Baby Bear's Story

Introducing the newest member of our family: Bear Clement, born Monday, March 5, 2012. Our cute little chocolate lab is our 'consolation prize' for having our grandkids move to Texas. He's got quite a family history.

My visiting teaching companion Denise Gum and her husband Gordon had to put their black lab to sleep the day after Christmas. They were, of course, heartbroken. In January Gordon decided that they needed to adopt a new dog. He found Daisy, a black lab, on Craig's List. Daisy was about 10 months old when they adopted her. A breeder in the area had originally sold her to a man who neglected her. The man left her in a crate apparently day and night and wasn't feeding her properly. The breeder (who was oversees with the military) got word of the abuse/neglect and sent his buddy to investigate. When the buddy saw the deplorable conditions Daisy was living in he told the dog owner he's was taking Daisy away from him. When the man protested, the buddy suggested that they could call the police and get him charged with animal abuse! So, instead, Daisy went home that day with the buddy.

Well, the buddy already had his own lab, a couple of kids, a small house and yard. So he couldn't keep Daisy. He nursed her back to health for a couple of months and then put an advertisement on Craig's List to which the Gum's responded. Not too long after the Gums adopted her, Denise noticed that Daisy's nipples seemed to be getting larger. They took her to the vet for her shots and inquired whether or not Daisy might be pregnant. The vet indicated that he didn't think so. A few weeks down the road they scheduled an appointment for Daisy to get fixed. All the while noticing that it looked like her belly was growing as well. Now mind you this was a malnourished dog when they got her AND the vet said that she was not likely pregnant so they were hopeful that this meant that Daisy was just getting super healthy again. Nonetheless, Denise made it clear to Gordon that if there was any way that Daisy was pregnant there would be no spaying!

Gordon dropped Daisy off at the vet on his way to work. Later that morning he got a message from the vet indicating that Daisy was indeed expecting. They x-rayed her belly and found that she was going to have at least 9 puppies! SURPRISE! Apparently the buddy who fostered her didn't realize that Daisy was old enough to get pregnant and his lab really enjoyed having Daisy come stay at their house! lol Gordon hurriedly made a whelping bed (although the vet didn't expect her to deliver for another 7-10 days). Thankfully Gordon isn't a procrastinator as the puppies were born within 3-4 days! And there were 10 puppies instead of 9! So the hunt was on to find good homes.

Daisy was a great mommy from the get go. She delivered and took care of each of those little puppies. There were 8 black and 2 chocolate labs. Even the runt survived and flourished. We were blessed to be able to meet them and watch them grow from the beginning. From cute little baby mouse-like little burrowers with their eyes closed just looking for their next meal to fun little exuberant teething puppies. What a treat.

When we decided to adopt one of them Darvin mentioned that he'd always wanted a chocolate lab. We felt that it would be best to adopt a male to alleviate possible anxiety on Abby's part about having another female dog in 'her' house. Only one of the chocolate's was a male and he'd already been spoken for. Unfortunately, we fell in love with that 'little guy' (although he soon became the biggest puppy of the litter). Originally a work friend of Denise's had spoken for the chocolate male, but when Denise's son expressed an interest in adopting him, the work friend indicated that she wouldn't mind adopting a different puppy. When Denise's son changed his mind Denise felt obligated to again offer the chocolate male to her work friend. In the meantime, Denise had fallen in love with him too! She really wanted us to have him as she knew then she'd be able to see him more regularly. The work friend didn't mind and actually ended up bonding with one of the sweet little black females! So we were officially in the adoption process with Bear!

Darvin and I visited at least once a week and it was amazing to watch how quickly they grew and changed. When the puppies were 6 weeks and 2 days old the Gums, Fawcetts (the Gums neighbors) & I took all 10 of the puppies to the vet for their 1st set of shots and de-worming. That was quite the experience...7 of us and 10 squirmy little round puppies. I think we were the hit of the vet's clinic that day. All of the staff enjoyed playing and visiting with the puppies. Each of the puppies was weighed before getting their shots. Bear was 10 pounds 8 ounces, a half pound larger than the next largest sibling and he was a whole pound and 5 ounces larger than PJ, the runt! That next Saturday, April 21st was our official adoption day. We picked up Bear in the morning before Darvin had to head off to work. It's been a barrel of monkies ever since! Lol

We kennel Bear at night and whenever we're not in the house with him. Realizing that the kennel was way too big, we put a box in it to try to keep him at the front of the kennel. The first 2 nights home Bear figured out that there was a space to the side of the box, a path to his personal port-a-potty! So after 2 days of cleaning poop out of the kennel I decided to get smart and add some smaller boxes along the side of the big boxes, which seemed to work superbly! That is until one morning this week! I had taken Bear out of his kennel when I woke up around 5 a.m. and he went outside and peed. A little while later, as has become our routine, I took him out to poop and he did! Hooray! Then I left for Seminary. Darvin took him out again around 7 a.m. before leaving for work. I had some running around to do after Seminary. When I arrived home around 10 a.m. I was met by the smell of an outhouse, AGAIN!! I couldn't believe it! I knew we had the boxes stuffed in there tight and dogs will not soil their sleeping area, so what in the world? As I looked inside the kennel, there was Bear comfortable in his sleeping area and there on the TOP of the boxes was a great big 'surprise package' for me! That stinker (literally!) had figured out how to jump up on TOP of the boxes and made himself a nice new port-a-potty! Each day has brought more potty training 'excitement'. But we're finally beginning to see consistent success, Bear is beginning to whine to let me know that he needs to potty! I'm sure he'll become proficient real soon. In the meantime, patience is a virtue, patience is a virtue, patience is a virtue! lol

And then there's the puppy chewing. Most puppies like to chew as they're in the midst of teething, but labs are particularly well known for their destructive chewing habits. Bear is no exception. He loves to chew...on anything!!! One of our friends said, 'Well look on the bright side, it'll force you to be a better housekeeper'! Instead of 'use it or lose it' I think my motto is going to have to be 'choose to put it away or HE'LL 'chews' to put it away'!

Things are not all negative and glum. This sweet little guy has already brought much joy into our lives. Darvin and I weren't the only ones that were depressed when the Pascual's moved to Texas. Abby had really been in a 'funk' since they'd moved away and now she's on her toes every day, trying to keep up with this young whipper snapper, rough-housing until she's exhausted, making sure that he's safe and showing him 'the ropes' (including digging in flower beds I might add...Don't teach him THOSE things Abby! lol)

On a happy note, this was the first day Bear had no accidents in the house! We're really glad that Bear's a part of our home. Now if we can just survive the next 2 years of puppyhood!