This subject is near & dear to my heart as I firmly believe
all private owership of exotic animals should be forbidden.
(except for licensed Animal Rescue & Humane groups)

I know everyone probably doesn't agree on this, but I'd like
to offer my first reason (of many) for banning private
ownership. What do you think?


Starving Bear Cub Euthanized
'Little Bear' Suffered Increasingly From Seizures

POSTED: 4:56 pm EST May 22, 2004

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- A bear cub found starving last month at a Greene County residence filled with exotic animals was euthanized last week despite the efforts of veterinarians who tried to nurse it back to health.

The four-month-old black bear was euthanized after its condition deteriorated with progressively more severe seizures, said WildCare executive director Penny Stauffer.

"It was just heartbreaking," Stauffer said. "We'd gotten so close to this bear. He was like a baby."

The cub, which Stauffer and others named "Little Bear," was severely underweight and suffering from seizures when he was found -- along with several other exotic animals -- April 26 by Greene County sheriff's deputies.

Stauffer said the cub began suffering progressively stronger seizures last weekend that could not be controlled with medication.

She said black bear experts told her that the 5-pound bear should have weighed upwards of 20 pounds and would probably never be accepted at a black bear rehabilitation center because of his health problems.

After the decision was made, local veterinarian Tina Swanson euthanized "Little Bear" at Stauffer's home Wednesday night, she said.

The bear's carcass was taken to Purdue University for a necropsy. Stauffer said she hopes to receive the results of the examination in a week or two.

She said the bear's plight had touched a nerve with the public, who had besieged the center with offers of help and donations.

"It really touched us to see so many people cared about him," Stauffer said. "We certainly cared about him, too."