Bear is in Doggy Heaven.

Bear

Age 14, ~1995 - July 26, 2009

Our smart and loyal friend Bear will be remembered forever.

The dog Bear Arundel, a border collie/black Labrador retriever who loved leftover pizza and walks on the beach, died July 26, 2009 in Washington, D.C. He was 14, or 98 in human years.
Bear was a beloved dog known for his intelligence and loyalty. In his younger years he could retrieve stuffed animals by name from another room. He happily followed commands. His favorite games were rolling over, shaking paws and barking whenever someone said “Bob Dole” or “George Bush” He could unwrap Christmas presents with his teeth. He could even retrieve drinks from the refrigerator by using his teeth to pull a towel attached to the door’s handle.
He loved getting attention from humans and, using his herding instincts, would try to gather his human friends together in one room. He always wore a smile on his face and would follow his human brothers around the house. One time, he blocked the stairway so a little child wouldn’t go down the stairs alone.
He won two important recognitions in his life: an outstanding guest certificate from the Kennel Club at Walt Disney World, and Best Groomed Pet Angle of the Month from Noah’s Ark Veterinary Hospital.
Bear was born on a farm in Gainesville, Va. His mother was a black lab. His father’s identity is unknown. He was the last puppy left in the litter and was bought for $25. He has lived in Virginia, Florida and Washington, D.C. His favorite home probably was Georgetown in D.C. because he lived near the university and college kids out late at night would drop pizza, leaving Bear a breakfast buffet of sidewalk pizza. His favorite vacations were to the shores of Virginia Beach and to a family farm in Virginia.
Bear leaves behind his mother, Kara; dad, Tom; brothers, Nathan and Jack; and many four-footed and two-footed friends.