People Mistake California Woman’s Animal For A Bear, But The Truth Is Adorable

If you walk past Ale’s house, don’t be surprised if you slam on the brakes or do a double-take—it happens constantly.

Drivers slow down with wide eyes, convinced they’ve just seen a bear lounging in her backyard.

Some even shout warnings from their car windows, convinced they’re witnessing a wildlife emergency, as Ale shared in an interview:

“People yell out of their car, ‘Ma’am, you have a bear in your backyard!’”

But that isn’t a bear at all—it’s Napoleon.

Napoleon happens to be Ale’s enormous, fluffy Newfoundland dog, and he’s every bit as lovable as he looks. With his thick dark coat and towering size, it’s easy to see why people mistake him for a bear at first glance. Yet, once you get to know him, it becomes clear that beneath his massive frame is nothing but a gentle spirit.

Sure, he carries the weight and presence of a small bear, but his personality is all teddy bear. He adores people, loves soaking up attention, and greets everyone with a calm, sweet nature that instantly wins hearts. Neighbours who stop to get a closer look often leave with smiles, realizing that the “bear in the backyard” is really just a big, soft-hearted companion.

Napoleon came into Ale’s life when he was just a little pup. From day one, they were glued to each other.

Wherever Ale went, he followed. Whatever she felt, he felt too. He was more than just a pet; he became her safe place.

Things got even more real when Ale found out she was pregnant. It should’ve been one of the happiest chapters of her life, but for her, it was complicated.

Her body felt off, and emotionally, she felt like being trapped under a heavy cloud. Everyone else was over the moon about the baby, but Ale felt completely alone.

Napoleon never left her side through it all. They’d go on walks together by the cliffs near their home, just the two of them.

One day, though, things got too heavy for Ale to carry alone. She drifted too close to the edge, both physically and emotionally.

But Napoleon knew something wasn’t right and in his own gentle, powerful way, he stepped in. He nudged her back and guided her to their favorite bench, the one they always stopped at.

Then he rested his head in her lap like he was telling her, “I’ve got you. You’re not alone.”

In that moment, he truly saved her life. Ale sat there with her best friend by her side and just let it all out, as she shared:

“One day, I got too close to the cliff’s edge. He pulled my arm backwards to a bench where we always rested and laid his head on my lap, and I just sat there petting him, and I cried.”

It was a turning point. Not because the sadness disappeared overnight, but because she knew someone was holding her together.

Fast forward a few years, and things started to look brighter. Every time the baby cried, Napoleon was up in a flash, checking in like the most concerned babysitter in the world.

Ale’s little boy is three years old now, and stepping into the role of devoted big brother and watchful guardian is none other than Napoleon.

He continues to follow Ale everywhere, just as he always has, as though protecting her is his life’s purpose. But these days, his loyalty has grown to include the youngest member of the family. With gentle patience and unwavering devotion, Napoleon has shown that he’s just as committed to looking after the little boy as he is to Ale.

Ale shared:

“He really is an angel. In the shape of a Newfoundland, but that’s the best kind.”

He may look like a bear from the sidewalk, but in his heart, he’s just a big, soft, loyal soul who saved his human in more ways than one.