| Brookline Labrador Retriever Rescue Helping Labs Find Their Fur-Ever Homes |
| Bear |
My name is Lou and I want to thank Brookline for giving me such a wonderful friend. His
name is Bear and he is a chocolate Lab. He had a long journey before he reached my
home. When he was about a year old, a man found him wandering in the Pennsylvania
Game Lands. He tried to find Bear’s owner and was unsuccessful. He kept him for three
days and then gave him to a couple. Unfortunately, after six months, they moved and had
to give Bear away. The lady kept Bear until Brookline could find the right home for him.
My older Lab, Hunter, died this summer and my family and I really missed him. My other
Lab, Murphy, missed him and was sad and not eating well. I have had dogs since I was a
child and as the mother of two grown sons, we always had a dog for each of our sons as
they were growing up. I have had many dogs. In my opinion, Labs are the best dogs to
have as pets. My love of Labs made the decision to get another one easy. I wanted to
adopt and started researching rescues. That’s when I saw Bear. It was love at first sight.
I knew he was the dog for me. I hadn’t even started the application process and here was
the dog I wanted! I was afraid that he would be gone before I could complete the process
and apply for him. The Senior Volunteer, Barb, who conducted the home interviewed was
so informative and kind. She said that it might take awhile to adopt and that I may not get
name is Bear and he is a chocolate Lab. He had a long journey before he reached my
home. When he was about a year old, a man found him wandering in the Pennsylvania
Game Lands. He tried to find Bear’s owner and was unsuccessful. He kept him for three
days and then gave him to a couple. Unfortunately, after six months, they moved and had
to give Bear away. The lady kept Bear until Brookline could find the right home for him.
My older Lab, Hunter, died this summer and my family and I really missed him. My other
Lab, Murphy, missed him and was sad and not eating well. I have had dogs since I was a
child and as the mother of two grown sons, we always had a dog for each of our sons as
they were growing up. I have had many dogs. In my opinion, Labs are the best dogs to
have as pets. My love of Labs made the decision to get another one easy. I wanted to
adopt and started researching rescues. That’s when I saw Bear. It was love at first sight.
I knew he was the dog for me. I hadn’t even started the application process and here was
the dog I wanted! I was afraid that he would be gone before I could complete the process
and apply for him. The Senior Volunteer, Barb, who conducted the home interviewed was
so informative and kind. She said that it might take awhile to adopt and that I may not get
the first dog I wanted. She told me all about Brookline. The organization’s careful, well planned procedures and deep sense of
responsibility for the dogs in their care, is very impressive. When Barb left, I knew that I wanted to adopt through Brookline even if I
didn’t get Bear. She also inspired me to volunteer.
Some things are meant to be. Bear was still listed when I was approved. I was fortunate enough to be selected to adopt Bear. By
the time the decision was made, I was leaving for a vacation. I couldn’t take him at the determined time and I was worried that I would
lose him. There was nothing I could do. Flights and rental properties had been arranged. I didn’t know what to do. But my terrific
volunteer, Barb, asked if the current owner would keep him until I returned. Bear’s owner agreed and I went on vacation. While I was
gone, Bear was frequently in my thoughts. I enjoyed my vacation but I was happy to get home and pick up Bear. We were introduced
on the same day I got back.
My son went with me to the introduction. When we met him, Bear was a one and a half years old. He is very large and very strong. As
a typical Lab puppy, he greeted us by jumping on us and giving big sloppy kisses and dragging us around behind him. When he saw
Murphy, my son could hardly control him as he struggled to get to his new brother. They were friends immediately! We brought the
dogs home in two separate cars. Bear was very well behaved in the car. We knew from his write up that he jumped his owner’s 4 feet
high fence to visit children and other dogs so we tried to be very careful getting him out of the car. We raised the tailgate on my son’s
SUV high enough to reach in and get Bear’s leash. As we did, he shot out of the back of the car and was three houses away before
my son could catch him. To be fair to Bear, he had turned around and may have been heading back. This was the beginning our
wonderful life with Bear.
Even then, I knew that things would work out and Bear would be my dog. That was the middle of August and my life with Bear has
been filled with love, laughter, and joy. He is one of the sweetest dogs that I have ever had. He is all Lab, goofy, energetic, and very
loyal and loving. Murphy is happy because he has a friend and brother. They play and sleep side by side. I enjoy watching them romp
and explore my property by taking creek walks and sniffing around in the yard and woods.
My sons and I are amazed that Bear adapted so quickly. Like most Labs, he wants to be with us at all times. He’s never tried to leave
again. Bear gives tremendous, wet, sloppy kisses. Their abundance is only exceeded by the enthusiastic love he displays while
giving them. He thinks everyone deserves them and is very willing to give them to visitors that he has never met. He also likes to hug.
