"I love Oso/Bear sooooooooooooooo much. In the last days he has really come out of his shell, he is playing with his sisters Kya and Misty and his brother Laredo.

photo: Kya on the left and Bear/Oso on the right

He really seems to enjoy the companionship and security that comes from being part of a pack, his natural K-9 instincts are allowing him to quickly fit in as a part of the pack and as a member of the family. Even though he had never been socialized with other dogs in his life before now, where he had been banished to a solitary existence in the back yard neglected and ignored by his former owners. He has bonded with me so strong and I with him.

He sleeps on my bed every night, he rarely leaves my side and never lets me out of his sight when I'm home. He would rather that I pet him and play with him than have any dog treat in the world. Bear loves attention and affection he acts like he is just so starved for it. He loves to ride in my Jeep and wants to go with me every time I leave and greets me at my return when he can't go like I have been gone for days even if it was only a half hour.

His favorite toy though there are many in the doggy toy basket is a stuffed Teddy Bear he picked out on his second day with me. He carries it around like its his baby, he removed the red sweater, the eyes and one of the ears but seems very happy with it the way it is now. Bear has learned so many new things like how to knock on the back sliding glass door when he wants in (Misty, Kya and Laredo taught him that), that when the bell rings on the microwave it means food is coming out, that the refrigerator is one of the other places food comes from, and most of all that his new Dad loves him very much.

I walk Bear every night after sunset because its way too hot in the daytime now, I can tell he had never been walked before but he becomes a little better on the leash each night. Bear is such a joy to my life and watching him learn to interact with my other dogs and adjust to living in the house has been like watching a beautiful flower bloom.

Bear just needed to be loved and he gives nothing but love in return. He will sit for hours next to me on the sofa with his big head in my lap and his Teddy Bear clutched between his big white paws. Bear is living proof that "Love Leads The Way!!!". I want to thank You, Don, Jim, Larry and all of the folks at Kat 5 for bringing Bear into my life. This is Bear's Forever Home now and he will be loved like the cherished family member he is for the rest of his life.

Bear is not a replacement for my sweet boy Rusty who left me after 15 years at my side but Bear has helped ease the pain of my grief over Rusty's loss. Bear now holds his own special place in my heart and I know Rusty is looking down on us from the Rainbow Bridge wagging his tail with joy that I have opened my home and my heart to yet another like I did for him 15 years ago when I took Rusty home off of death row in the Albuquerque, NM City Pound.

Love You All,
Don, Bear, Misty, Kya & Laredo".

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Thank you from KAT 5 to Jim and Don for transporting Bear. Thank you to those of you who donated towards Bear's transport and made this happy story possible. A huge thank you to Don H. for adopting and loving Bear. He will never look on from the other side of the fence wistfully again... He is on the right side now and forever.

Original story:
http://network.bestfriends.org/news/postdetail.aspx?gu=kat5&gu=kat5&np=26065