Transforming animal lovers into animal welfare defenders with knowledge, tools, and inspiration.
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Information
- Founded:
- January 2005
Sunbear Squad Inc. WEEKLY WATCH TIP for Week of Dec. 13: Watch for tracks in the snow or mud leading to occupied dog houses-if you don’t see footprints, the dog is not being fed or watered. Take action to save them.
Sunbear Squad Inc. WEEKLY WATCH TIP for week of Dec. 6: Watch and listen for chained or kenneled dogs and “outside” cats during subzero weather—without adequate shelter, fresh water, and extra food, they can get frostbitten or freeze to death. Take action.
Sunbear Squad Inc. WEEKLY WATCH TIP week of Nov. 30: Watch and listen for signs of distress in dogs kept in packs, such as sled dogs and hunting hounds, which are frequently kept in neglectful conditions with inadequate vet care. Take action to save them.
Sunbear Squad Inc. WEEKLY WATCH TIP week of Nov. 22: Watch for feral cats---breeding season is not that far off. With a caring neighbor, plan now to perform trap-neuter-return (TNR) before bad weather hits. Visit the Alley Cat Allies web site at www.alleycat.org
RECENT ACTIVITY
Sunbear Squad Inc. discussed It’s a long, cold winter ahead, especially if you live on a chain on the Sunbear Squad Inc. discussion board.
Sunbear Squad Inc. discussed Frostbite comes first. Then comes death. on the Sunbear Squad Inc. discussion board.
Sunbear Squad Inc. discussed Who needs to spend good money on a dog collar when you have a piece of barbed-wire? on the Sunbear Squad Inc. discussion board.
Sunbear Squad Inc. Sunbear Squad Inc. WEEKLY WATCH TIP week of Nov. 15: Watch for collars, chains, dog houses, and kennels that are too short or small for growing puppies. Call the authorities!
Sunbear Squad Inc. Do you know of moving or traveling households? This is extremely high risk for companion animals. When foreclosed upon, some families intentionally abandon their animals, but banks don't know and don't inspect the property for weeks. When traveling, some families think that arrangements are made for care, but miscommun...ication can cause days or even weeks of starvation and dehydration. It happened to Sunbear!
Sunbear Squad Inc.
Day 31... or is it night?
You are completely alone in a dark little room and have been forever it seems. The person you love most in the world has been gone for many days, and you miss him so much. You feel very sick and weak because you haven't had any food or water for the longest time. It's hopeless, and you are just... waiting for the end. There is nothing to do but wait. So you wait endlessly, and you listen to the world outside, lawn mowers and doors slamming and people calling to each other. You chew on your bed stuffing—it helps pass the time.
Sometimes when noises seem near, you stand up and stare at the lighted crack between the door, waiting, with a little feeling of hope. Then the noises stop.You can smell things, too, like some food right outside the door, and grilling steaks sometimes. You can smell the rain once in a while. So you dream about rain and steaks, and when wakeful, you listen for his footsteps, his voice. Sleeping is good, because you don't feel so sick when you sleep. You've been sleeping a lot lately. And it's too hard to stand up now anyway.
About Sunbear
Sunbear was a young male chocolate Labrador Retriever in a West Virginia town. One summer day in 2002, his owner locked him into a dark townhouse laundry room, and walked away forever. Incredibly, he was alone in the dark without food and water for 6 endless weeks before he was discovered.
How Did it Happen?
Sunbear's owner intended to give him to a farm family, but communication broke down somehow. Nobody picked up poor Sunbear. Sunbear's owner did not call the family to check on how he was adapting to his new home, a simple act taking 5 minutes that would have uncovered the miscommunication and saved his life. No, Sunbear's owner forgot all about him.Couldn't Anyone Hear Him?
Did Sunbear bark and whine desperately for help, as he waited in the dark? Did his excellent hearing tell him that people were nearby in adjoining townhouses? Did he smell the 20 lb. bag of dog food that sat right outside the laundry room door? Did he dream about his beloved owner opening the door and rescuing him?
If only one person had heard Sunbear whining and barking during those endless days of starvation, he would be alive today.
One Day, the Door Opened
Sunbear was discovered 6 weeks later, on Saturday, August 11, 2002, by his owner's former girlfriend, just barely alive. He was a pathetic fur-covered skeleton. Released at last from his laundry room prison, he stumbled and staggered to the creek than ran in the back yard and fell down in the cool water.
Gene Fields, the local Animal Control Officer on call, rushed to the townhouse, gently lifted Sunbear out of the creek, and put him in the van. As Gene lay Sunbear in the crate, Sunbear tried to lift himself up to lick Gene in the face, but he couldn't quite find the strength. Sunbear was grateful.
Gene drove Sunbear as fast as he could to the Kanawah Valley Animal Emergency Clinic in the quiet dusk of that peaceful Saturday evening. It is incredible that he survived almost 6 weeks without food and water. What a strong, loving spirit Sunbear had.
But It Was Too Late
Tragically, Sunbear died 3 days later on August 14, 2002, despite valiant efforts by the veterinary staff. Starvation and dehydration had destroyed his organs and circulation. But he weakly licked the hand of a kind neighbor who came to visit him at the clinic, true to his loving nature.
His Owner was Found and Punished
Sunbear's owner was hunted for months by the grimly determined Humane Officer Gene Fields. Gene worked nights and weekends to track him down. The Humane Society of the United States offered a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and capture of his owner. His owner was arrested in Indiana thanks to an alert employer, and he was extradited to West Virginia for trial. Over 400 people from all over the world wrote letters to the court, asking for justice for Sunbear. He was brought to justice and convicted by jury trial after just 5 minutes of deliberation. Sunbear's owner was then sentenced to the fullest extent of the law.
Sunbear's Story Influenced the Enaction of Stronger Humane Laws
Sunbear didn't die in vain. His story and the story of another starved West Virginia dog, Hercules, inspired the legislature of West Virginia to enact much stricter laws on animal neglect and abuse. Today the state continues to improve animal cruelty legislation according to Fields, in part because of the momentum built by Sunbear's supporters.
www.sunbearsquad.org
If you can spare $4.20 to sponsor a Sunbear Squad Neighborhood Watch kit for a volunteer, please donate with PayPal. Thank you!
Sunbear Squad Inc. WEEKLY WATCH TIP Week of Oct. 18: Watch for protruding backbones, ribs, and hips before winter coats hide these signs of neglect. Look at every pet you pass.
www.sunbearsquad.org
If you can spare $4.20 to sponsor a Sunbear Squad Neighborhood Watch kit for a volunteer, please donate with PayPal. Thank you!
Sunbear Squad Inc. Taken the night he was found by Gene Fields, the animal control officer. He died 3 days later.
Sunbear Squad Inc. Start a Neighborhood Watch for Pets. The kit is free (although a donation of $4.20 is appreciated, 10 cents for each day that Sunbear waited in the laundry room to be rescued.)
www.sunbearsquad.org
Transforming animal lovers into animal welfare defenders. Sunbear Squad is a non-profit animal welfare organization with tools, knowledge, and guidance that help you be a better Good Samaritan for pets.
RECENT ACTIVITY
Sunbear Squad Inc. discussed Surrendering your companion to some shelters is a death sentence. on the Sunbear Squad Inc. discussion board.
