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About Sunbear Squad, Inc.

Transforming Animal Lovers into
Animal Welfare Defenders

This site offers all-original knowledge, tools, and inspiration to help individuals prepare to report signs of animal abuse, animal neglect, accidents, and distress promptly. In other words, "Be a Better Good Samaritan for Pets."

We want to prepare individuals to always call authorities when animal abuse, neglect, or distress threatens an animal. We want to make it easier and safer, so everyone will be more confident about doing the right thing. We help everyone be a "Good Samaritan" for pets and animals by reporting animal abuse, neglect, and distress. Here's how:

• Be aware of the many critical risks to pets that are all around us
• Carry a wallet card with important rescue phone numbers
• Keep a Roadside Rescue Kit in your trunk, so you are ready for action
• Every month, walk and drive around your neighborhood checking on pets, with support from our Sunbear Squad Neighborhood Watch for Pets program
• Learn about the signs of animal abuse and neglect with this tutorial

Our watchwords are: Watch, Listen, Call. We encourage everyone to always WATCH and LISTEN for evidence of animals in distress, and CALL the authorities immediately for expert assistance. Let the professionals decide if there is a problem, if there is a doubt.

We are an all-volunteer, non-profit humane awareness organization with 501(c)3 status. Your donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law. Server space is donated by No Bare Feet.

Our organization formed because of the Sunbear tragedy in 2002.

Sunbear was an 18-month-old chocolate Labrador Retriever who was left in a West Virginia townhome laundry room for 6 weeks without food, water or any care whatever until he was discovered just barely alive. He died 3 days later after intensive veterinary care failed to relieve the damage done by severe dehydration and starvation. Animal control officer Gene Fields tracked the owner across the midwest for many months, had him extradited from Indiana, and helped prepare the court case that resulted in his conviction. Over 400 people from around the world wrote letters to the judge urging conviction. The West Virginia legislature has enacted stronger animal cruelty laws and penalties because of Sunbear's ordeal and the groundswell of public opinion that surrounded the case.

"What we once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes a part of us."

Helen Keller

Visit our all-original "Bill of Rights for Pets" page. You'll never look at animals quite the same way again.

Read Sunbear's haunting story. Remember, Sunbear died in August of 2002. Take a deep breath and let the anguish pass. Then, resolve that you will never, ever, let this happen as long as you have the power to make a difference.