Helping Disabled Dogs Thrive: Sugar Bear's Story
Sugar Bear struggled to get around when the County rescued her, but after care and attention at the County animal shelter, she was soon adopted by a loving family.
The beginning of the 2017 New Year brought a new chance for a disabled dog the County rescued in 2016 along with 50 other abused and neglected dogs.
One of those dogs, an older pit bull mix named Sugar Bear, was nurtured by Animal Services Division of the County Health Agency and finally adopted by a new family early last year.
Whether because of an earlier injury, a congenital defect, or some other cause, Sugar Bear was unable to stand or walk on her back legs. Without regular access to the outdoors or a yard, Sugar Bear was left to drag herself through the crowded and unsanitary home she shared with dozens of other dogs.
While she struggled to get around on her own, County Animal Services staff and volunteers quickly recognized her quiet and kind disposition. And, soon after she arrived at the County Animal Services shelter, she received a new canine wheelchair. Once in her chair, Sugar Bear brightened and became an active and enthusiastic dog. Despite her age, she seemed to relish every opportunity to go for a walk, play fetch, or play with other dogs.
Still, an older, paralyzed dog has a hard time finding a new home and shelter visitors often overlooked Sugar Bear. For the next several months, Sugar Bear lived at the shelter and received daily walks, attention, and even the occasional field trip to the beach.
That is until one day in early 2017, when a family fell in love with her. While any adoption is special for a shelter dog, this seemed to be a uniquely exceptional match. As a teenager, Dana, one of Sugar Bear’s new owners, was tragically injured in a vehicle accident. Doctors expected that she would be permanently paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her life. With therapy and support of family, however, she began walking again.
Sharing similar mobility challenges gave Dana and Sugar Bear a distinctive bond and allowed each to support the other in a way not common to most owners and their pets.
Sugar Bear continued to live with Dana and her family through much of 2017 until she was diagnosed with cancer and sadly passed away in nine months after she was adopted. Her time with Animal Services and her adoptive family, though relatively short, gave her a comfort and quality of life which was sadly missing before she came into the Division’s care.
Sugar Bear’s story, both heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time, embodies the many touching narratives of animals throughout our community and the significant impact we can have on their lives when we open our home and heart to the adoption of a shelter animal.
One of those dogs, an older pit bull mix named Sugar Bear, was nurtured by Animal Services Division of the County Health Agency and finally adopted by a new family early last year.
Whether because of an earlier injury, a congenital defect, or some other cause, Sugar Bear was unable to stand or walk on her back legs. Without regular access to the outdoors or a yard, Sugar Bear was left to drag herself through the crowded and unsanitary home she shared with dozens of other dogs.
While she struggled to get around on her own, County Animal Services staff and volunteers quickly recognized her quiet and kind disposition. And, soon after she arrived at the County Animal Services shelter, she received a new canine wheelchair. Once in her chair, Sugar Bear brightened and became an active and enthusiastic dog. Despite her age, she seemed to relish every opportunity to go for a walk, play fetch, or play with other dogs.
Still, an older, paralyzed dog has a hard time finding a new home and shelter visitors often overlooked Sugar Bear. For the next several months, Sugar Bear lived at the shelter and received daily walks, attention, and even the occasional field trip to the beach.
That is until one day in early 2017, when a family fell in love with her. While any adoption is special for a shelter dog, this seemed to be a uniquely exceptional match. As a teenager, Dana, one of Sugar Bear’s new owners, was tragically injured in a vehicle accident. Doctors expected that she would be permanently paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her life. With therapy and support of family, however, she began walking again.
Sharing similar mobility challenges gave Dana and Sugar Bear a distinctive bond and allowed each to support the other in a way not common to most owners and their pets.
Sugar Bear continued to live with Dana and her family through much of 2017 until she was diagnosed with cancer and sadly passed away in nine months after she was adopted. Her time with Animal Services and her adoptive family, though relatively short, gave her a comfort and quality of life which was sadly missing before she came into the Division’s care.
Sugar Bear’s story, both heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time, embodies the many touching narratives of animals throughout our community and the significant impact we can have on their lives when we open our home and heart to the adoption of a shelter animal.