When Dean Hornberger and his girlfriend Samantha Eigenbrod saw a photo of a bear who had been struggling with an object stuck on his head for over a month, they decided to try to find and help the bear.

What might have been a straightforward rescue turned into an adventure when they caught up with the bear.

The young black bear had been roaming through Clarion County in western Pennsylvania with what looked like a bucket over his head. According to Krissy Elder, who snapped the photo that Dean and Samantha saw, the Pennsylvania Game Commission was contacted but they told her they could not do anything while the bear was healthy and “mobile.”

Dean, who is an animal rescue volunteer, enlisted help from a few of his friends to help him with the rescue, which took place on Labor Day in 2014. They searched for a few hours for the bear and were about to give up when they saw him on the side of the road.

Dean first tried to wrestle the object off the bear’s head, but it was stuck on too tight and the bear slipped out of his grasp and ran away. The rescuers gave chase and ended up in a giant mud hole. They soon discovered that the “bucket” was actually a rubber air bag normally used to cushion tractor trailers and was fastened tightly around the bear’s neck with a metal ring.

The video is pretty unbelievable and we do not suggest anyone attempting rescues like this—but it is nice to see a happy ending for the curious bear.

Watch what these gutsy men did to help free the bear in the video below and share the rescue with your friends!

VIDEO

Rescuers from Four Paws are celebrating what is their largest mission yet with the removal of 47 neglected animals from a war-torn zoo in Gaza.

The Rafah Zoo, which opened in 1999 in the southernmost part of Gaza, has since become known as the “Zoo of Sorrows” because of the tragic conditions animals there live in. Sadly for the zoo’s many residents, they’ve been kept in inappropriate enclosures, and have been lacking food and veterinary care, both of which have taken a serious toll on their psychological and physical health.

While the zoo has been on the radar for some time, it recently come under increasing fire after four lion cubs froze to death in January, and a young lioness later had her claws barbarically removed with garden shears so visitors could play with her. According to Four Paws, the zoo’s owner claimed to have amputated the leg of an injured fox with a circular saw himself, and announced more male lions would also be ruthlessly declawed so they could interact with visitors.

Tragically, many have died there as a result of conflict in the area and a lack of care.

Now, however, the suffering of the survivors has finally come to an end and they’re all starting new lives. Although the rescue mission was delayed due to escalating violence and border closures, 47 animals have been safely evacuated by rescuers.

“This mission was one of the most nerve wrecking for our team. After the team’s first attempt to rescue the animals was thwarted due to border closures and increased tensions in the region, we were all anxiously awaiting to see what would unfold during the second attempt. We are so thankful to our team and supporters,” said Robert Ware, Executive Director of Four Paws.


In all, five lions, a hyena, several monkeys, wolves, porcupines, foxes, cats, dogs, emus, ostriches and squirrels were taken on a 186-mile journey across the border to sanctuaries in Jordan, while two of the older lions are headed to LIONSROCK, Four Paws’ big cat sanctuary in South Africa.


“The last few weeks have been very intense for our team and have brought our team to its limits. To examine and load almost 50 animals in just a few days was a huge challenge, but to save lives and provide better futures, it is all worth it,” said Dr. Amir Khalil, Four Paws’ veterinarian and Head of Mission.


Hopefully these animals will all thrive in their new homes, and their story will help raise awareness about the plight of captive animals in the region.
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Zoologist Becky Cliffe is studying the cuddly critters for her PhD studies at Swansea University, having spent five years at the world-famous Sloth Sanctuary in Costa Rica.

 During her time there animal lover Becky, 25, compiled data on a number of poorly and orphaned animals suffering from limb deformities and albinism.

These are genetic problems she believes are caused by pesticides sprayed on fruit crops and loss of habitat which has resulted in inbreeding.

She said: 'Many people love sloths and find them very cute and cuddly but they don't know what problems they're facing.

'As consumers people want to help but don't realise the impact of buying products which have been sprayed with pesticides. 'It's only until you go out to the rainforests that you see the affect it's really having.'

Becky is now sifting through the data as a part of a long-term investigation into sloth genetics and habitat in a bid to protect future generations.


