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The Story of Bear's Interests
General
Laying in the yard, swimming, chasing squirrels, barking at anything that moves, car rides, chilling with my boy Pedro. Tennis Balls!!!!!!!! And my favorite thing to do is give sloppy kisses. And snow... I love snow!!!!
Music
I love all genres of music. But my personal favorites are Xavier Rudd, anything by Jon Fogerty, and DMX "Where my dogs at, rrrrrr rrrrr!!!!!!"
Movies
Tarantino is a dog.... I mean god. Homeward bound is great, the Fox and the hound, Turner and Hooch, Lassie, Lady and the Tramp, The Neverending Story and my all time favorite Kill Bill.
Television
Anything on Fox... Animation domination Rocks...Simpsons and Family guy..... Brian is my idol. And of course football. GO EAGLES!!!!!!
Books
Dog Fancy.... Hey I read it for the articles not the pictures.
Heroes
Everyone who is helping me through this and especially all the people and animals surviving this cruel disease.
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About me: To all of you who know and love the bear all of my updates on his condition will be in the form of posts and blogs. Feel free to leave love and encouragement. I am also setting up this page to help people whos pets are also suffering from this terrible disease. Thanks for your support.
The Story of Bear:
It all started on day in the summer of 2002. I was home enjoying my summer before the start of my senior year at college. My sister had called me and informed me that she was moving and that they would have to give up their American Bulldog puppy due to the fact that he was going to be far to large and active for their new place. Having a love for American Bulldogs I quickly realized that I should seize the opportunity to keep the dog in the family.
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Skeptical at first I decided to take Bear for a weekend to make sure our personalities matched. During that weekend I realized that Bear's personality was perfect for me. "We were like peas and carrots." Since that weekend we have not left each others side. He is my buddy and I am his daddy.
.."http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vcGhvdG9idWNrZXQuY29t" target="_blank">
Over the years Bears personality has grown and he has taken on more and more of my "whacky" personality. His body language and facial expressions have become so pronounced that it is almost as if he is speaking to you. He also became very vocal which is a crowd pleaser. Bear also became a social butterfly because most of the time where I went he went. He became a celebrity at my college and a welcome guest at my friends houses. Bear seemed to put out an energy that could touch anyones heart.
.."http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vcGhvdG9idWNrZXQuY29t" target="_blank">
Over the years bear has racked up thousands of dollars in vet bills. Mainly bumps, bruises, cuts, sprains, and broken toenails. Generally we were in the vet office once every three months. He also had to have a femoral neck extension to correct very bad hip displaysia before he was even a year old.
.."http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vcGhvdG9idWNrZXQuY29t" target="_blank">
Then at three years old he contracted lyme disease. I am in no way shape or form complaining I am merely informing. Me and bear live fast and play hard and we both end up at the doctor a lot, but I would not have it any other way. Which leads me to the next portion of the story...
.."http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vcGhvdG9idWNrZXQuY29t" target="_blank">
At the end of July I took bear to Lake Raystown for a fun filled few days of swimming and camping. Bear loves to swim and was in absolute heaven playing all day with his buddy Black an awesome pit/lab mix. Soon I will have up the video of him at the lake and you will clearly see how much he loves swimming. After a few fun filled days on the lake we returned to Dillsburg and "normal" life resumed. Bear was very sluggish and slept more than normal for a few days, which I assumed was from the extensive exercise at the lake.
Then he began to develop a limp. Upon inspection of the limp I saw a small lump on his leg. I showed it to my family (who have extensive dog knowledge) and did some research. All the research pointed to an abcess and since it didnt seem to bothering him drastically I decided to give him amoxicillian and give it a few days. After two days he began using his leg again and everything seemed fine. About a week later Bear and I were rough housing and I pushed him backward and he let out a terrible scream that I will never forget. From that moment on the limp came back. The next morning I awoke and called the vet and when I looked at his leg it seemed as if the lump doubled in size. At this point I assumed he had severly fractured his leg and due to the rough housing the leg had snapped because of the size of the lump.
When my mother took Bear to the vet on Monday August 20th the doctor said the lump seemed to be cancerous and that a follow up appointment woudl be needed on friday the 25th. that appointment assured the fact that it was bone cancer via x-rays. Immediatley they did chest x-rays to check his lungs. The x-rays showed the lungs were clear but his heart was a little enlarged. We schedueld an EKG to check his heart on the following Monday August 27th. The EKG came back clean, which proves that Bear does truely have a big heart. With his heart and lungs clean I decided to get his leg amputated and start a chemotherapy regiment. his leg was amputated on Tuesday September 4th.
