A Haven of Healing for Feline Souls

Sometimes the best friendships in life are the ones you would never expect to happen—the ones where you are total opposites but balance each other out. This is exactly what happened when a cat named Pig and a dog named Dog bumped into each other at a cat sanctuary.

Bear Den Sanctuary is a magical place where unadoptable and feral cats find solace and love. It all started with Blake, a city girl with a heart full of compassion and a dream of rescuing cats. In 2021, she made this dream a reality, founding Bear Den Sanctuary to give these special cats a forever home. Every cat that arrives at Bear Den Sanctuary carries a story, but there is one particular couple whose story amazed the internet. This is the story of Pig and Dog, two unlikely friends whose friendship will melt your heart.

Pig was a completely feral cat found in a parking lot. He was terrified of humans, never allowing anyone to get close. Despite multiple attempts to gain his trust, Pig was determined to never get close to anyone. But that all changed one day when an abandoned dog stepped into his life.

Dog Arrives at the Cat Sanctuary

One day, while going out to feed the cats, Blake spotted a dog who had been abandoned on the sanctuary grounds. Blake, who had never owned a dog before, was at a loss for what to do. “I had no idea what to do with the dog, or where she would go, and who would take her in,” she recalls. After reaching out to various dog rescues with no success, she decided to keep the dog and look after her. After calling her ‘Dog’ for a few weeks while trying to re-home her, the name stuck, and thus the dog became known as Dog.

Blake was apprehensive about introducing Dog into the sanctuary, fearing she wouldn’t get along with the cats. But she was pleasantly surprised when Dog seemed unfazed by the cats, and they by her. Then one day, something incredible happened—Blake found the feral cat Pig cuddling up to Dog! “Pig just started coming up to Dog, nuzzling her, and communicating with her in their own way,” Blake says, her eyes lighting up with wonder. “It’s really cute. Who would have thought?” Their friendship has helped Pig become more confident around people too, and although he’s not ready for any human contact just yet, he’s much less afraid thanks to Dog.

Jerry the Firecracker Cat

But the friendship of Pig and Dog wasn’t the only story that took the internet by storm. Jerry, a big orange cat with a heartbreaking past, also became quite the sensation. Jerry was absolutely terrified when he came to the sanctuary, and rightly so. Someone had tied a firecracker to his neck, leaving him severely injured. “Luckily, a lovely lady in the community took him in and cared for him until he got better,” Blake explains. And despite his hard start in life, Jerry settled into the sanctuary straight away, finally allowing himself to trust and open up. “You would never know that someone did something so cruel to him. He’s such a loving, chill cat. They say cats have a short memory, and I think he’s just chosen to forget,” Blake remarks.

Bear Den Sanctuary’s Background

Pig, Dog, and Jerry are just a few of the remarkable stories behind the cute faces at Bear Den Sanctuary. Established in 2021 with a heartfelt mission, the sanctuary boasts a robust 6-foot enclosure, purposefully designed to provide safety and sanctuary to feline residents while keeping predators at bay. They also have specially designed safe houses for new cats to reside in while they await a clean bill of health.

The sanctuary was inspired by a very special cat called Bear. She was found as a newborn in a wall and became Blake’s “soul cat.” But unfortunately, Bear disappeared one day, never to return. “One day she got out, and I searched everywhere—parking lots, backyards—but I never found Bear,” Blake recounts, tears welling up in her eyes. During her search, she encountered countless homeless cats, opening her eyes to the enormity of the problem. This inspired her to create Bear Den Sanctuary in Bear’s honor, ensuring every saved cat is a tribute to her beloved Bear.

When her daughter left for college, Blake saw it as a new beginning. She bought property in the country, despite being a city girl at heart. “I had no idea what I was doing. It was like, do it now and think about it later,” she laughs, recalling the leap of faith she took. The sanctuary was envisioned as a forever home for unadoptable and feral cats, and Blake’s favorite part of running it is witnessing their transformations. “I’ve pulled 40 or 50 cats from the kill list at our city shelter. Seeing them live their best lives here is such a good vibe. Instant gratification.”

Bear Den Sanctuary not only enriches the lives of the cats but also gives Blake a profound sense of purpose. “These cats have made my life so much richer. They give me validation that I’m making a difference. Living my dream of a cat sanctuary is something I’ve dreamt of for 27 years. It’s incredible.” In the end, Bear Den Sanctuary is a labor of love, a testament to resilience, compassion, and the unbreakable bond between humans and their feline companions.