Bear: RIP My Brother! (1994-2005)

After a long illness involving lung cancer, my faithful dog Bear died this past Sunday, July 31, 2005. He was eleven years old, and had spent the last nine years as a member of my family. Everyone who knew him all loved him --- as he was that special one-of-a-kind once-in-a-lifetime soulmate.


He had gotten quite sick and stopped eating about a week before he died. This was quite heartbreaking --- as Bear was the type that never missed a meal. The sight of my wife trying to feed him by spoon or syringe was heartbreaking indeed.

Thank you so much for your many years of friendship and companionship, Bear. You will be sorely missed, and this itself seems like a severe understatement.

On the morning he died --- he cried out so both my wife and I would get up and come to his side in our well-lit living room. We both were there as my wife asked him if he had to go outside. He could hardly move and it was quite sad. But with both my wife and I there, he stood up and walked outside. He got about six feet out the door --- and then he collapsed and died right on the spot.

I felt honored that he somehow waited until we were both there. I will always cherish the thought that we meant so much to him that he wanted to say one last goodbye.

We all love you, Bubba Bear!

Rest In Peace . . .