Aside from having children, another way families grow is by having a pet. Some say it’s an expensive investment, but most people will agree that they are worth it! So when this certain family brought home a puppy, they were overjoyed and excited that an adorable pet was joining their family. But eventually, they felt scared because they found out that their newest member was not like other dogs.
A NEW MEMBER OF THE FAMILY
The mother of the household, Su Yun, was a hardworking woman. She spent most of her life taking care of her family, which comprises of her husband and two children. Their home is located in a southwest province in Kunming City, China.
Su Yun decided to add a new member to their family, so they adopted a pet. Having a pet is a big change for families, as some people need to get a loan to finance it, but for Su Yun, it placed their family in the spotlight and drastically changed their lives.
THE LIFE-CHANGING ENCOUNTER
The family went on a vacation, and while walking, they saw a litter of adorable puppies for adoption. Her children had been asking for a dog for a long time, but she always refused. The costs of having a dog may lead anyone to bankruptcy if they are not prepared.
So Su Yun was about to tell them no, but a particular puppy caught her eye. Since she knew they could afford to add a new member to their family, she agreed to adopt this puppy. No one could have predicted that this little one would land them on the headlines.
THEY WERE WARNED
The puppy that Su Yun chose was a rare breed. According to the person who sold the puppies, the furball was a Tibetan Mastiff, a large breed of dog that might grow more than two feet and weight up to 180 pounds – that’s similar to the weight of an adult male!
Their family was fine with that, and we’d be surprised if they were able to pay using a credit card. Now that this dog was officially part of their family, they named it “Little Black.” This was because he had black fur, and it was ironic since they knew he would become a huge dog.
IN THE BEGINNING, EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL
Little Black joined the family for the rest of the vacation, and then they went home. The first thing they did was to determine whether to let Little Black stay indoors or live outdoors. Even if the climate in Kunming City was excellent for pets to be kept outside, Su Yun decided to keep their newest member indoors. We hope their flooring is durable enough to accommodate pets.
Similar to other healthy dogs, Little Black adjusted to his new home. He had a healthy appetite and got comfortable quickly. But eventually, the family noticed that there was something different about their dog.
HE BECAME STRANGE
The person who sold Little Black was right; this puppy would not stay small. This dog continues to grow, as well as his appetite. Little Black ate two buckets of noodles and a box of mixed fruits per day. We hope Su Yun has excellent money management skills to afford taking care of this growing dog.
It was a strange diet, but this was the first time their family owned a pet. They wouldn’t have known that most dogs would get sick if they ate noodles or fruits. Eventually, Little Black was consuming large amounts of food — and he was only one year old!
HE CONTINUOUSLY GROWS
It’s amazing that Su Yun didn’t file for bankruptcy, given that she spent a fortune on feeding Little Black’s never-ending appetite. At first, they were glad that their newest member was growing, but they noticed it was becoming out of hand.
When Little Black was two years old, he was three feet tall and weighed 250 pounds, which was more than the dog seller predicted. Aside from spending a ton on Little Black’s meals, the family had other things to worry about after finding other strange things about their dog.
HIS PECULIAR BEHAVIOR IN THE KITCHEN
The dog seller did say that Tibetan Mastiffs could weight more than 180 pounds, so Little Black’s size might not be a big shock. So what really shocked Su Yun is a strange sighting in their kitchen.
During one afternoon, Su Yun went into their kitchen and found Little Black standing and upright on his hind legs. It shouldn’t be a surprise since some dogs could stand on their hind legs but only for a short time. Su Yun was shocked because Little Black was standing the same way humans do. Whether you have a dog training degree or not, you probably know that this is not normal.
STRANGENESS LEADS TO TROUBLE
Standing upright would have been awesome if it’s just a dog trick. But Little Black often does it, as if it’s second nature to him. Su Yung repeatedly saw their pet standing on its hind legs, and this started to worry and scare her, considering that there were other peculiarities.
She also noticed that Little Black had large teeth, which she thought was normal since Tibetan Mastiffs were gigantic and would have huge teeth that matched their size. Su Yun also noticed the changes in his facial features, such as his snout becoming more pronounced, but she was still in denial. Maybe she’ll find it strange when Little Black wouldn’t stop growing, and she needed to have roof repair done.
HE BECAME TOO BIG
Su Yun was worried about their ever-growing pet, but her children were happy getting attention for having the biggest dog in their neighborhood. The people in their area were talking and hearing about this peculiar pet.
Everyone would peer out their windows when the family took Little Black on walks. Imagine seeing a dog grow bigger almost every time you see it pass by. Their roofing was in trouble, given that Little Black became too large for their home. The family decided to set up a makeshift dog house outdoor to accommodate Little Black.
