In December of 2013, after taking in Goldie and her puppies – the total number of dogs at the Barber house was 10. Chuck and Hailey were coming home from the store on a cold December day and saw a dog in the ditch, with an injured back leg. He was soaking wet, shivering in the freezing temperatures so Chuck picked him up and put him in the back of the car. The house was full at that time and Kris & Chuck were not equipped to take on another dog so Chuck set this big Chow Chow mix dog up in the garage, hoping his owners would be located soon. He went to the store to get a space heater and the dog’s information was posted on social media. Friends that lived in the area where he was found, were asked to keep an eye out for any lost dog signs, but no one came forward. He didn’t have a microchip, no collar and was not neutered. After looking for the owners for a few weeks, the decision to move forward with his vetting and neuter were made. He was good with other dogs, so he moved into the den and left the garage behind.

Bear was a fence jumper. He liked to be left outside, just sitting on the rocks overlooking the backyard and keep watch. However, if there was something interesting on the other side of the fence, like a squirrel, over he’d go. Kris always said she thought all dogs would rather be inside where its cool if given the chance, especially in the Houston heat. Not Bear. It was difficult managing his desire to be outside and keeping him from jumping just because he could. He was walked three times a day, which included running along side a scooter that Kris purchased to give him the exercise he needed as such a young dog. However, Bear was as stubborn as they come! If he wanted to lounge in a puddle in the ditch along the walk/run time, he’d stop and belly crawl, pulling Kris down into the ditch. If he just wanted to stop to sniff the air, he did and would not move forward! On more than one occasion, Chuck had to be called to encourage him to get up and go inside after his walk!! On a very cold day years ago, Bear did one of his “stops” in the tall grass along the road and flopped over like he was dead and had no intention of moving until he was ready. A car stopped and asked if something had happened to him…of course he got a good laugh when Bear popped up to see what was going on and Kris was left telling the thoughtful driver that Bear was all about the drama! The man got a good laugh and Kris proceeded to try to coax Bear into finishing the walk! That is Bear’s personality in a nutshell – stubborn with a flair for the drama!

In 2013, the Barbers still had kids in high school, were busy with sports and kids’ activities and managing 11 dogs, including Bear. Bear changed things for Chuck. This was really his and Hailey’s first rescue that Kris wasn’t involved. Bear adores Chuck and no matter how much time Kris spent with Bear, he really was only interested in Chuck. Bear turned Chuck into a dog-dad, not just the dad that tolerated all of the dogs that Kris and Hailey brought home. The Barbers were finally in alignment about starting a sanctuary someday, once the kids were grown and on their own.

Bear is around 14 years old in 2024, still a feisty fella and still enjoys sitting on the rocks, sniffing the air & watching the squirrels. His days of jumping the fence are over (hopefully), but it doesn’t stop him from jumping the baby gates on the inside when they are supposed to be used for keeping the den dogs IN the den! He is more triggered by storms in his old age and doesn’t see as well as he used to but he still chases Ginger around the yard at dinnertime; he’s not too old to do that LOL!