One morning, a woman was awakened by the sound of whimpering outside. Curious, she stepped into her backyard and, to her surprise, discovered a small puppy sitting beside the dumpster.
This adorable little pup was clearly a stray in search of a family, and she couldn’t have found a better home.
Exhausted and hungry, she eagerly let the woman’s husband gently pick her up and bring her inside, welcoming her into their lives.
Choosing The Perfect Family
Source: The Dodo
Once inside the warm house, the little pup did nothing but sleep. “I could tell she was exhausted. She just slept and slept. But once she realized she was safe, she became so playful and incredibly loving,” Nat, the dog’s rescuer, told The Dodo.
It didn’t take long for the whole family to fall in love with this little bundle of joy who had unexpectedly found her way into their lives.
As the saying goes, “Everything happens for a reason,” and it turned out that the puppy—later named Bear—was exactly what this family needed.
Source: The Dodo
At that moment, Bear needed a warm and loving home, and one member of the family was longing for a furry companion to heal his broken heart.
“2019 was an incredibly tough year for my husband and father-in-law. My mother-in-law passed away unexpectedly, and it took a huge toll on the family,” Nat shared.
As they were still grieving her loss, they faced another heartbreak—they had to say goodbye to their beloved family dog, Champ.
Source: The Dodo
Their hearts were broken all over again.
Just as they were thinking about finding another dog, Bear appeared—like the perfect gift at the perfect time.
“I told my husband, ‘Let’s surprise your dad when he gets home from work,’” Nat recalled. And that’s exactly what they did.
The Little Things In Life
Source: The Dodo
Saying that Nat’s father-in-law was surprised would be an understatement.
“They placed this tiny pup in my hands, and I thought, ‘OK, this is great!’ I truly believe she was sent here for a reason—and that reason was me,” Terry, Bear’s new dad, told The Dodo.
Losing both his beloved wife and their cherished dog in such a short time had been incredibly difficult for Terry.
He had been in a dark place for a long time.
“Bear was a stepping stone in getting me through it all,” Terry added.
Source: The Dodo
From the very beginning, their bond was incredibly strong. Bear always seems to sense when Terry isn’t feeling his best, and she’s always right there to comfort him.
At first, the family thought Bear might be a Newfoundland, but a DNA test revealed she was actually part St. Bernard. This meant she would grow into a big dog—but they didn’t mind one bit.
Bear grew into a gentle giant, completely devoted to her new dad and overflowing with joy.
“I really don’t know what I’d do without her,” Terry said.