Beloved 18-year-old dog becomes local legend in Castle Rock
»Play Video
CASTLE ROCK, Wash. -- An 18-year-old black Lab named Bear Dog is well known around Castle Rock, where he was often seen at the North County Recreation Sports Complex or joining fishermen along the Cowlitz River.
"Somebody's going by with a fishing pole, he's going fishing," said Bear Dog's owner Don Caulfield. "He just looks at me and I say 'okay', and he's gone. He'll go fishing with those guys all day."
Bear Dog is even friends with the local wildlife.
"One guy said 'hey that dog's chasing deer,' but I said 'hang on a minute,'" said Caulfield. "they'd jump in the water, they played. It was a daily ritual for a couple of years."
Caulfield thought it was all over for Bear Dog a couple of months ago when his back legs stopped working. Caulfield couldn't afford the vet's $150 euthanasia fee. He considered shooting Bear Dog, but couldn't pull the trigger.
"I couldn't do it," said Caulfield. "I didn't have the guts to. I got all choked up about it. Went in the house and prayed about it, and prayed over him, and put my gun away."
Then Bear Dog fell down the porch steps and miraculously regained the ability to walk.
A story about Bear Dog in The Daily News brought an outpouring of visitors and gifts of steak and dog bones. One woman says she'll cover his vet bills in his final days, including the cost of putting Bear Dog to sleep.
KATU's Joe English contributed to this story.
best part of the day is coming home to my dogs, no matter how bad a day I have had they are always happy to see me and wagging from the head to the tail.
But I truly think my Lab is only happy to see me because when I get home that means kibble is coming.
Look at that incredible face! You go, Bear Dog!
You can tell he's happy from the video...makes you feel good just watching him.
I love this story! Why can't we have a little more of these everyday??
Damn this story is very close to home, as a very unusual tear slides down my cheek...Suzy dog was a very faithful children loving dog that loved going to sea fishing for salmon, every day I drove the commercial fishing boats, more than two I owned. She was about 8 years old when the reason for the comment happened and she was a cross between a lab and a golden retriever, black with a golden muzzle neck chest and trim. NO one got close to our young children who loved to ride her and pull her ears, and snuggle up and sleep together unless Suzi agreed .
Alas she was swept away on a rough sea and windy day and was sorely missed....however Suzy dog survived after swimming almost 5 miles south (with a couple knots of current) and hauled out in Whale cove a bit south of Depoe Bay, amazingly the ONLY beach for a long ways south that is not solid basalt rock. The long half a day swim really aged the dog soon...but a new Gorden setter pup inspired her to live another 3 or 4 years...We fight over how old she was when she passed, but she was my duck hunting dog before any of the children were even born. She was a grey beard when she passed.
Thanks K2 for a blast to the past that was very warm and real.
Doesn't the picture make you want to scratch Bear Dog behind the ears?
what a wonderful heart warming story. Â
What a great story. And that's a face of character and a long life of good times and fun.
A dog like that deserves a peaceful ending when the time comes. Not a bullet.
Glad the owner came to his senses.
Man's best friend could teach us a little bit about life, healthcare, fishing and stalking deer it sounds like.... Always smiling too I bet....
"Then Bear Dog fell down the porch steps and miraculously regained the ability to walk."
Someone in the medical field might want to research this.
finally, a dog story that is good to read...unlike the story out of Estacada.
What a beautiful, sweet-looking dog..! Â I love labs.. we had 2 of them when I was a teenager - one black and one gold - my brother named them "Scotch" and "Soda"...Â
"Then Bear Dog fell down the porch steps and miraculously regained the ability to walk." Â (from the story)
This sounds like perhaps a pinched nerve... and maybe, when Bear Dog fell down the steps, it jarred loose whatever was pinching the nerve... Â For whatever reason, Mr Caulfield's hand on the trigger was stayed... and that was a good thing..! Â :-)
Touched by Jesus.
Crap. Not very ofter a strory makes my eyes water. What a cool dog.
I love dogs!!!!!
This is a great story, I have an old one that I must carry (60 lbs) out to do her business and just let her lay outside to enjoy a change and interact with her family outside then carry her back in. Carry food and water to her so she stays full and hydrated.
Dogs are the greatest
@FreerideNOTÂ ~ Â They are truly the definition of "unconditional love"... Â :-)
Gotta love an animal that is always happy to see you, shows you unconditional love, and always wants to be with you know matter what...go dog go!!!