Struggling shelter dog needs home after owner died. But be prepared for his hugs
A dog in New York needs help after being thrust into an unknown, chaotic environment when he lost his human, an upstate shelter said.
Bear, an 8-year-old mixed breed, was left heartbroken after his owner died and now spends his days longing for the attention and freedom he used to have.
“We fully understand that this is a really special ask, but we also fully believe that a foster person is out there for Bear,” Lollypop Farm, the Humane Society of Greater Rochester said in a March 20 Facebook post.
“This sweet senior gentleman came to Lollypop Farm after his beloved human passed away … According to his previous caretaker’s family, Bear’s biggest ‘fault’ is that he likes to hug you when greeting you.”
In addition to losing his hugging buddy, he also lost all the space he used to dash around in.
“He went from running around 26 acres of land to being cooped up in a small room here, and he is really struggling. Unfortunately, he has ringworm, and with the overcrowding of our shelter, we are hoping to get him out of here for the safety of the rest of our population,” the shelter said.
According to his pet profile, Bear is:
A “cuddle bug”
Good with small children
Unsure about cats
Good with other dogs
House-trained
“In a perfect world, we are looking for a foster home for Bear that has no other animals, as other animals can contract ringworm from Bear,” the shelter said.
“However, with proper confinement, cleaning, and handwashing, he can go to a foster home with other pets. If you were to open your heart and home to Bear, our teams would send you home with EVERYTHING you need to care for him during his stay with you, including food, cleaning supplies, enrichment items, and more!”
For more information on Bear and other pets, visit the shelter’s website.
This story was originally published March 20, 2025 at 12:16 PM with the headline "Struggling shelter dog needs home after owner died. But be prepared for his hugs."