And so--Mom and Son searched. The little boy remembered Daddy saying something about "someday I'd like one of those Black Labs". They searched the newspaper and found an ad--"Free-to good home--Black Labs". Mom was sure something was not right, but they called, they went to the farm, and found beautiful Labs--the owner just couldn't sell them, and if it truly was a good home the little boy could have one. So he picked out the biggest, fat puppy and said "That's Daddy's present". So Bear arrived--and, yes, Daddy was pleased, happy, thrilled. No dog was ever treated like Bear. I don't think his feet ever touched ground the first month!! In mosquito season Dad would be on the patio--Bear on the picnic table--and he would be wiping him with a cotton ball soaked in Skin So Soft-"to keep the skeeters off him", he slept on Dad's chest until he got to 80 lbs.--then he still tried too (and Dad kinda didn't mind). And so Bear went on -- we moved to another house (he liked that better--a lake to swim and retrieve in!!) Another big old lab,TJ, and the Beagles that were left here,and of course kitties and chickens and places to run. And so Bear lived and loved and had a joyous life. Then as time does -- it took its toll and Bear got older and older and tired and he looked at Dad--and said "time to go to the Bridge--Dad agreed--so they said their Goodby-Nov. 26th(Dad with tears--buried Bear next to BooBoo-and we go on--remembering Bear "The Perfect Lab", Boo-Boo (ok my perfect dog), and we will continue to love the ones left here by "mistake" and probably keep falling in love with "fur people", as TJ, Rocky and Maggie gather around us (in addition to ALL the kitties!!)--and we do what we said we'd never do again--gather more "furry kids", fall in love with them, and God Bless Bear--he's the one who told us to do this!!!