Life was rough for Bear moving from home to home as a pup, but a chance encounter led the courageous canine to find his life purpose, saving more than 100 koalas during the Black Summer bushfires.
For the past decade the Australian koolie has made it his mission to seek out koalas in fire-impacted areas for rescue, garnering him international admiration from the likes of Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio.
But it wasn't always a glamorous life for the "one-of-a-kind" pup, International Fund for Animal Welfare's Josey Sharrad said.
"He was rehomed multiple times because of his highly obsessive, hyper focus, very high energy and a little OCD," Ms Sharrad told AAP.
"He didn't make the greatest pet."
Bear's owners decided they had nothing to lose when they saw the callout for detection dogs.
"The minute Bear walked through the door, we knew he was the one," Ms Sharrad said.
He excelled in his training in ways other detection dogs, who were trained on the scent of koala droppings, couldn't, by unlocking the ability to sniff out koalas by their fur.
When the Black Summer bushfires of 2019/20 ravaged Australia, he was sent into the scorched lands to sniff out koalas, dropping to the ground when he found one until human colleagues arrived.
Bear helped rescue more than 100 koalas, many in need of veterinary care.
"His ball - his reward - is his world," Ms Sharrad said.
"He has zero interest in koalas, and that's really important for a detection dog.
"They should have zero prey drive and 100 per cent play drive."
The energetic pup offered the nation a glimmer of hope during the darkest of times, all with his red boots, blue eyes, and powerful nose.
"It just goes to show that when a dog actually finds its true purpose, then they're unstoppable. Bear definitely found his, and he's lived his best life," Ms Sharrad said.
Bear has starred in his own "dogumentary", had a book written about him and has won multiple awards.
Now 11-years-old and more mellowed, the cult hero is hanging up his boots and ready for a more relaxing life of beach walks and playing at home.
"He was very unsure of himself when we first met him, but he's really found his purpose in life, and now he's a confident dog," Ms Sharrad said.
"He's the absolute best boy."