By this time, barely a month since the lump appeared it had grown to the size of a tennis ball. Bear is doing great and has forgotten all about the fact that he is rocking it on three legs. I made a photo time-line to help illustrate what he went through during the healing process.
Who I'd like to meet: I GIANT THANK YOU GOES OUT TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HELPED OUT WITH THE FINANCIAL DILEMMA THIS HAS CAUSED (closing in on $5200 in the last 4 months in vet bills, prescriptions and food).
A BIG SHOUT OUT TO KRISTAL.... for getting over her fear of dogs and finding a spot in her heart for Bear and the animal community. And for all the help in every way, shape, and form with this whole process... especially for helping out with my stress and occasional depression.
Tina and Randy Kennedy - also for all 1000 vet trips you made.....
Jessica, Kris and Amity Brown - also for opening your home to me and the Bear.....
Brandi Kennedy, Tiyler, Kayliegh, Jess-man, and Jake.....
Larry and Candi Ort.....
All the great people who donated at that fish place.
ALSO A GIANT THANK YOU GOES OUT TO the entire staff of Hershire Animal hospital for there great work and to The Animal
Hospital of Wrye for there great work with this terrible disease.
And a big thank you to Dr. Susan for hours of Acupuncture and a million trillion pounds of positive energy.
Just think he is up there amongst Crystal the brillant, Booch the Dee Dee Dee, his sister Cassie, Brunner who now can see, Lucky to torment him now that she is of full health and he protecting my little pippin squeakers, Oh and peepop holding down the fort with our many animals over the years on all fours he is having a ball.
I am so lucky to have met you! I am so , so, very sorry for your loss. I know how hard this time is for you and your family. If there is anything that I can do to help, I am here. Bear was a wonderful puppy who will live on in your memories forever. There is no one who can take those away from you. I'm sure I will never forget those wet puppy kisses when I first met him! My baby, Cuddles (4 Year old English Bulldog), is probably showing him the ropes right about now.. I'm sure he is in safe "paws"...
Todd due know we are all here for you in your time of need. I am sorry I didn't get the chance to spend time with you when you were over last night! I love ya bro. This ones for B, may he rest in peace now! imikimi - Customize Your World
You can beat this bear bear! You are the toughest dog I know... be brave and keep fighting! Give your daddy big kisses.. He loves you so much... and I love you too Bear! MWAH xoxoxo
happy new year bear!!! my mama still has your hoodies and is going to mail them this week! she feels bad it's taking so long, but things around here have been really crazy.
Have fun getting acupuncture and swimming! I'm jealous....
Hey buckums... keep up the good work with Chemo.. i know its hard and makes ur tummy hurt, but it will make you better! Love ya bear bear.. your birthday is coming up soon too.. what do you want?!?!
hey buddy! thanks for the rimadyl...i really appreciate it.....and have fun with the acupuncture treatments - it feels so good! tell your doc to give you a massage too!
Skeptical at first I decided to take Bear for a weekend to make sure our personalities matched. During that weekend I realized that Bear's personality was perfect for me. "We were like peas and carrots." Since that weekend we have not left each others side. He is my buddy and I am his daddy.
.."http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vcGhvdG9idWNrZXQuY29t" target="_blank">
Over the years Bears personality has grown and he has taken on more and more of my "whacky" personality. His body language and facial expressions have become so pronounced that it is almost as if he is speaking to you. He also became very vocal which is a crowd pleaser. Bear also became a social butterfly because most of the time where I went he went. He became a celebrity at my college and a welcome guest at my friends houses. Bear seemed to put out an energy that could touch anyones heart.
.."http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vcGhvdG9idWNrZXQuY29t" target="_blank">
Over the years bear has racked up thousands of dollars in vet bills. Mainly bumps, bruises, cuts, sprains, and broken toenails. Generally we were in the vet office once every three months. He also had to have a femoral neck extension to correct very bad hip displaysia before he was even a year old.
.."http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vcGhvdG9idWNrZXQuY29t" target="_blank">
Then at three years old he contracted lyme disease. I am in no way shape or form complaining I am merely informing. Me and bear live fast and play hard and we both end up at the doctor a lot, but I would not have it any other way. Which leads me to the next portion of the story...
.."http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vcGhvdG9idWNrZXQuY29t" target="_blank">
At the end of July I took bear to Lake Raystown for a fun filled few days of swimming and camping. Bear loves to swim and was in absolute heaven playing all day with his buddy Black an awesome pit/lab mix. Soon I will have up the video of him at the lake and you will clearly see how much he loves swimming. After a few fun filled days on the lake we returned to Dillsburg and "normal" life resumed. Bear was very sluggish and slept more than normal for a few days, which I assumed was from the extensive exercise at the lake.
..
