Pet of the Week: Bear has a big personality

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Bear

Updated: March 10, 2012 8:18AM

Purebred dog? In a shelter? Really?

Bear, an incredibly adorable Newfoundland puppy with a huge personality to match his huge body lost his home.

Someone cared for Bear during his puppy years and then decided they didn’t want him anymore. Was it too expensive to feed him? Was it too difficult to find the time to train him? Was it too inconvenient to have to go home and walk him? We’ll never know.

What we do know is that Bear is a handsome specimen. He has a lovely, happy, typical Newfie personality. They tend to be goofy.

They also tend to drool, need grooming, and eat a lot. Those are the negatives. The many positives completely overpower any shedding and salivary excretions.

Bear loves attention. He plays well with other dogs, loves to be brushed, does not pull on his leash, and is (again, typical of the breed) very gentle.

He has already learned to “sit” and “down” in his foster home. He is very willing to please – he just wants a chance to be with a loving family for the rest of his life.

Bear is just one-year-old which is still a puppy in Newfie years. He has a long time to share all that hairy love with a family! And make no mistake – he is a lover. One visit and you will be hooked. For life.

So, if you want a huge, sweet dog with a stuffed animal feel, call and make an appointment to visit Bear. However, make no mistake. He is no stuffed animal. He will need lots and lots of good dog food, vet care (although he is current on all vaccinations, neutered and in good health), toys, training and loving attention.

For those who want the “stuffed animal” feel without the expense and time investment of a real animal, get a real stuffed animal. It’s much cheaper in the long run, and it saves heartbreak to the abandoned animal.

For more information about Bear and how to visit him, please call Stacey Vrame at (847) 458-6325. Leave a message and say you want to visit the handsome and loving Bear. She’ll call you back.

Aid to Animals is a small rescue located in Barrington. They have been rescuing dogs and cats and are always in need of foster homes. 

Pet of the Week is written by Pamela Kramer. You may also email any animal questions to me at Pamanimalrescue@gmx.com. If you adopted through Pet of the Week and want to let me know how your dog or cat is doing, please send me an email! Remember: Adopt a dog or cat! There are tens of thousands of homeless animals in the

Chicago area alone that are waiting for a loving home. Here are some of the places to visit when looking for a family addition.Aid to Animals, Barrington (847) 458-6325; Adopt-a-Pet, www.adoptapet-il.org/; Animal Education and Rescue, Libertyville, http://www.aear.org/; Illinois Dober

man Rescue, www.ildoberescue.com; German Shepherd Rescue, Skokie, (847) 677-0561; Evanston Animal Shelter, (847) 866-5080; Orphans of the Storm, Deerfield, (847) 945-0235; Placing Paws of Libertyville, www.placingpawsrescue.org; Save-a-Pet, Grayslake, (847) 740-7788; All pets: www.Petfinder.org; Bird Rescue, Northbrook, http://www.rescuethebirds.org/.