Latest news with #BabyBear
Newsweek
2 days ago
- General
- Newsweek
Dog's Microchip Connects Shelter to Home Far Away—But a Cruel Twist Awaits
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. When a dog named Baby Bear arrived at a West Virginia shelter earlier this summer, staff followed routine intake procedures and scanned his microchip. What they discovered has broken hearts among social-media users. In a post shared on Facebook on August 7 by the SPCA Florida, the shelter says that the microchip didn't link to a local owner—but instead traced back to SPCA Florida, a no-kill shelter in Lakeland. "Baby Bear was once adopted from SPCA Florida. But somehow … he ended up hundreds of miles away, in West Virginia, where he was turned into a shelter there—the team scanned his microchip, hoping to find his family. They called … but got no response," the post adds. "So the shelter called us, we knew we had to act fast—because, unlike SPCA Florida, that shelter didn't have a no-kill policy. Time was running out." From left: Baby Bear waits at the airfield next to a private plane; and stands with a volunteer sat on the floor. From left: Baby Bear waits at the airfield next to a private plane; and stands with a volunteer sat on the floor. SPCA Florida With almost no time left for Baby Bear, a hero pilot stepped in to help, donating his "time and wings" to save his life. Randa Richter, SPCA Florida humane programs and public media director, in Lakeland, Florida, told Newsweek that Baby Bear was once adopted from their shelter in 2022, and the staff still don't know how he arrived in West Virginia. "The shelter in West Virginia he was dumped at tried reaching out to the adopter that was listed on the microchip, as well as we tried reaching out to them; no answer or response from them. The shelter he was at reached out to us, since he was originally adopted from us," Richter said. "Of course, we will always take our animals back. I reached out to our supporters and animal lovers, Mark and Donna, who have flown many animals for us over the years. In fact, almost 500 animals they have transported for us." After explaining Baby Bear's situation to Mark and Donna, and asking if they could fly him to Florida on their private plane, they agreed, and the dog flew without fear or hesitation. Now the 10-year-old, laid-back, "gentle soul" is relaxing at the no-kill shelter, and ready for his "furever home." The video quickly went viral on social media and has so far received over 5,100 views and 125 comments. One user, Valerie Barcellona, commented: "Someone adopt this beautiful boy, he needs someone to love, he has a sad story that needs to be turned into joy, fun and treats." Audrey Stager Stansbury added: "Thank you to the pilots who are the lifesaving link, and to Florida SPCA for standing by your pets." Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Miami Herald
6 days ago
- General
- Miami Herald
Adopted dog was ‘dumped over a fence.' Now he needs someone ‘who won't give up'
An adopted dog was 'dumped over a fence' — and now, he needs a fresh start. 'He deserves someone who won't give up on him,' a Florida animal shelter wrote Aug. 7 on Facebook. 'Someone to love him, protect him, and committed to him.' Baby Bear waits for a new home after traveling nearly 1,000 miles. His journey started after he was adopted from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Florida in 2022, Randa Richter, humane programs and public media director, told McClatchy News via email. Then recently, the Lakeland-based shelter received a call from West Virginia. A facility found Baby Bear and checked his microchip, which stores the contact information of pet owners. 'How he traveled to West Virginia, nobody knows; but what we do know is that he was dumped over a fence at a West Virginia Animal Control,' SPCA Florida wrote in a news release. 'Scared, nervous, and unsure, Baby Bear found himself in a foreign environment, with loud barking dogs, strangers, and different smells.' Shelter workers reached out to Baby Bear's family but didn't hear back. After the 10-year-old mixed breed dog was left behind, SPCA Florida said it didn't want someone to fail him again. 'We knew we had to act fast — because unlike SPCA Florida, that shelter didn't have a no-kill policy,' the animal organization wrote. 'Time was running out.' So, SPCA Florida arranged for a volunteer to fly Baby Bear back to its shelter in Lakeland, a roughly 35-mile drive east from Tampa. He showed off his 'sweet' and well-behaved nature as he got 'first-class service' on the flight, according to the Facebook post and an online adoption profile. 'He stepped off the plane, tail wagging, ears perked, and eyes full of trust,' the shelter wrote. 'He looked as if he finally knew he was home.' As of Aug. 13, the shelter's website still listed the rescued senior pup among the animals available for adoption. Details about the shelter's adoption process can be found at 'Come meet Baby Bear and be the reason his journey ends in joy,' the shelter wrote. 'After all he's been through… this sweet boy deserves nothing less than the best.'
