Quick - call security

"Bears find themselves at the spot where two deep-seated but contradictory human impulses collide: the desire to feel protected from unforeseeable danger and the longing for unspoiled nature."

Bernd Brunner

When Oskar came into our lives we started looking around for a companion for him. Yep, arranged marriages aren't dead in some cultures. So we happened on a badly treated girl called "chocolate". She was chained up in a dustbowl, fed only occasionally and most probably beaten. To say she has had some issues would be an understatement.

But - and she definitely has a big butt - the newly named "Jess" was desperate to fit in to a family role and so she crafted the following personality:

1. Must love soft toys
2. Must bark furiously whenever anything changes (e.g. walk out of the room and come back in with a hat on - Jess will take it upon herself to remind you not to do that)
3. Encourage everyone to scratch butt by sidling up backwards into person and looking up in a pleading way.
4. Eat everything available and more if possible.
5. Be very very affectionate once you're part of the pack.

This created persona has served her very well over the years, and only just lately have the brittle cracks appeared. A few months ago she started to wake up regularly in a barking panic - due we think to her failing eyesight and hearing creating a feeling of unease when she was startled out of a doze. So off to the vet for some Diazepam and once we got the dosage right we got our much beloved Jess back.

We continue to have a few issues when she is out and about. The theory is that despite the fact that she looks like a "fur covered poo", in the dog world she seems to be some kind of supermodel, and all the other dogs want desperately to, er, covet her.

She is not into this adoration and in times past would often swim out to sea to avoid contact. Now that she is a little more land bound she can get a little too aggressive with these potential suitors. So we don't tend to walk her as often (which is fine as her knees and hips are ageing), and we often schedule outings to coincide with quiet times for her sanity.

We think we should maybe have named her "Security", although "Jess" has been a great recovery from her past ("Jessica" if she is either in trouble or has done something wonderful) and her name and personality continue to serve her well as her literal and figurative twilight approaches.

She's our big bear - long may she reign.

The soft focus is a blessing