Thread by @silverwolf1977

Going through Keena videos and pics and want to share without inundating my sister who is rightfully more affected by losing her gorgeous angel dog. She was just so amazing. Fly high, beautiful Keena Bear dog. #rainbowbridge #tripaw #dogsshouldntdiebeforeus twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

At work so I’ll be adding to this little by little through the day. These are from when we first met her in Jan 2015. She came from a sketchy rescue up north. We were expecting another dog but they kept giving excuses why they didn’t bring her down and instead pushed her.

She was very sedate but also never was a car ride fan. Just accepting of her fate. She went to a foster for a few days and my sister decided to give her a try. From day one, she was incredibly zen. Her situation hadn’t been great, chained up and neglected. So she was reserved.

And so stoic. Majestic. She was our Queen Keena Bear from day one. They called her a Karelian Bear Dog but who knows. I doubt you could ever recreate her unique look. I said she looked like a bear crossed with a cow.

When she started wagging her tail when she saw us, that was huge. She was never aggressive, she was a little indifferent. Accepting. But then she started to care when we came home. I always loved the way her tail whacked at everything. twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Christmas, 2016. Keena was diagnosed with bone cancer in the left front paw. My sister was hesitant to have her leg taken off because she had a huge barrel chest. How would that be fair. The snow pic was when I took her to friends to romp and she was already limping. twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

As you can see, taking the leg off was the right decision. It did not show her down one bit. We were told six months without radiation, a year with. Radiation made her so sick so my sister stopped. She had CBD oil and acupuncture and other medication. And she pushed for 6 years.

One of my favourite memories was when we passed a man in a wheelchair. And he watched Keena with the biggest smile on his face. The big shit would run forever away from the house but as soon as I tried to go back, she’d collapse all tired. I usually had to call for a lift.

She was full of it because she knew I was a sucker for her. But I looked like the monster trying to drag her to her feet and suitcase her around. 😂

I would also like to mention that my sister had pet insurance. Without it, this wouldn’t have happened. Those who think setting aside money would be enough, if she had set aside what she’d paid, it wouldn’t have been nearly enough. We would have lost her after two years.

She insisted on hanging out on the front porch. We always felt bad because she came from a chain situation but she refused to go in. Coming home from work and being greeted by her was always the best part of the day though. twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

She carried herself with absolute poise and dignity. I love how proper she would sit. She always watched for my sister when she was away. She’d sit and watch for her forever. And was a shameless beggar for me. Because I was a total enabler. Because her face!!! twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

We had a point a couple years ago when she tore a ligament and we thought it was time for her. She disagreed and kept going. She stayed active throughout the pandemic. My sister got married and they moved to her husbands house. Greetings were less but she always wagged for me.

We got Kipper just a few months after Keena from the same rescue. I think Keena was happy but also less than impressed because he was so ridiculous and still is. twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

My sister really wanted a cat again but we thought Keena would actually eat a cat. She got a cat anyways, trusting her bond with Keena. And it was fine. Keena never went after her. In fact, Storm would totally steal her bed and Keena would just give up.

And she liked Lady. She always greeted her with a wagging tail, even though they didn’t do much more than sniff. She even wagged her tail when we went to see her that last day. I wish I’d captured that but I felt weird taking footage on her final day. I took memory shots. twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Lady lay on my lap when it was time to let Keena go. But then she curled up right in front of her nose. I think she wanted Keena to have a nose-full of her scent at the end. Since it made her happy. She went peacefully, snacking on chicken and loving pats and “good girls”.

She wasn’t our first pick but she was absolutely the one we needed. Thank you for coming into our lives, our amazing Queen Keena Bear. And thank you @FireNoggin and Stephanie Young for immortalizing her. And remember, adopt if at all possible. Rescue dogs are incredible. twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

One last thing I can’t stress enough. My sister is a vet tech and they’re hurting. They not only lose their own, they lose beloved clients. This had been a brutal time for the clinic. Please please be kind to your vets and techs. They love them too. The vet cried with us.

Keena Bear was considered the clinic mascot. Coworker after coworker came to see her one last time to say goodbye. Including one who recently lost their baby suddenly. They hurt so much. Be kind to them. Don’t forget to treat them this holiday and every day.

Vet techs are our fur babies’ nurses and are chronically underpaid and understaffed and struggling. There aren’t enough of them, like human nurses. We need them. Treat them well. Gift them and let them know how much you appreciate them. I guarantee they are mourning with you.

@threadreaderapp Please unroll so I can save this.