There might be a few of you that remember 10 years ago exactly the planning of a little event in Alton Baker Park called the Pet-Lover’s Party in the Park.  It was the first fundraiser and start of a new local charity: The Bearen Foundation.

The Bearen Foundation’s mission maintained that no pet should be euthanized solely due to financial hardship, and worked with many Lane County vet clinics to help hundreds of local families receive funding to assist with their pet’s life-saving care.

Over the next 10 years, the foundation hosted a variety of fundraising events including the Eugene Celebration’s famous Pet Stroll, the A-cat-emy Awards, the Presents for Pets Drive to support the homeless pets at LCAS, Photos with Santa Paws, Stupid Cupid and of course the signature event: the Pet-Lover’s Party in the Park.  An impressive fact about this charity is that 100% of all donations would go directly to saving the lives of local pets, a statistic most charities cannot claim. The board worked very hard to keep operational costs to a minimum, getting most services donated and the rest covered by corporate sponsors.

Run by 7 resident volunteers, the foundation funded close to $37,000 over the years and helped more than 300 families from having to euthanize their pets.  If you do the math on that, it’s amazing to know that a mere $100-$150 was the difference between life and death for so many pets.  Many of the recipient families were single-parent homes, disabled or seniors on fixed incomes where their pets were their life support.

 “Our companion animals are not like our family members, they ARE our family members”

“My Spooky helped me so much after my wife passed away.  Your kindness helped me to save him.”

 “I couldn’t find help until I found the Bearen Foundation”

“Though it won’t cover everything, it will help, and knowing there are wonderful people like the Bearen Foundation willing to help others in need makes this a little easier”

Clearly, the mission of the foundation filled a need in the community and touched the lives of many.  But how did it all begin?  Who’s Bearen?

Bearen is the miracle and the inspiration behind the whole thing… a cat; a cat that wouldn’t give up, despite facing many medical hardships… starting with acute kidney failure at 6 years old.  Although euthanasia was recommended, his owner, Megan Bendtzen was sure there was something that could be done to save him.  When the vet half-heartedly mentioned a kidney transplant; that was all Megan needed to hear.  They drove to UC Davis that night, where he spent a month on dialysis, trying to get strong enough for the surgery.  Back home in Eugene, Megan began trying to raise funds to help pay for it.  She looked everywhere for help, trying to find an organization that could help people in her situation.  There was nothing.  And so began the Bearen Foundation and the planning of the 1st Annual Pet-Lover’s Party in the Park. 

On July 5, 2000, Bearen had his transplant and was soon back home on his road to recovery.  By the time the first event took place on Oct 1, 2000, the focus had changed to a greater need in the community.  Megan never put a penny of the funds raised toward her own cat’s bill.  In fact, a week after the Pet-Lover’s Party, she filed for bankruptcy, gave up her car and was working 2 jobs.  But she had her Bearen and that was all that mattered.

Over the years, Bearen and the foundation were blessed with many miracles.  As Bearen’s charity inspired many in the community and helped so many families in need, Bearen triumphed again and again when many times he was given a “poor prognosis.”

Time and time again, Bearen would defy the odds, leaving his doctors stunned and shaking their heads, and further strengthening the bond with Megan, “With each incident his drs would all say he wouldn't make it through the night... and the next morning would find him purring in his cage, rolling on his back for a belly rub, ready to be sent home.  He has taught me more than a few life lessons. And he has never given up, so I could never give up on him. He’s my little miracle, my robokitty.” 

In 2009, Megan’s job transferred her to southern California after living 18 years in Eugene.  For a year, she ran the foundation from 1000 miles away, “skyping” in to monthly board meetings and flying up for the annual event.  The long distance and the workload began taxing the all-volunteer board to the point where serious changes needed to be made. In addition, Bearen had been facing unresolved health issues for several months.  With heavy hearts, the board unanimously voted to discontinue funding in Oregon.

“We are sad to see an end to our years of service to our neighbors and their wonderful pets, yet we are proud of the contributions we have made to our community.  We continue to envision a day when no family is forced by financial circumstance to lose a beloved member.”

Megan’s focus shifted to Bearen, who, at 15 years and 8 months, diabetic, and approaching 10-years post-transplant, was a living miracle himself.  Most transplant cats that are lucky enough to survive the first year will live on average an additional 3-5 years, according to Dr Clare Gregory who pioneered the transplant program at UC Davis and followed Bearen’s medical adventures throughout the years.  Dr Judy Schroeder, Bearen’s vet for 13 years says “Bearen loved his life and despite his medical trials and tribulations, maintained his intense will to live.  I know he made me a better vet, and probably a better person, and for this, I thank him.”

Tragically, just a day shy of his 10-year transplant anniversary, miracles ceased for the founder as well…

“It is with a broken heart that I write this letter to tell you that my poor little Bearen, my miracle cat, has ended his amazing journey here on earth, leaving behind his poor overwhelmed little body and all his illnesses and medications, and more importantly, for us to keep - his inspiration, his endless love and devotion, his sweet affection, his amazing ways of communicating, his immediate willingness to forgive, his determination, his strength and courage, his incredible will to survive and persevere, his sense of humor, his cleverness, his gentlemanly ways, his charm and his adventurous spirit.  I have never loved anything or anyone more and I am so proud and thankful to have had him in my life.  It is truly amazing what one can learn and treasure from the unconditional characteristics of a family pet.  I miss him terribly, I feel utterly empty; my life will never be the same.

Bearen was with me from the time he was 3 months old.  I was 21, in college, really just beginning my adult life.  Almost 16 years later, I bid my sweet little Bearen goodbye.  He once again showed his true gentlemanly spirit and left on his own, sparing me from having to make that terrible most difficult decision.  He gave and gave his entire life, defied more odds than imaginable and fought until the very end.  After spending a week at City of Angels Critical Care Center, he finally came home and spent nearly all of his final 24 hours in my arms.  At 5pm on July 4, Bearen took his final breath.  All around us in my lively beach neighborhood, partiers were hollering and shouting.  Later that evening, as we still sat with him in vigil, fireworks lit up the sky and pounded the air.  It is a day I will never forget.”
 
God saw you getting tired,
He did what he thought best;
He put His arms around you,
And said, "Come and rest."

He opened up His golden gates,
On that heartbreaking day;
And with His arms around you,
You gently slipped away.

It broke my heart to lose you,
You did not go alone;
A part of me went with you,
The day God called you home.

 In Memory of Bearen
Nov 1994 - July 4, 2010

Thank you Lane County for 10 years of supporting the Bearen Foundation. 

Megan currently resides in Hermosa Beach, California with Bearen’s life-long friend, Nikita.

Plans to continue the mission of the foundation in Southern California are pending. Donations may be made to The Bearen Foundation via the website: DONATE NOW. The Bearen Foundation is a fully tax-deductible 501-c3 organization. 

Megan and Bearen would also like to honor UC Davis for all they did.  You may specify if you would like your donation to go to the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, who has since had to suspend their transplant program.

Emails and your own stories of courage, inspiration and hope are also welcome. helpingpets@bearenfoundation.org