She said: 'It was so hard to leave the jungle - I plan on going back out there. My dream is to set up my own sloth conservation foundation.' A baby sloth called Onesie hangs on to the finger of a worker at the Costa Rican sanctuary as it takes a nap
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Just a few weeks ago, poor pit bull Kobe was stuck in a Maryland shelter. He was in bad shape having been terribly mistreated by his previous owners for years on end.

 But almost overnight, everything's changed for the better. And now Kobe has now been given a new home with his foster parents, Sean and Jade, he can't seem to stop smiling.

The couple from Maryland found him through Baltimore Bully Crew adoption and have showered the playful pitbull with nothing but plenty of love and affection. The pair have been giving him lots of delicious doggy treats and toys to show him that he never has to worry about being abused again.

It's clear that Kobe loves his new home very much and he appears to be grinning from ear to ear. ‘He gives that face whenever he sits down with you,’ Sean told Barkpost.

‘Since he has been getting used to receiving lots of love and food, it seems like he is smiling more often.’ In a few months, Kobe will be ready to go up for adoption and find a forever home.
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With a smile like that, it doesn't seem as though there'll be any shortage of potential owners.

Okay, we’ll admit it, it is incredibly difficult to look at a slow loris and not instantly break out in an “aww!” With their big eyes and fuzzy tails, it’s a natural response.

Unfortunately, that same reaction has led many to want to keep these animals as pets. But there is a huge difference between these wild animals and the fluffy dogs and cats we share our homes with.

Slow lorises are native to the jungles of Indonesia and while they might look sweet and adorable on the outside, they are venomous. Not only do they have fangs that are reinforced with venom but also sharp and strong claws. Both of these natural evolutionary traits make them a less than “ideal” pet, but that hasn’t stopped their rampant exploitation in the exotic animal trade.

Pasar, the slow loris in this video, was rescued from life as a pet by International Animal Rescue (IAR). Like other slow loris victims of this industry, his teeth were filed down and he was severely traumatized after being torn from his mother. IAR writes, “Throughout the video you can hear Pasar making a little chirping noise; this is the sound he would make to call out for his mother. It is heartbreaking to think of how stressful it must have been for him to be taken away from her when he was still so young.”


Thankfully, he has been given all the care he needs to recover and is slowly learning what it means to be a wild loris. Here, we see him learning to climb a tree! IAR hopes that with time he will become independent enough to return to the wild.
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These heart-warming snaps show the adorable bond built up between an abandoned baby fox and his very best friend - a bunny.

Bushy-tailed Puggle was found left behind by his family at just two weeks old in a north London back garden.

He was handed over to the National Fox Welfare Society.

Since then, the orphaned youngster has been nursed back to health - where he has made acquaintances with a very cuddly pal, an old bunny toy.

The pair are now never apart and spend hours on end snuggling up together and playing outdoors.

The fox society nurses cubs back to health if they are injured or abandoned, and Puggle was the first of the breeding season to come to them.

By the summer, he will be big and strong enough to venture back into the wild on his own.

The society will 'soft release' him with a group of other orphaned foxes.

A spokesperson said: 'Through soft release the cubs will, as is the case for natural wild fox cubs eventually disperse in search of a territory and a mate of their own. 'So everything is done to try to make the release program as natural as possible and to mirror what would be happening in the wild in the same period.'
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VIDEO

Puggle the fox cub
Posted by Kelly Kilfeather on Tuesday, March 15, 2016

An adorable Florida bear survived a brush fire this week. Lake County Fire Rescue wrote on Facebook Thursday that: 'A baby bear suffered slight burns to its paws and face during this afternoon's 250+ acre wildfire in the Royal Trails section of Lake County.

'Residents brought it out from the woods to the safety of LCFR firefighters. 'The FWC [Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission] has been called to evaluate the cub.'

The youngster is now known as 'Smokey Junior.' On Twitter, Lake County Fire Rescue said that '"Smokey Junior" is between 15-20 lbs.

'No sign of Mama Bear.'

Forest area supervisor Ray Lovett recalled to Click Orlando: 'He comes walking out of the woods whining, just down here at the end of the road.' Lovett told the TV station: 'His hair has been singed.

'He's got some minor burns, looks like, on the bottom of his feet, maybe his lips, but he's certainly survivable if cared for.'


