Nancy Libbey-Cawthon wrote the following note on March 22, 2019 concerning a dog she rescued.
Look who just hit the big money jackpot! Meet Bearcat on his way from Harnett County animal shelter to Neuse River golden retriever rescue. No longer will he live outside without the love and care he so deserves. Nine years is a long time to live in the yard but today his life turned around!
Bearcat (or Bear as he answers to) is a handsome loving 9 year old chocolate labby mix who came to Neuse River from a shelter. Bear’s chances of being adopted at the shelter were slim to none. He had 3 strikes against him… 1) he’s a senior 2) he’s heartworm positive and 3) he was an owner surrender accused of an undocumented bite. He would have never made it out of the shelter alive had it not been for Neuse River.
Sadly, Bear has been an outside dog all his life and clearly neglected. Super skinny and confused as to why he had been sentenced to life in a shelter Bear looked at me through the sad eyes of a totally defeated dog when I first met him. I leashed him up and took him outside for a walk. His head hung low and he barely wagged his tail…he wasn’t interested in much of anything, so I sat down on the pavement with him. I spoke to him softly and ran my hands through his fur and in no time, he backed up right into my lap. ♥ We sat together for a while, talked and then walked a bit. He was easy to handle and gentle but still had a hopeless look…almost like he knew what he was up against.
About two weeks ago Bear was outside where he lives and playing ball with a child. No one knows what happened, but the youngster suffered a scratch - not a puncture wound. Because Bear had not been vetted in over 5 years the family reported it as a bite and poor Bear was sentenced to a 10-day bite quarantine at the shelter. The shelter staff reported that from the very beginning it was clear that this was not a dog with any aggression issues. When the shelter manager called the family to advise them Bear would be released after his bite hold and she would give them a call, she was told not to bother…they didn’t want him back.
Bear was approved for intake that evening and I went back the next day for his freedom ride. Prior to getting in the car we hung out in the lobby with 5 four-day old crying kittens and the shelter mascot, a 9- month-old bulldog. Bear was not interested or phased by any of them. He was afraid to get in the car and balked at the crate. But I picked him up and put him in the car and crate. Even at this most fearful moment of uncertainty he showed absolutely NO signs of aggression. He rode quietly to Complete Pet Care…from time to time trying to ‘dig’ his way out of the crate which was stopped quickly with a firm no. When we arrived at CPC he didn’t try to dart out of the crate or car but looked to me for reassurance that all would be ok. ♥
This sweet senior guy just can’t seem to catch a break. Intake revealed Bear’s neglect was worse than we feared. In addition to being heartworm positive, he also has a heart murmur and weighs only 38 pounds (should be about 50 lbs). Because of his poor body condition and heart murmur we are still waiting to see what direction he will begin medically. Ultimately he will go thru heart worm treatment and get neutered.
Bear is looking for a special foster that will open their heart and their home to an older guy who just wants to love and be loved. I guarantee the rewards will far outweigh the challenges. I can’t say enough good things about this GREAT senior guy. He just wants his own person so he can be the very best dog they ever had.
Full disclosure…he is not housetrained but I speak from experience when I tell you these dogs that have lived outside all their lives learn quickly. They are so grateful to have love and a warm bed. Also he’s a bit snappy with treats…guessing this is because he has spent most of his life without enough food to fill his belly.
NRGRR Update: Bear went home with his foster dad and finally began living a life he so much deserved. But…
On Tuesday evening, May 14, 2019, Bear died due to heart worm complications.