Bear

Bonfield, ONTARIO

On a quiet night in October, around 4:00 a.m., Bear, a Siberian Husky and Golden Retriever mix, abruptly woke his owner, Janice, by jumping on her in bed and howling in her ear. As Janice awoke, she noticed her husband of 35 years, Darren, was not in bed. Following the fast paws of Bear down the stairs, Janice found Darren unconscious in the family room with Bear jumping on his chest. Janice immediately called the paramedics and Darren was rushed to the hospital where doctors discovered that Darren had suffered a widowmaker heart attack. Once Darren, a Canadian Armed Forces veteran, awoke in the hospital, doctors noted that before Janice found him, he was likely unconscious for three hours and the jumping Bear had performed repeatedly was an effective form of CPR that kept Darren alive. Born from two former service dogs, Bear has always been Darren’s closest companion, and now, Darren calls Bear the family’s furry hero who was born to serve.

Learn more about the Animal Hall of Fame program here.