05/22/2026
The loss of one of Karyn's dogs left a hole in her family. But she never imagined the problems she’d encounter when she filled it with a three-year-old dog named Bear.
She met him at SCRAPS. But Bear had already failed two other adoptions.
Karyn was determined not to give up. “Until very recently, I have had a very disregulated nervous system,” Karyn explained. “I just recently learned how to regulate it. So, when I saw this dog that had lived through trauma, I thought, what if somebody didn’t give me a chance? Even at the hardest point, that was my attitude - the dog deserved a chance.”
There were many hard points. Bear was aggressive. He’d growl. He even bit Karyn.
“He had some severe emotional issues,” Karyn remembered. “It's like you could just tell that he could not calm down. Every little sound would set him off.”
Karyn hired a trainer. That failed. People told Karyn to take him back to SCRAPS. She refused.
But it got so bad that she eventually discussed euthanizing him with her vet.
But then came the unexpected decision that made all the difference. Karyn had to leave town, and she needed someone to board Bear.
“With his bite history, I figured no one would ever work with us,” Karyn remembered. “I wouldn’t be able to board him anywhere.”
But then Karyn found Confident K9, the business owner and trainer. She boarded Bear but imagined the worst was still ahead.
“I was terrified that my dog was going to hurt somebody or hurt another dog,” Karyn said.
“Every time I would check on him, Kass would say he’s doing great. When I came back, Kass told me he was great and that all the trainers loved him and didn’t want to say goodbye.”
The five-day visit and personalized training didn’t solve every problem, but it started Bear on a path toward being with other people and animals. Karyn will tell you he is transformed at home and is well on his way to being the family dog she had wanted.
“I tell everyone if it were not for Kass, I would not have been able to keep Bear,” Karyn said.
“He is a sweet, wiggly boy and is very loving.”
There’s still work to do. But both Kass and Karyn will tell you, all Bear needed was a chance.
