When a bear hungry for pears crashed through the fence of a retired couple's Potomac Place home early Saturday, a Carson City Sheriff's Office deputy and Home Depot came to the rescue.
Donna and Bill Hancock were surprised when they awoke early Saturday morning to see the damage that a bear left behind as it foraged for food overnight in their backyard. The bear took down a portion of the couple's fence in order to get to pears in a tree.
There were a handful of reports Saturday of a bear going through Carson City backyards on the west side, according to the Nevada Department of Wildlife.
"We've seen all kinds of animals in the field but this is our first experience with a bear," said Donna Hancock, pointing to the field. "I guess he saw the opportunity and went for it," added Bill.
But it it was the actions in the aftermath that made the couple's day.
Carson City Sheriff's Deputy Gary Denham responded to the dispatch call and saw what the bear had done. The wood fence that separates the couple's home from the field was damaged and left the couple vulnerable to the possibility that the bear could return. Knowing that it would be difficult to find a fence repair specialist to come out Saturday to do the work, Denham decided he would fix it himself.
"I figured out what was needed, took some measurements and told them I would be back to fix it," said Denham.
He went to Home Depot on Market Street with the intention of buying the fence material himself. While on the floor he explained what happened to Richard Pace, a department supervisor.
Pace disappeared for a few minutes and then came back with store manager Alan Lapasaran who told him Home Depot would pick up the material costs for the fence — the wood and nails — which amounted to about $30.
"I went in figuring that I'd get the stuff needed, take it to the home and put some sweat into it for the fix. Turns out, Home Depot took care of the material so all that was left was the sweat," said Denham.
The fence was repaired in about 45 minutes. Denham said he didn't think twice about it, saying that any of the deputies, seeing the situation, would have done the same thing.
"When we see stuff like this, where we can help out — in this case an elderly couple who have a hard time getting around — we jump on it," said Denham. "You don't really see this in the bigger cities but Carson City, doing the extra for citizens is why we live in this community."
For then Hancocks, who have lived in the home for more than 40 years, the gestures made by Denham and Home Depot were "above and beyond" the call of duty.
"I think it is just remarkable and so kind what Gary and Home Depot have done for us," said Donna Hancock. "They are my heroes for the day."