic treatment for his symptoms.
We start laser therapy.

3 times a week for 2 weeks, then twice a week for 2 weeks, then once a week, then every other.
He has graduated now to once a month. We spend so much time with Rachel and the staff there.

At his monthly laser treatment, we discuss that he has a lump which has grown in size. That we need to make an appointment to have Dr. Quick re-examine it.

I make an appointment and miss it because I am so anxious about his prognosis. I call my sister Sammi to come with me, she agrees of course. I needed some help to be brave for Bear.

Now it has its own blood supply, it has weak spots.
If and when it pops, it will bleed. Everywhere.
It will need emergency surgery.

My only question is, with his age, is it worth it to anesthetize him?

Pending blood work Doctor Quick assures me yes, if not he would refer me to a specialist.

So now I am crying, wondering how am I going to afford to take care of this pending catastrophe?
I pet him while