Bear - Finally HOME :)

UPDATE 1 April 2012:
Bear flew to his new home in the USA. He is doing wonderfully and settling in to home life with his 2 spaniel siblings. Stay tuned for some pics :)

*** Please note, that we only raised W225,000 for Bear's flight, which actually cost W900,000. The remainder of the money was paid by Bear's foster parents, who of course want only the best for him.

If you would like to help ease this financial burden (if you've fostered before you'll know there are many), then please consider donating a little to help them. They have just taken on a seriously bad case from one of the shelters who was due to be euthanised in 2 days and they'll need all the extra pennies they can get to help this little maltese.

http://​www.animalrescuekorea.org/​blog/clarebell/​help-bear-to-fly-home ***

UPDATE 7 March 2012:
Some brilliant news!! Someone in the USA wants to adopt our dear Bear!!! He has come along in leaps and bounds and his health just improves every day. We are going to start a fundraiser to get Bear to his forever home. Please consider donating to help with this worthy cause. After 4 long years in the shelter, Bear surely deserves a home to call his for the rest of his life. If you would like to help Bear to fly to his forever home, please visit his "donation request" blog here: http://www.animalrescuekorea.org/blog/clarebell/help-bear-to-fly-home

UPDATE 28 Jan 2012: We are looking for a new foster home for Bear! Bear's current foster parents have 2 small children. The 3-year old is big enough to understand and listen when told to be quiet, but the 18-month old is a little loud and Bear gets a little grumpy with him. By grumpy I mean he sometimes bares his teeth at the baby, which naturally worries his parents. This means that they have to keep Bear isolated for a lot of the time when the baby is awake and this is not ideal for all of them. When I asked Bear's foster mom whether she honestly thinks Bear would be ok in an adults-only household she said, without hesitation, yes! Because of Bear's age we think that he is just a little bit of a "grumpy old man" and does not want to deal with the noise and nonsense of a baby :) If you live in an adults-only household and this is not likely to change in the immediate future and would like to spend some one-on-one time with Bear, please consider fostering or adopting this lovely old boy!

UPDATE 23 Jan 2012: Some fantastic news! Bear's bloodwork came back from the vet and he is heartworm NEGATIVE!! Truely amazing :o) Also, his thyroid tests came back as normal, which means the medicine he is on is the correct dosage and is doing the trick. His urine test ALSO came back as normal. His skin infection is clearing up, as are his ears. He can now walk up and down stairs and the cheeky boy has even tried to climb up onto the bed ;o) Overall Bear is doing wonderfully. It's heart-warming & inspiring to know what a little bit of dedication, love, warmth and the right medical care can do. A huge thank you to the LeBlanc family for fostering him through this difficult time and getting him back to good health!

UPDATE 19 Jan 2012: Bear is doing great in his foster home and has had a full vet check-up. We are waiting for his blood test results and I will update as soon as I hear anything :)

UPDATE 31 Dec 2011: I am so happy to announce that after 4 long years, Bear has finally been taken from the shelter and into foster care!! Here he will get the TLC he so desperately needs and deserves. Watch this space for his progress, I'm sure it will be amazing. Thank you Jon & Mary and happy New Year to you all! :)

UPDATE 28 Dec 2011: Bear is doing slightly better since his trip to the vet. Jacky kindly called Mr Park again for an update and here it is:

1. The disease name is thyroditis & more recently he has developed an acute disc problem which is why he was so sick at the last shelter visit.
2. Apparently Bear has been on thyroid medicine for a few years since Mr. Park found out he had thyroditis. The acute disc problem seems to have happened recently and he can now stand and walk a little bit after meds from the vet.
3. Bear should take meds 4 times a day, but it is a little hard for Mr. Park so he gives only 2-3 meds a day.

Bear ideally needs a foster or forever home where someone will be available to give him his medicine 4 x per day. Other than this health "speedhump" I do feel that with the proper care, Bear can still have many more years of love and cuddles ahead of him.

UPDATE 21 Dec 2011: Poor Bear is not well :( Here is an update from Jacky, who called Mr Park after Bear went to the vet:

"I've just talked to Mr. Park on the phone and asked about "Bear", actually called "Coco" in the shelter. He took Bear to the vet and did blood tests to find out he has a problem with his nervous system as well as hypothroid. Bear is in a serious condition, and specially kept in Mr.Park's room to watch a few days. He will see and take Bear to the vet again." Please keep Bear in your thoughts & prayers!

UPDATE 14 Dec 2011: Good news is that money has been raised to get Bear a full health check and his vaccinations. As soon as this is done I will update with the results. Bear has been in the shelter for too long. Please take him home in time for Christmas!
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Mr Park says that Bear is 7 years old. Care to take a guess as to how long this lovely boy has been in the shelter? FOUR YEARS!! That is more than half of his life.

Bear suffers from hypothyroidism, an easily manageable disease requiring inexpensive medication to be given to him each day. This is why Bear is a little bit tubby and also how he earned his name! He was very lethargic when I took him out and was happy to waddle around sniffing the leaves but had no intention of going down that great big hill!

Bear also has an ear infection at the moment. Mr Park and I cleaned his ears and eyes and cut away a lot of the fur around them which is why his hairdo is a little funny at the moment. :o)

Bear just wants a nice warm place to sleep rather than the cage he currently calls home. Won't you get Bear out of the shelter? Four years is surely long enough to live in a cage? Especially when you're this cute and cuddly ;o)