SPOKANE, Wash. — If one thing is clear from the relationship between Bear and Bones, it’s that dogs have best friends, too.
The dogs were surrendered to an animal shelter in central Texas by their owner to find a new home.
Now, Bear and Bones are waiting for a new fur-ever home at the Spokane Humane Society.
The dogs were surrendered to a kill shelter, meaning they would be euthanized if they were not adopted. Nonprofit Hot-Paws pays to transport the dogs on euthanasia lists to partner shelters like the Spokane Humane Society.
On Saturday, a Hot-Paws transport of 30 dogs stopped for a bathroom break in Layton, Utah. During the stop, Bear broke free from a handler and was later hit by a car.
The Spokane Humane Society said Layton police and citizens rushed him into the clinic while the transport staff were searching for him. Staff later found out that Bear had a small bleed in his abdomen, a pin-sized hole in his lung and two teeth that were broken off.
Bear also suffered severe road rash but no broken bones. He was kept in the ICU for at least two days, the Humane Society said.
Transport staff later brought Bones to Bear while he was still unresponsive in the clinic. They said Bones began to cry and whine for Bear.
Bear heard Bones and slowly started to wake up.
“It was obvious to everyone that they were best friends and so happy to be reunited,” the Humane Society said, adding that the dogs made the remainder of their trip to Spokane together.
The Humane Society said everyone knew Bear and Bones sleep right next to each other at the Humane Society, with Bones sometimes resting his head on Bear.
As soon as Bear is healed, they will be moved to the adoption center as a bonded pair and will need a good home together.
A fundraiser for Bear's treatment has raised nearly $500 out of a $3,500 goal at last check.
The Humane Society accepts approximately 70 dogs a month from kill shelters in the southern United States from about five different transport agencies. The shelter accepted 886 dogs in 2019 alone.