LITTLE BLACK’S BEHAVIOR KEEPS CHANGING
Su Yun was able to look past Little Black’s size and teeth, but they were worried about his temper. He kept lashing out at them, and fortunately, no one got hurt. The family was just scared of how Little Black was acting.
During this time, Su Yun also noticed that he never barked, which was weird, especially since he was two years old. They did hear him make a noise, a growl, but it was different from a dog’s growl. You don’t need a music degree to differentiate a dog’s growling noise to a growl that sounded like a roar.
SU YUN’S FEARS STARTED TO GROW AS WELL
This time, Su Yun was scared of Little Black. He became so big that he would probably ruin the roofing and flooring of their home if he stayed indoors. They were also having trouble keeping him on a leash, especially when they went on walks.
Su Yun was worried about her and her children’s wellbeing. To keep her mind at ease, she tried to look for some information on the internet. At first glance, she already knew that Little Black was different from other dogs. After further investigation, she was shocked and scared to find out what Little Black really was.
LITTLE BLACK’S TRUE IDENTITY
For her research, Su Yun looked into their pet’s characteristics and behavior, such as his teeth, size, and tendency to stand upright. It seemed that their pet, which was said to be a Tibetan Mastiff, was not a dog.
She discovered that Little Black was a black bear. She couldn’t believe that their pet was not a dog, but her research confirmed it. Su Yun was afraid and worried, especially since she didn’t know what to do next. She knew she had to act fast, or else they might need to rely on their health insurance.
LITTLE BLACK, THE PET BEAR
To find out more about their pet bear, Su Yun continued her research. She found out that Little Black is an Asiatic Black Bear, which is also known as a Himalayan Bear or Tibetan Bear. It’s a medium-sized type, but they can grow up to six feet tall and weigh 440 pounds.
Fortunately, Asiatic Bears are herbivores, but when aggravated, they will become aggressive. The worst part is, Su Yun may need to look for a lawyer since owning a bear in China is a crime.
SEARCHING FOR A ZOO
Their family loves Little Black, but Su Yun knew that she needed to find him a new home. Unfortunately, there are no online classes on what to do if you find out that your pet dog is a bear.
The first thing she did was to look for a local zoo and see if they could take Little Black. Su Yun learned that zoos needed a birth certificate if they were to receive a new animal. This left her with no choice.
LETTING THE POLICE KNOW
Su Yun decided to call the police and tell them about Little Bear. In a few minutes, both the police and wildlife experts from the Forest Public Security Bureau arrived at their home. She answered all their questions and shared the whole story.
When reporters came, Su Yun mentioned that she eventually noticed that Little Bear looked more like a bear. She was also scared of bears – well, most people are! This investment turned out differently, which was evident in how the police were shocked when they went to Su Yun’s backyard.
LIFE WITH A PET BEAR
The police and the forestry officials were surprised to see the enormous animal inside the cage area. They instantly knew that this animal was not a dog, and later determined that the pet was probably a bear.
The police questioned her where she got Little Black, about the adoption process, and how they raised this gigantic animal. She shared her story — but would she still need an attorney?
TRANSFERRING LITTLE BLACK
When the police were asking Su Yun about Little Black, the wildlife experts were checking their pet bear. They looked for any signs of malnourishment or injury, while Su Yun was on standby and waiting for the consequences of having a bear in her home.
The officials stated that Little Black was healthy, happy, and well-fed. The next step was transferring this gigantic animal to a nearby wildlife rescue center. They had to tranquilize him so that they could safely transport him. Now, it’s time to find out if Su Yun would need a lawyer.
GIVING LITTLE BLACK A NEW HOME
After Little Black arrived at the wildlife center, Su Yun’s fears returned. Even if she didn’t know, their family kept a dangerous animal in their backyard. This caught the media’s attention since everyone was confused as to how they could not have known that their pet dog was a bear. There wouldn’t be any online classes about it, but at least you would have a clue.
One of them was the National Geographic, which wrote a story about it that went viral. This led to people also sharing their stories about getting a pet and eventually discovering that it was a different species. The more attention she received, the more Su Yun was worried that the police would press charges.
WHAT HAPPENED AFTER?
For a long time, Su Yun cooperated with the police about the event. Asiatic Bears were protected species in China because of poaching, but luckily, Su Yun didn’t go to jail thanks to her cooperation. Any penalty was reduced or removed because she was cooperative.
The entire family was shocked by the events, but they didn’t hate Little Black. They miss him and hope that he is placed in a nearby reserve so they can see him. We wonder if Little Black will be able to recognize his family. Who knows? Little Black may remember his family’s investment in taking care of him.