At first, Bear thought that any article of clothing within his reach was an item to be picked up and dangled at someone to entice them
into a game of tug of war. I spent a lot of time running through the house trying to catch him and save the clothing. Bear loves this
game. “Drop it” appeared to be something that Bear had never heard. I think it was selective listening. Brookline’s rule of requiring
owners to take dog training lessons is a good one. My son found an excellent trainer who came to my home. With her simple positive
methods I was soon more effective in training Bear. Bear learns very quickly and has learned to “come”, “sit”, and “stay” and is
learning “down’. When he and Murphy starting to play too rough in the house, I tell him to “sit” and “stay” and he will stop and obey. I
am also not running through house chasing him to retrieve my clothing. Bear is very intelligent and now he creates situations to get
treats. He brings me clothes, teases me with them, waits for me to say, “Drop it” and then gives them to me. His next move is to
head straight to the container holding teats. A new training project! My son, David, has taught him to fetch. Bear runs at amazing
speeds to retrieve. He is constantly bringing me sticks and balls to throw. One of Bear’s most funny and loving traits is that he thinks
people are pillows. When I lie down, he wants to crawl up on me, put his paws on either side of my head with his face near mine,
stretch out full length and go to sleep, all 90 pounds of him!
Bear keeps things lively and interesting. He has given us so much joy and love. He is Labadorable! Thank you Brookline for my
wonderful friend.
responsibility for the dogs in their care, is very impressive. When Barb left, I knew that I wanted to adopt through Brookline even if I
didn’t get Bear. She also inspired me to volunteer.
Some things are meant to be. Bear was still listed when I was approved. I was fortunate enough to be selected to adopt Bear. By
the time the decision was made, I was leaving for a vacation. I couldn’t take him at the determined time and I was worried that I would
lose him. There was nothing I could do. Flights and rental properties had been arranged. I didn’t know what to do. But my terrific
volunteer, Barb, asked if the current owner would keep him until I returned. Bear’s owner agreed and I went on vacation. While I was
gone, Bear was frequently in my thoughts. I enjoyed my vacation but I was happy to get home and pick up Bear. We were introduced
on the same day I got back.
My son went with me to the introduction. When we met him, Bear was a one and a half years old. He is very large and very strong. As
a typical Lab puppy, he greeted us by jumping on us and giving big sloppy kisses and dragging us around behind him. When he saw
Murphy, my son could hardly control him as he struggled to get to his new brother. They were friends immediately! We brought the
dogs home in two separate cars. Bear was very well behaved in the car. We knew from his write up that he jumped his owner’s 4 feet
high fence to visit children and other dogs so we tried to be very careful getting him out of the car. We raised the tailgate on my son’s
SUV high enough to reach in and get Bear’s leash. As we did, he shot out of the back of the car and was three houses away before
my son could catch him. To be fair to Bear, he had turned around and may have been heading back. This was the beginning our
wonderful life with Bear.
Even then, I knew that things would work out and Bear would be my dog. That was the middle of August and my life with Bear has
been filled with love, laughter, and joy. He is one of the sweetest dogs that I have ever had. He is all Lab, goofy, energetic, and very
loyal and loving. Murphy is happy because he has a friend and brother. They play and sleep side by side. I enjoy watching them romp
and explore my property by taking creek walks and sniffing around in the yard and woods.
My sons and I are amazed that Bear adapted so quickly. Like most Labs, he wants to be with us at all times. He’s never tried to leave
again. Bear gives tremendous, wet, sloppy kisses. Their abundance is only exceeded by the enthusiastic love he displays while
giving them. He thinks everyone deserves them and is very willing to give them to visitors that he has never met. He also likes to hug.
At first, Bear thought that any article of clothing within his reach was an item to be picked up and dangled at someone to entice them
into a game of tug of war. I spent a lot of time running through the house trying to catch him and save the clothing. Bear loves this
game. “Drop it” appeared to be something that Bear had never heard. I think it was selective listening. Brookline’s rule of requiring
owners to take dog training lessons is a good one. My son found an excellent trainer who came to my home. With her simple positive
methods I was soon more effective in training Bear. Bear learns very quickly and has learned to “come”, “sit”, and “stay” and is
learning “down’. When he and Murphy starting to play too rough in the house, I tell him to “sit” and “stay” and he will stop and obey. I
am also not running through house chasing him to retrieve my clothing. Bear is very intelligent and now he creates situations to get
treats. He brings me clothes, teases me with them, waits for me to say, “Drop it” and then gives them to me. His next move is to
head straight to the container holding teats. A new training project! My son, David, has taught him to fetch. Bear runs at amazing
speeds to retrieve. He is constantly bringing me sticks and balls to throw. One of Bear’s most funny and loving traits is that he thinks
people are pillows. When I lie down, he wants to crawl up on me, put his paws on either side of my head with his face near mine,
stretch out full length and go to sleep, all 90 pounds of him!
Bear keeps things lively and interesting. He has given us so much joy and love. He is Labadorable! Thank you Brookline for my
wonderful friend.