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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.
Board of Directors 2010-2011
Read about the people who help bring you this web site (in alphabetical order by last name), and the passions that brought them here.
Azar Attura (Treasurer)
Azar Attura grew up in the Bronx New York, and from an early age, she was made aware of injustices to companion animals, and sadly, one of those bad examples was a parent. As a result, she developed a strong sense of justice and mercy towards animals, and has been active for animals ever since. In the mid-1990s Azar threw herself full speed into the burgeoning Animal Rights, TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return programs for feral cats), and Animal Welfare movements. She emphasizes her work to support TNR and feral cats. Every day brings something new her way, and Azar is proud to be counted among the ever-growing population of animal advocates.
Azar created a website which features animal welfare information and her "Sermon For The Animals." Please visit bronxace.homestead.com.
Azar also created a Yahoo Group, "The Multilingual Pet Care Library," which has animal welfare and animal care information (as well as TNR manuals) in many different languages. Please request membership at http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Multilingual_Pet_Care/
She writes, "Even now, there is still SO much to be done! Perhaps one day through all the efforts of the animal welfare movement, horrors such as cat and dog markets, puppy mills, and animals used in research will become things of the past, and all living beings can breathe free, knowing that they are surrounded by the love and protection of responsible human beings."
Gerald (Jerry) Dunham
Engineer, high-tech product development manager, project manager, IT manager, health insurance agent.
Active in companion animal rescue for a decade, primarily with Great Danes and hounds, but also Malamutes, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Lacys and other medium- to-large breeds. Founder of a coalition of scenthound rescuers covering the state of Texas and southern Oklahoma. Moderator of a nationwide American Foxhound rescue e-mail group. Board member of the Alamo Great Dane Club and member of the Heart of Texas Great Dane Club. Former Board member for Etosha Rescue and Adoption Center.
Jerry and his wife, Linda, have trained Great Danes and scenthounds for AKC Obedience competition and APDT Rally-O competition. Two of their rescue Great Danes have been nationally ranked in AKC Obedience, one winning the top placement (called High in Trial) at the 2003 Great Dane National Specialty in Orlando with Linda handling. Linda has also been a substitute trainer for Austin Canine Central.
Jerry and Linda live with 4 cats and 4 dogs (2 Great Danes and 2 coonhounds) in southern Williamson County, Texas.
Lisa Hoefinger
I moved to Atlanta, GA eleven years ago from Albany, NY. I have a B.S. degree in Criminal Justice from The State University of New York at Albany.
I had a childhood dog growing up, and her name was Nugget. Shortly after getting married, my husband, Horst, and I adopted a dog that would change our lives. We named him Bo and from the moment we brought him home from the shelter he took over our lives. Growing up I always loved dogs yet it was Bo that took it to the next level. Since we don't have kids, Bo taught us what it was like to care for and love an animal who is totally dependent upon you. In 2006 Horst wrote a book through Bo's eyes for me as a Christmas gift about our adventures together over the last fourteen years. It was so cute and funny that I found Bo an agent. In July of 2008 he put paw to paper with Kensington Books and his book "BAD TO THE BONE: Memoir Of A Rebel Doggie Blogger" was published in late 2009.
It was because of Bo's book that we started a website, "Bo Knows: He Just Doesn't Listen," to introduce him to the world. Writing this blog eventually led us to becoming the bloggers of Dogster.com 'For The Love Of Dog' blog. We took over this blog when (the wonderful) Joy Ward decided to step down to pursue her writing career. Our work on the Dogster blog (now ended) introduced us to the world of dog rescue and animal advocacy.
Although we have adopted more rescued dogs after getting Bo, we never realized everything that goes on behind the scenes, sometimes just to save one dog. There are many people out there working to help rescues, to end animal cruelty, to strengthen or develop laws to protect dogs. I hope to become more involved in some of the local animal welfare groups as well as helping out in dog transport.
I live with Horst and our three dogs plus one kitty. The Hoefinger household is full.
Christine "Christy" Morrison (Vice-Chair)
My professional experience encompasses years of planning meetings and special events. My passion and volunteerism centers on non-profit work raising funds for animal related issues and cancer research.
Living alone in Texas, I felt I needed a companion animal and adopted a Yorkshire Terrier which opened the floodgates of my involvement with animals. Next came a tri-color Border Collie followed by the purebred Golden Retriever. I began a business, "Christy's Canine Camp," caring for dogs whenever work called for their owners to travel. I had a well-established clientele and enjoyed taking care of dogs.
After relocating to NY, tragedy struck twice; I lost my Yorkie followed by my Border Collie. As company for my Golden, I adopted a shelter puppy who, after moving to Massachusetts, succumbed to canine leukemia at the age of 2. His death prompted the adoption of a Schnoodle from a Connecticut shelter. Her intense fear and submission issues have forced me to research and develop a better understanding of canine behavior. After moving to GA, I took home a young Shih-tzu with severe fear-aggression.
My current animal related involvement includes PR Director for Daffy's Pet Soup Kitchen, a wonderful pet food bank, pet therapy visits with my 7 year old Golden Retriever for Happy Tails pet therapy group, fostering for Adopt A Golden Atlanta and serving on the board of Sunbear Squad. I am married with three 4-legged children.
Anna Nirva (Chair)
Founder of the non-profit organization, Anna came to animal welfare work in the last decade but was passionate about animals throughout her earlier years. Professionally working in graphic design, copywriting, and web site design prepared her for development of the web site. She has a technical communications education. She has also been regionally active in community service organizations, history, nature, and the arts. Currently she serves as a board member for the county humane society and has been an active volunteer inside and outside of the shelter since 2003. She also campaigned against puppy mills in Wisconsin in 2009.
When the Humane Society of the United States published articles about Sunbear's ordeal and his owner's sentencing, Anna resolved to publish a web site in Sunbear's memory that would encourage people everywhere to help companion animals in distress, because he did not get help.
Anna's and her husband Terry's family includes a senior Great Dane girl, an adopted Treeing Walker Coonhound boy, a girl cat who thinks she is a dog, a prima donna cat who is sure the other cat is a dog but likes her anyway, some Zebra finches, and a Percheron-Morgan horse, mostly rescues, and they live in southwestern Wisconsin.
Patrick Sedivy
To come
Jill Sicheneder (Secretary)
Born in Minneapolis, MN in 1949 and graduated for the University of MN-Morris in 1971 with a BA in sociology. Married with two children and two rescue dogs. Live in Wyoming, MN and have been a rural mail carrier since 1986 (full-time since 1994).
My lifetime companion animal related activities/experiences began late in my life. From 2000-2001 with Northwoods Humane Society (Forest Lake, MN) helping with adoption days. From 2001-2007 with St. Francis Animal Rescue (Forest Lake) helping at adoption days, transporting, fundraising, doing foster care. From 2004-present with CARES (Wyoming, MN) helping at adoption days, events, dog training, fundraising, dog walking, and doing foster care.
We have adopted two of our foster dogs, one of which was a puppy mill breeder dog. One of our current dogs has many allergy problems and she eats special food, has weekly baths, and is well-known at the vet!
My participation in the various activities of the humane society/rescue groups has opened my eyes, mind, and heart to the state and plight of companion animals in the world today. We must educate the public on all aspects of animal welfare from spaying and neutering, training, proper nutrition to puppy mills.
Joy Ward
To come
© 2005-2010 The Sunbear Squad; All rights reserved. |
"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.