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| New Zealand embraces Assisi |
| Auckland SPCA loves, then loses, their gentle giant Assisi. |
A huge thank you to the Auckland SPCA and everyone who contributed to the campaign to rescue a bear in honour of St Francis of Assisi - the Patron Saint of Animals. Sadly, this gentle giant passed away on 17 December - a shock to everyone, especially his determined and loving Kiwi sponsors who had really grown to love this bear in the 10 months since his rescue.
Assisi was one of the lucky bears rescued in February 2009 and, once he was given the all-clear from our veterinary team, SPCA supporter Liane Donovan and her brother Michael were flown to Chengdu to present Jill with a cheque totalling NZ$23,650.
Even standing up in those early days after arrival must have been torture for this bear, as two of his claws had grown around into a circle, painfully puncturing his pads. The stench from this injured rotting flesh was nauseating, and the years of incessant, throbbing pain must have been hard for him to endure.
The SPCA is now turning its efforts to raising funds to build a bear kitchen in memory of Assisi to replace the one damaged in the Chengdu earthquake.
RIP Assisi.
To read more about this beautiful bear whose time with us was all too brief, please click here.
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| With pads punctured by nails long overgrown, Assisi was in great pain. |
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| After months in rehabilitation, Assisi now enjoys having space to call his own. |
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