Bear’s Corner

Every week, a very important meeting is held in our backyard. No humans are invited. Mom thinks she’s in charge because she opens the gate and fills the water bowls, but once Summer arrives, Summer and Bear take over managing the Playgroup.  They have rules: Rule Number One: Every yellow rubber ball belongs to whoever gets […]

For many of us, the Fourth of July is a celebration filled with family gatherings, barbecues, patriotic music, and spectacular fireworks lighting up the night sky. The colors are beautiful. The excitement is contagious. It is easy to understand why so many people look forward to this holiday every year. But while we are admiring

This Friday, June 26, is National Take Your Dog to Work Day, and for millions of dog lovers, it’s a fun opportunity to introduce their four-legged companions to coworkers and hopefully brighten everyone’s day. What many people don’t know is that the celebration has a much deeper purpose. National Take Your Dog to Work Day

Some life lessons arrive gently, and others land with enough force to change the way we think forever. My sweet Teddy taught me one of those lessons. When Teddy became ill, I found myself traveling a road I had never expected to travel. Like many pet parents, I believed I was prepared. I had always provided

Last night, Bear surprised me. I was watching a nature documentary about the frozen north when a large wolf suddenly appeared on the television screen. This was not a quick glimpse of an animal running through the woods. The wolf filled much of the screen and stared directly forward with intense yellow eyes. Instantly, Bear

A report from Bear, Golden Retriever, and Chief Food Quality Inspector Recently, my doctor informed Mom that I was too skinny.  Personally, I preferred the term “athletically streamlined,” but apparently there was concern. During my dental cleaning appointment, the veterinary staff noticed that I weighed only 48.8 pounds and thought I was underweight. They even

Every morning, Bear begins his daily investigation of our backyard.   I usually step outside and notice the weather. I admire the greenhouse, check on my plants, and enjoy the quiet start to the day. The yard looks exactly as it did the evening before. Bear sees something entirely different. Recently, I began listening to Alexandra

Hi friends, I would like to tell you about something very important. Most people think a dog’s job is chasing balls, barking at suspicious squirrels, or protecting the family from dangerous delivery drivers. Those are all important jobs. I take them very seriously. But there is another job that is even more important. The job is

There is a reason so many people seek solace in animals during life’s hardest moments. Not because animals magically erase depression, anxiety, grief, or loneliness. They can’t solve every problem, but they offer what many hurting people most need: presence, comfort, consistency, and understanding without judgment. And sometimes that’s enough to help someone keep going.

Bear is scheduled for a dental cleaning tomorrow.  I honestly did not expect to get him scheduled so quickly, but perhaps that is for the best. Sometimes the things we put off a little too long are the very things that deserve our attention the most. Dental care for our pets often falls into that