Any room that Bear enters is instantly brightened by his radiant smile. You would never know what the former stray has gone through, though, due to his contagious attitude and undying confidence in people. He never gave up hope that, ultimately, things would go his way.
Laura Forma, a co-founder of This Is Houston, took in Bear for just this reason after learning that the dog had spent eight years on the streets.
“We found Bear, but he was very afraid of us,” Forma told The Dodo. “As we tried to capture him, someone pointed out a house to which Bear belonged to, [so] we went to speak with that resident. She’d been feeding him for 8 years.”
As Forma and her team approached, they could see a huge mass on Bear’s face. It soon became clear that Bear needed immediate medical attention.
“He wouldn’t have made it another day on his own,” Forma said. “The mass weighed three and a half pounds when it was surgically removed. It’s sad to think he had to lug that thing around for so long.”
However, Bear’s problems went beyond the bulk. He had heartworm disease, heart failure, lymphoma, and cancer, according to a complete battery of tests. The veterinarian estimated that Bear had three to twelve months to live, but since Bear had just recently learned the meaning of love and kindness, he had plans to stay.
He visits the veterinarian once a week, and Forma reported that he has been in remission for a few months. “There are no indications of malignancy as of right now. He’s doing fantastic!
Bear will have ongoing care for his other ailments, but Forma said you can’t tell what he’s gone through by looking at him.
“He’s rainbows and sunshine,” Forma said. “He’ll wake up pacing around the house with a smile, and woofing at us. He starts every day off being happy.”
Bear’s personality warmed Forma’s heart so much that she and partner, Tom, have chosen to make him a permanent member of their family. Now, the once-lonely dog gets to go on all the car rides (his favorite) and have all the love and snuggles he could ever ask for.
“It’s crazy to think this perfect boy was a street dog all of his life,” Forma said. “He’s a constant reminder that life goes on and life can get better. To go through all that he went through and to still be happy today, that is so many life lessons right there. He gives us purpose.”
Bear is in remission, but Forma makes sure to enjoy every moment she has with him while he is still alive.
Forma gushed, “He has provided so much happiness.” “He is full of joy and vitality. You can hardly look at him or even be in his presence without grinning.
You just know something is missing when he isn’t there. He inspires us to want to live our days giving him every chance to enjoy life’s pleasures while he still has the chance.
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