In October 2022, Susie and Sallie found their long-awaited freedom when they were rescued from the Tri-State Zoological Park in Maryland. This facility had been a defunct roadside zoo that had faced
multiple animal welfare violations over the years, ultimately leading to its closure.
The path to this rescue was a lengthy and challenging one. PETA had filed lawsuits against the park in 2019 and then again in 2020, and it took an additional two years to set the rescue plan into motion. The relief was palpable when our team had the opportunity to help facilitate the rescue of 12 animals from the property. Prior to their rescue, Susie and Sallie endured years in a small and unsanitary enclosure with no access to fresh water and fed a diet of donuts and junk food. The conditions led to them becoming grossly overweight, causing them great discomfort. Furthermore, both bears suffered from the loss of most of their teeth due to a substandard diet and a lack of proper veterinary care over their lifetime.
Since their rescue, our dedicated team has been diligently working to provide Susie and Sallie with the care they deserve. This includes a healthy diet, plenty of enrichment activities to stimulate their minds and bodies, and tailored veterinary care to make their lives as comfortable as possible, offering these
bears a much-needed chance at a brighter and more fulfilling future.
