Bear & Orca's Story
Both Bear and Orca were Great Danes—uncle and niece—who shared a passion for helping others.
They volunteered with Therapy Dogs Nationwide, bringing comfort and joy to those in need across the country. Their work was transformative, reaching people in hospitals, dementia care homes, prisons, and more. Bear also became a blood donor with Pet Blood Bank UK, while Orca, at just 2 years old, was ready to make her first donation when she passed.
Orca was just 18 months old when she passed her therapy dog assessment. She had a particular knack for visiting dementia patients, where her calm, gentle nature brought smiles to faces that had not smiled in days. Often, we would visit new residents who were feeling lost or confused. Orca would quietly enter their room, resting her head on their bed, and I would see their faces light up with the biggest smile. These were often the first signs of connection they’d shown since their arrival. Many of these residents had owned dogs in their youth, and Orca’s presence brought back cherished memories, sparking long conversations about their much loved pets from their past.
Orca also began visiting a local prison, where she was adored by both staff and inmates. The feedback was always heartwarming—many told me that spending a few minutes with Orca would "make their entire week." The ability to touch people from all walks of life was something both Orca and Bear shared in abundance.
Bear, often described as a “one in a million” dog, made his mark in similar ways. I feel incredibly privileged to have been his guardian for the five years he was with us. His calm, gentle nature led me to discover the world of therapy dog work, blood donations, and ultimately the amazing work of the Animal Ambulance & Rescue Service.
Like Orca, Bear became a therapy dog at 18 months old. He made regular visits to a rehabilitation unit for young people with traumatic brain injuries, a 999 emergency call center, a paramedic training school, and the same prison that Orca visited. His presence was always a source of comfort, and he had a special way of making people feel at ease.
Bear’s work as a therapy dog extended beyond hospitals and care homes. He was invited to represent his charity at Crufts for three consecutive years, participated in a music festival in Sheffield, and even attended the O2 Arena for a Busted vs. McFly concert, offering comfort to the staff, crew, and performers. Over his career, Bear touched thousands of lives, leaving behind a trail of smiles and warm memories.
In addition to his therapy dog work, Bear became a blood donor at a young age. When he was only about a year old, our local vets called us for an emergency donation. Despite his young age, he handled the process beautifully. From that moment, I knew he was a perfect candidate to be a regular blood donor. We regularly made the two-hour round trip to the Pet Blood Bank UK to donate, with Bear always eager for the love and treats from the staff.
Through his work as a blood donor, Bear and I had the incredible opportunity to appear on Channel 5’s Super Dogs with Extraordinary Jobs . The documentary followed us to one of his first blood donations and even arranged a reunion with Otto, a little dachshund whose life Bear had saved. The attention we received was a great way to raise awareness about the critical need for dog blood donors, which is still an underappreciated service. Bear was also featured on Storm Huntley Live in London, where he showed the world his calm, confident nature—handling the live studio, lights, and noise without missing a beat.
Both Bear and Orca were beloved members of our local community. They attended numerous events, visited dog-friendly establishments, and were always greeted with love and attention. I always believed that these special dogs shouldn’t be kept to myself—they deserved to share their incredible gifts with as many people as possible.
Had they not have fallen ill and lost their lives to the horrendous pneumonia, I know they would have gone on to spend many years helping countless people, and saving many dogs lives with their blood donations. If dogs could smile, Bear and Orca would have started every day with the biggest ones of all - bringing positivity, joy and endless love to every visit, every event, and to everyone they met.
They will never be forgotten.
They volunteered with Therapy Dogs Nationwide, bringing comfort and joy to those in need across the country. Their work was transformative, reaching people in hospitals, dementia care homes, prisons, and more. Bear also became a blood donor with Pet Blood Bank UK, while Orca, at just 2 years old, was ready to make her first donation when she passed.
Orca was just 18 months old when she passed her therapy dog assessment. She had a particular knack for visiting dementia patients, where her calm, gentle nature brought smiles to faces that had not smiled in days. Often, we would visit new residents who were feeling lost or confused. Orca would quietly enter their room, resting her head on their bed, and I would see their faces light up with the biggest smile. These were often the first signs of connection they’d shown since their arrival. Many of these residents had owned dogs in their youth, and Orca’s presence brought back cherished memories, sparking long conversations about their much loved pets from their past.
Orca also began visiting a local prison, where she was adored by both staff and inmates. The feedback was always heartwarming—many told me that spending a few minutes with Orca would "make their entire week." The ability to touch people from all walks of life was something both Orca and Bear shared in abundance.
Bear, often described as a “one in a million” dog, made his mark in similar ways. I feel incredibly privileged to have been his guardian for the five years he was with us. His calm, gentle nature led me to discover the world of therapy dog work, blood donations, and ultimately the amazing work of the Animal Ambulance & Rescue Service.
Like Orca, Bear became a therapy dog at 18 months old. He made regular visits to a rehabilitation unit for young people with traumatic brain injuries, a 999 emergency call center, a paramedic training school, and the same prison that Orca visited. His presence was always a source of comfort, and he had a special way of making people feel at ease.
Bear’s work as a therapy dog extended beyond hospitals and care homes. He was invited to represent his charity at Crufts for three consecutive years, participated in a music festival in Sheffield, and even attended the O2 Arena for a Busted vs. McFly concert, offering comfort to the staff, crew, and performers. Over his career, Bear touched thousands of lives, leaving behind a trail of smiles and warm memories.
In addition to his therapy dog work, Bear became a blood donor at a young age. When he was only about a year old, our local vets called us for an emergency donation. Despite his young age, he handled the process beautifully. From that moment, I knew he was a perfect candidate to be a regular blood donor. We regularly made the two-hour round trip to the Pet Blood Bank UK to donate, with Bear always eager for the love and treats from the staff.
Through his work as a blood donor, Bear and I had the incredible opportunity to appear on Channel 5’s Super Dogs with Extraordinary Jobs . The documentary followed us to one of his first blood donations and even arranged a reunion with Otto, a little dachshund whose life Bear had saved. The attention we received was a great way to raise awareness about the critical need for dog blood donors, which is still an underappreciated service. Bear was also featured on Storm Huntley Live in London, where he showed the world his calm, confident nature—handling the live studio, lights, and noise without missing a beat.
Both Bear and Orca were beloved members of our local community. They attended numerous events, visited dog-friendly establishments, and were always greeted with love and attention. I always believed that these special dogs shouldn’t be kept to myself—they deserved to share their incredible gifts with as many people as possible.
Had they not have fallen ill and lost their lives to the horrendous pneumonia, I know they would have gone on to spend many years helping countless people, and saving many dogs lives with their blood donations. If dogs could smile, Bear and Orca would have started every day with the biggest ones of all - bringing positivity, joy and endless love to every visit, every event, and to everyone they met.
They will never be forgotten.