On Friday, Lake County Fire Rescue said on Facebook: 'Per FWC: Smokey Junior was taken to a veterinarian yesterday and is under their care.

UPDATE! Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said it may have found the mother of this bear cub that was rescued from a 285-acre brush fire in Lake County. Here's more about the cub named 'Smokey Junior': http://at.wftv.com/1qwNc5K
Posted by WFTV Channel 9 on Thursday, April 7, 2016

A tiny stray puppy was walking disoriented on the side of a busy road in Romania. Luckily, a group of rescuers from Howl Of A Dog saw him.

 “We were afraid he might get scared and make a sudden move and run towards the cars,” wrote the group on Youtube. “So we waited until he felt comfortable with our presence and allowed us to approach him.” One hour later, the pup gave the rescuers a heartful “pawshake.”

They took the 6-month-old pup to the vet as he was all covered in fleas and ticks. He also had demodectic mange.

Treated with medication, special baths and lots of much needed love, the puppy, named Fram, soon got better. And the best part? Only a few days after the rescue group posted his story online, he found his well deserved forever home in the UK!

Fram is a fluffy bundle of joy, very smart, obedient, cuddly, playful and friendly with other dogs and also with cats. He is about 6 months old and weights now 10 kg (22 lbs) - as an adult he will be a medium/large sized dog.
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If it weren't for her bushy tail and distinctly fox-colored fur, Vixey could pass for a dog.

Footage of Vixey, a fox rescued from the fur trade in the Czech Republic, shows that sometimes foxes are closer to their dog cousins than we may think.

In a matter of seconds, she runs in the room, climbs on top of the bunk bed and ducks out, all without pausing for an instant. Once she gets settled in bed, she plays hide-and-go-seek … by herself.Of course, all that playing can make a fox tired. But before long, she's back at it again, entertaining herself with other dog-like activities such as solo-fetch ...

… plus some very fox-like behavior as well such as nose-diving into the ground.

As a fox living with humans, Vixey's caught between two worlds — part tame, part wild. While nature is certainly the best place for a wild animal, Vixey's never known what that's like. She was born into a factory that breeds foxes for the fashion industry, from which she was eventually rescued.
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Happy Rescued Fox Loves to Play!
Meet Vixey the fox! Vixey is a sweet Czech fox that was rescued from a fur farm. She looks so happy now! <3What an adorable ball of energy! :DSee more of Vixey at her personal website Vixey.cz.
Posted by HypeDojo on Monday, March 28, 2016

Early this morning a call came into the California Highway Patrol of a little dog stuck on the Bay Bridge.

The Chihuahua was running along the westbound lanes of traffic, and people were concerned the dog would be hurt.

A CHP officer followed behind the dog, until they got to a point the officer could safely dismount his motorcycle safely, and grabbed the dog.

No one was injured in the process, and traffic on the bridge didn’t suffer too much of a traffic jam. The CHP posted a video of the rescue on their Facebook and Twitter pages.

Now law enforcement officials are working to get this poor dog back home. They are asking anyone that recognizes the dog call them at 415-554-6364 to reach San Francisco County Animal Care. The dog will be kept safe and sound there until the family is located.
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This poor little fawn was found in a pool “on its last breath” but was saved just in time.

Watch the moments after the rescue, where the fawn is in terrible condition — shaking, dripping wet, and apparently scared out of its mind. The fawn allows human help and touch, but then appears to look for its mother.

After spotting each other from afar and a bit of hesitation, the fawn is at long last reunited with its mother by the end of the video, and the whole journey from rescue to reunion will give you goosebumps all over! It appears the mother would not leave the area until she had her baby back!

Fawn, so sweet and pure, are natural wonders of the forest. With their quiet and elusive nature, deer tend to be very protective of their young, but in order to survive, they may have to leave their fawn by themselves for a few hours to go in search of food. Fawn depend on their mothers to grow and thrive in their natural habitats.

A fawn is born weighing in at about five pounds and will boast a beautiful red coat. This shade helps it blend in with its natural habitat -- the forest. White spots accompany the red coat of fur. The white spots will slowly start to fade away as the fawn reaches five months of age and begins to go through his first "molt," which is when he develops his winter coat.