BEAR

Nov 22, 1997-June 10, 2008

Say Goodbye to Bear
(Mark Ward)

My good dog, Bear, is no longer at my side.
There was no good answer for his form of cancer.
He died.

Bear will be remembered as that fuzzy ranch dog,
the big poodle that ran and jumped into our arms,
the dog most happy with a tennis ball
or hunting for that tennis ball.

He never missed a good petting
and was a fantastic beggar for treats.

Bear was not trained.  
He was just naturally well-behaved.

Bear was a loyal dog friend.
He ran alongside my bike,
Rode in my car.
He slept at my feet,
He was never far.

Say goodbye to Bear.

Bear Remembered
(Katie Clapp)

Baron Von Silk
Bear — Standard Poodle
Cream colored curly hair
He could go froo froo or cool
Velcro hair – the better to trap manure, burrs, sticks and hay
Fleece white toys his favorite
It looks like me!
Brown eyes, plaintive eyes
How can he see through all that curly white hair?
Newly clipped, bare, shivering, exposed.

Bear loved bacon grease and salmon skin. Fresh manure. Hoof clippings. Spring dirt.
And begging at Drill Team, licking plates, snapping treats.
He had bad teeth and bad breath
Sensitive ears.

Bear was a trick dog.
Push the barrel! Bark bark!
Jump the pole!
Sit, spin, jump and twirl
Leap into my arms!
Good dog.
Never wandered, never strayed
Loyal. True.

Bear was Mark’s Dog.
Mark was Bear’s Person.
Mark on a bike one of Bear’s greatest joys.
Chase chase bark bark bark bark!

I found my ball. My tennis ball. See?
Throw the ball.
Where’s the ball? Where where where
I found it!
Throw the ball.

Emmerson and Benton visits were tops.
Cousin Briggs to play with – he’s just like me!

Dash’s poodle bro, Dash lick lick licks his nose
Bear grrrr, leave me alone. Dash lick lick lick.
And Sasha’s big budd.
Even after she introduced herself by biting him on the ear.
Bear couldn’t quite let himself go to fully play with Sasha after that.
Though she kept trying. Woof woof – play with me! And he did
Bursts of exuberance, paws in the air, then careful retreat.

Bear loved me too. He adored me.
Sleeping on my clothes bedside.
Running back to get me if I delayed
There she comes, now we can all go!
He came on trail rides only if I was along.
What a friend. So sweet.

He had a fierce animal instinct.
My barn my car my person.
Chase the kitty cat
Chase the bunny, the deer, the coyote
Fight the fox.

Bear was a gentleman. Part human. Preferred staying inside to exploring with the black dogs.
Bear liked a soft bed. And a cuddle at nap time. And sleeping next to Sasha and Dash.
He loved humans and had more friends than any person could.

Bear liked a scratch below his ear — just there. Don’t ever stop.
Push push, nudge, hello
Jump up with muddy paws
Hello here I am.
Right there ... Yeah.

Only Mark knew just how to put a knuckle in Bear’s ear.
Bear had that pleasure at the end.

The tennis balls idle now.
The white fleece toys and beds catch the eye ... Bear?
No. Not there. Everywhere.

He had a dog’s life. Ten and a half years.
He filled our lives with his curly white Standard Poodle
Cool sweet Bear-dom.