Ten years ago a branch of my family who takes in abused and abandoned animals took in this unwanted, uncared for, unloved dog and named him TeddyBear. Teddybear took awhile to realize he was loved and safe, settling in, grateful to be accepted. He was the largest of a parade of dogs and cats, the family Eyore, gentle, slightly depressed, tolerant, and sweet tempered.

Fric the cat is also an abused adoptee, who for reasons locked in his cat brain, rejected the other cats, tolerated the other dogs and adopted Teddy as part of his pride. Fric always highly sensitive to the dog’s moods, pain and quirks; utterly trusted this sweet tempered dog, who could have knocked this cat into the middle of next week if he had it in him.
Teddy was lavished with Fric’s friendship, grooming, massaging and play. TeddyBear got licked, slept on, fetched to and treated as part of Frics odd, chosen one animal pride. Teddy would just sigh, while Fric carried on doing what cats do to show acceptance.

They needed each other, TeddyBear has been a life saver for Fric, who finds it quite difficult to tolerate the other animals, chasing them off  if he thinks he needs to and devoting all his affection and needs toward TeddyBear.

No one in the family had taken a picture of this odd friendship until two days ago.
I’d asked for it, and they sent it. 

I got an email yesterday that TeddyBear died that night.

Fric is inconsolable.
He has been sitting in TeddyBears special place on the floor, refusing to leave, grieving and lost.

TeddyBear, the familes gentle Eyore was a large and loving presence in this family, both two and four legged, and was central in Fric’s world. He is missed.