Bear

Bear Dog is a shiney, black, Lab Mix. He is 8 years old and a very sweet guy. Bear is friendly and gets along beautifully with children. We have noted that Bear loves to ride in the car, so if you are looking for a pet to ride around and spend the day with....we have your guy. I somehow picture Bear with that "grandpa" type figure, who rides with his "best friend" on board. Bear Dog seems to be a lonely fellow himself, and would love to have a master. He was tossed around a lot as a pup, and he has never had the chance to have a home to call his own. He has been in rescue care for several years now, and that is not easy. Bear would make anyone, (young or old) a wonderful companion with his gentle disposition. He is simply wishing for that special person to give him all the "love" he has been missing out on in life! Bear has been neutered and he is current on all vaccinations. If you can help Bear in his search for a happy safe home, come meet him. He is a sweet animal just waiting to be your "forever" pet. Loves to hug! (7/99)
Please note Bear can be aggressive with some male dogs that he does not know. It is recommended that he be placed in a home with a female or as an only pet.


Please read the following awareness story!


Today and for many years past, there are many homeless Black Dogs in rescue care at Noah’s Arc, and for some reason they have found it hard to be adopted. People will call and e-mail about the other dogs but seldom about the black ones.

“ Why is it that people do not want black dogs?” asked a new little black puppy named Drake. “I thought people wanted puppies even if they were black!”
“ Well,” said an older and wiser black dog-named Bear, “blacks are common, and few people want a common color or a common dog! Humans are always looking for something better, something different.”
“ I am NOT common,” said Drake the black puppy. “I resent being called common! Yes, I am unique, said his sister Allie! My Mama told me I was. She told me that we all are special and unique in our own way!” The frail black mother named Chanel listened to Bear as she looked at her litter of 7 black puppies.
“Last week another dog across the lot was looked at and adopted”, said Bear. “She was brown and white, not a black, and I hate to be cruel, but the people did not even ask to see you, did they Drake?”
The heartbroken puppy hung his head. “No,” he replied. “But don’t people know that looks are only skin deep? I am gorgeous on the inside, and I have a huge heart, and I am just looking for a family that can love me as much as I will love them. Chances are you, your mother and siblings will grow old here at Noah’s Arc just like me, Terri, Mable, Noah, Zoë, Tom, Jerry, Amy and so many of the other black dogs that have lived here all their lives.” Just ask Tamara, Fiddle, Ebony, and KoKo they were all puppies just like you when they came here and no one has ever adopted them.
“Wait a minute”, piped up Huxley, a young black male. “I am very strong and handsome. I have a white dash on my nose and my sister Wendy has “sprinkles”. We should be very adoptable!”
“Yes, young man”, said the older wiser Bear. “You are more adoptable than the ones who are all black, but take a look at me, all these white markings on my coat are not from just old age. People always want “the others”, and they will have a home months, or maybe years, before you have a home! Be thankful that you are handsome and have a stunning white strip on your nose. Feel sorry for the black ones that have nothing descriptive to offer, or the ones that have been injured and starved like Brutus over there, or the ones who now carry only broken spirits like Samantha and Sammie. And look at poor Rex and Rambo; I simply have no words to describe them. NO ONE ever wants them! Just look around at the ones who have been waiting for homes month after month, year after year.” The older, wiser black dog continued, “You may not want to believe me, but I have lived here all my life. I am now old and wise, and I have faced the reality that people do not want us because we are black. What a sad world it is when people think that color, size, or even cropped ears matter. What really matters is what is in our hearts, and if people would just give us a chance, they would find that we are just as good as the other dogs in rescue.
What is really sad is that there are breeders and irresponsible people out there producing more of us. Just like me. Just like you. Just like Chanel and her puppies. If they are lucky they will end up in rescue with the rest of us where at least they are not starved, killed, or overcome by disease. After all, who wants a plain old black dog?
Bear turns and walks to the corner of his pen and gently lies down on the dusty ground.
Chanel with her still mangy coat turns with a limp in her rear leg to face her 7 puppies that have been listening. She looks at thin bodies, sore skin, but most importantly bright trusting loving brown eyes and speaks softly. “I thank God that the wonderful people in rescue did not care about color, age, or what our ears looked like. They just cared that we were homeless and needed to be loved, healed and cared for. Maybe someday people will see us through their eyes. We are here. There is hope! “ With a smile that only a mother could muster, she nudges smiles from the hearts of each of her seven pups and leads them to a warm grassy area of their pen to sit, love each other and wait.