An obese Asiatic black bear named Dillan was recently rescued after spending decades of neglect and abuse in a tiny enclosure.
The small concrete bunker was Dillan’s home at the Union County Sportsman’s Club in Pennsylvania. During his extended stay, Dillan was constantly subjected to the sounds of gunfire from the firing range barely 200 feet from his cell. He had been declawed and was found with swollen, infected gums. His cage was filthy and he lacked access to adequate water.
Experts estimate that Dillan was hundreds of pounds overweight at the time of his rescue. Between his weight and other ailments, Dillan’s health was seriously at risk. He likely would have died in his enclosure if photos of his condition hadn’t gone viral through social media.
Due to his lack of claws and years in isolation, it’s impossible for Dillan to ever be released into the wild again.
Luckily, word of Dillan’s condition spread and he was removed from the club. He now lives with proper care in a 10-acre habitat at the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado. He’s surrounded by other bears and has access to the water and diet he so desperately needed.
Watch the full news video below to learn more about Dillan’s heartwarming rescue.