About
The Polar Bear Chronicles is named after my late Labrador Retriever, Baylie, better known as The Polar Bear.
The Polar Bear had a nice following in a Facebook group I belonged to, but she had so much character that in May of 2020, we had to start her group called the Polar Bear Chronicles (PBC).
The Polar Bear was the sweetest, grumpiest, laziest, funniest, gentlest, pizza-eating dog. Everyone fell in love with her immediately. Sadly, she passed away one month after the group was started. Condolences came in from all over the world. It was then we realized how many people Polar Bear had touched.
Over time, people started needing some financial help. The Polar Bear guided me, and the Polar Bear Chronicles, to do what we could to assist them.
While still in its infancy, we have raised tens of thousands of dollars and used it to help people in need, mostly in the United States but also in other parts of the world! Polar Bear was that one-in-a-billion pup.
I always told her she was special and was going to do big things. Who knew those big things would happen after crossing the rainbow bridge?
Meet the Team
Board Members
Scott Tovey
Founder / Director
Growing up, we always had German Shepherds. That’s where my love for dogs began. One day, on a whim, I went and picked up a black Labrador puppy to surprise my significant other at the time. One thing led to another, and along came The Polar Bear. She was very demanding the second she moved in and never looked back. Her attitude and personality just got to be too much for me, so I started sharing her with others. That led to our FB group, The Polar Bear Chronicles. Now we have an amazing group that helps so many others, using The Polar Bear Legacy Foundation to do so. Someday, I hope to turn this into a full-time job. Being part of helping others and our wonderful pets is truly rewarding.
Rachel Ribis
I am from New York but currently living in North Carolina. I had a service dog that passed away 3 years ago. Just shy of his 18th birthday. His name was Buddy. Clarice is a rescue that I met when I was volunteering at a foster home in my local town. Clarice is my 3rd black lab. I am certified in canine first aid and CPR. I make my own dog food, dog jerky, bone meal, beef bone broth etc.
We love to travel and Clarice goes with us. She loves to travel and loves staying in hotels. We travel year round up and down the east coast and live an hour from the ocean. We eat out quite a bit because North Carolina has many pet-friendly restaurants.
I am honored to be a part of the Polar Bear Legacy Foundation. What an amazing group of wonderful people.
Chrisie Jennings, Treasurer
Born and raised in the Minneapolis area, I went east for college and ended up marrying a Texan, where I lived for 22 years. After my divorce, I moved back home to Minneapolis and live in Uptown. I work for Minneapolis Public Schools as a Project Coordinator. I have 3 kids and 2 step kids, ranging in age from 19 to 31, all of whom live in Texas (college, working, etc.), except one who is in the Air Force and stationed in Japan. I am also blessed to have two grandkids that bring me much joy when I see them. In my spare time I love to travel (China, Africa, Europe, Caribbean), go out to restaurants or pubs, hang with my friends, and enjoy the outdoors at my cabin in Wisconsin. My bucket list includes South America.
I have had a pet ever since I went away to grad school in 1990. I love animals more than people generally, ha! I am excited and honored to be a part of the Polar Bear Chronicles and the Polar Bear Legacy Foundation. What a true gift Polar Bear has left for us all. My greatest love was Wyatt, aka “Woo Bear.” Wyatt was half Border Collie and half Texas Blue Lacey, though people always thought he was a lab. When I went to pick him out from the litter, this little guy squeezed my neck with the longest hug ever. I knew he was the one and it was love at first sight! Everyone that ever met Wyatt always said the exact same thing, “he’s such a sweet, gentle soul.” Wyatt loved walks, his homemade food, and just being with me. Wyatt passed away on February 24, 2022, at the age of 16 years old. A true blessing in my life and he will forever be remembered and cherished.
Kari Pomeranz
Scott Schroeder
Hmmm.. well I love dogs. Done…JK.
2nd marriage. I have 3 beautiful daughters and a house full of dogs. I love to fish and hunt. I’m 52 yrs young. I’m semi retired, I haul Amish around for my job. I’m called the Amish Uber. Got a FB page called “The adventures of the Amish Uber”.. check it out!!
Andrea Hutson
Andrea currently lives in the Philadelphia suburbs with her dog Moose. She has had dogs all her life and usually has a pack of at least 2-3 at a time. She is partial to labs, and has had all 3 colors (3 yellow, 1 chocolate, 1 black), but Moose is a rescue boy (breeds unknown). Andrea and Moose like to go on lots of walks/hikes together, and Moose is a pro tennis ball catcher and chaser. They’re working on helping Moose to become less scared around new dogs in the hopes of adopting a new puppy sometime soon.
Andrea also has two human children in college of whom she’s exceptionally proud. She also has a grand dog named Apollo who her daughter adopted from a shelter. Andrea works in Consumer Insights and Strategy for Crayola. She hopes to move back to Florida soon to be near the beach and to get away from the cold PA winters.