Bear & Orca's Legacy
Tragically, on the 10th of December 2025, both Bear and Orca became very ill. Bear deteriorated quickly, and despite urgent care at our local vet, he required a transfer on full oxygen, to a critical care facility nearly an hour away. I had never needed an animal ambulance before, but in this moment, it became clear that I needed help. Unfortunately, the first local services I contacted were unavailable, but thanks to my vet’s recommendation, I was connected to the Animal Ambulance & Rescue Service. Mark arrived promptly, providing vital care during the long journey, and managed to stabilize Bear enough to reach the referral center.
Sadly, Bear’s condition worsened, and after fighting as long as he could, I made the heartbreaking decision to let him go on December 13th. His lungs were no longer able to cope. Orca, who had shown some improvement, took a turn for the worse and passed away on December 16th—just 3 days after him.
Both Bear and Orca were healthy, fit, and full of life before this sudden illness. They lived on a natural raw diet, went on long walks twice a day, and were always active. They were my everything—accompanying me on all my holidays, regularly visiting therapy venues, and bringing joy to everyone around them. Their passing at such a young age felt incredibly unfair, especially considering the impact they had on so many lives.
In their final days, their legacy was honored in a beautiful way. The Animal Ambulance & Rescue Service, the non-profit organization run by Mark and his team, offered to name ambulances after Bear and Orca. This amazing service operates 24/7, transporting sick, injured, or unwell animals directly to veterinary clinics, hospitals, or emergency vets. The team at Animal Ambulance are truly exceptional. Once they heard Bear and Orca’s story, and learned about all the good they had done through the charities they volunteered with, they reached out to see how they could help. They also helped to share their story, which is how this webpage came to be.
Although I only met the ambulance team briefly during Bear and Orca’s time at the critical care vets, this remarkable non-profit has given both me, and Bear and Orca, a truly wonderful and meaningful opportunity.
Please take a moment to visit their website and social media pages — all links can be found above. Animal Ambulance and Rescue is a non-profit service that relies on donations to help provide their services to pet owners who cannot afford emergency transport, as well as to support and assist wildlife in need. If you are able, please consider helping to keep Bear and Orca’s legacy alive by sharing their story and supporting this incredible ambulance service. Should you be in a position to make a donation, it would be greatly appreciated. They also have an Amazon wish list for anyone who would like to contribute in that way. Click on the 'donate' button above.
Bear and Orca may no longer be with us, but their legacy lives on in the lives they touched, the hearts they healed, and the incredible work that continues in their name.
Sadly, Bear’s condition worsened, and after fighting as long as he could, I made the heartbreaking decision to let him go on December 13th. His lungs were no longer able to cope. Orca, who had shown some improvement, took a turn for the worse and passed away on December 16th—just 3 days after him.
Both Bear and Orca were healthy, fit, and full of life before this sudden illness. They lived on a natural raw diet, went on long walks twice a day, and were always active. They were my everything—accompanying me on all my holidays, regularly visiting therapy venues, and bringing joy to everyone around them. Their passing at such a young age felt incredibly unfair, especially considering the impact they had on so many lives.
In their final days, their legacy was honored in a beautiful way. The Animal Ambulance & Rescue Service, the non-profit organization run by Mark and his team, offered to name ambulances after Bear and Orca. This amazing service operates 24/7, transporting sick, injured, or unwell animals directly to veterinary clinics, hospitals, or emergency vets. The team at Animal Ambulance are truly exceptional. Once they heard Bear and Orca’s story, and learned about all the good they had done through the charities they volunteered with, they reached out to see how they could help. They also helped to share their story, which is how this webpage came to be.
Although I only met the ambulance team briefly during Bear and Orca’s time at the critical care vets, this remarkable non-profit has given both me, and Bear and Orca, a truly wonderful and meaningful opportunity.
Please take a moment to visit their website and social media pages — all links can be found above. Animal Ambulance and Rescue is a non-profit service that relies on donations to help provide their services to pet owners who cannot afford emergency transport, as well as to support and assist wildlife in need. If you are able, please consider helping to keep Bear and Orca’s legacy alive by sharing their story and supporting this incredible ambulance service. Should you be in a position to make a donation, it would be greatly appreciated. They also have an Amazon wish list for anyone who would like to contribute in that way. Click on the 'donate' button above.
Bear and Orca may no longer be with us, but their legacy lives on in the lives they touched, the hearts they healed, and the incredible work that continues in their name.