Trubute to Hunter Bear

I thank all of you for the love and care you gave Hunter.  Most of you may recall he just sort of "landed" at Blooming Cookies. I was working with a group of people trying to help pets  that were in high kill shelters get pulled before being "destroyed" as they call it. Tthey would hopefully find a sponsor/temporary home and then their forever  home. That is when I started getting the e-mails from Officer Smoot at Gwinnett Animal Control. It seems the people that had shared a life with him since he was six weeks old, and he was now a little over eleven years, had decided to move somewhere that did not allow pets. They brought him to GAC knowing that an older dog like Hunter would be put down and in no way would be able to compete in someone's heart like a cute frisky young puppy. For some reason, and for all the reasons we all now know, everytime the  BIG FOREVER SHOT came around they would skip over Hunter because he was so sweet and those longing loving eyes would not let them do "the deed."  So Officer Smoot begin  sending out e-mails to all sorts of rescue groups to please come and save him. I watched this go on for almost two months. Brian promised to go out and get him and never did so I did before Hunter's time ran out. I was amazed how big he was and in what bad shape he was in. He had been living in a small concrete run no walks, fresh air etc. for almost two months. You all saw how much he blossomed with your love and attention. Before you/we/I knew it, we became his wait staff. I would get up at 6:30 am on Saturdays and Sundays to go over to Blooming Cookies, feed him, walk him, until I then finally realized how much he would love going to the lakehouse with all of the rest of the furkids. While he stayed at the lake he got into this routine where he would awaken at 6 am, walk around the perimeter of the house, lay on the front porch for a short while, and begin barking at 6:30 am for me to bring his breakfast and fresh water to the front door. He would then follow me and the rest of the fur-clan through the wooded path and down to the dog beach. Then he dutifully walked back up to the house and planted himself on the front porch ready to guard against or ward off anything that he thought his job responsibilities as guardian would be required. He would always be on the front porch waiting for me when I came back from driving into Atlanta. The few times he was not there and I freaked, I finally found him on the side porch watching the birds/squirrels at the birdfeeder.

I know how much he meant to all of ya'll. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate all you did and how much you helped take care of him until the end today.  Michele, David and Karen would make sure he was taken care of early in the morning. Everyone else did so much as well and I am sure made him feel like he was home again. Oh yeah his favorite thing to do at the lake was lay in front of the sofa and tv, justlike I am sure he did in his first home.

Hunter went very quickly on Friday, July 20, 2007. Even today when I got the test back they could not say exactly what was wrong, but they thought it more than likely was something with the lungs like cancer. So he is in a much better place. Say a prayer, or whatever you do, for him tonight. Christine, Norma and Max of Paws Whiskers and Wags were unbeliveable as always and took great care of him after that. We made an imprint of his right paw. My hope and wish is to have some sort of Hunter Greeter at the entrance of Blooming Cookies, since he greeted so many and so many asked about him when he was not there. I would like to put his ashes there and have a small ceremony around that for those that want to attend.

He was in our lives for a reason. I have to smile at how smoothely he "allowed" me to become his "wait" staff with such grace, confidence and love. It did not take long to realize it went both ways. We should all be so lucky. Thank you all again for everything, not only from Hunter, but from me and his girlfriend Ms. Squiggley. She has lost two lovers in the past year, so she told me she is beginning to feel like one of the Gabor sisters. Thank you, Ann King