Meet the Bears: Dawn – From Helplessness to Happiness
All proceeds after manufacturing costs go directly to the Animals Asia Foundation.
For more than 20 years, Dawn knew only suffering. Confined to a dark, rusty cage on a bear bile farm, her body was exploited and her spirit crushed. When Animals Asia’s rescue team arrived in 2023, she barely moved—swaying her head in endless repetition, a heartbreaking symptom of trauma known as “learned helplessness.” Dawn had almost given up on life.
The Deepest Scars
Her first health check revealed the toll of decades of abuse: shattered teeth from chewing the bars, an inflamed gall bladder from repeated bile extraction, arthritis, a misshapen spine, and dangerously high blood pressure. Yet it was her emotional wounds that cut deepest. Bear carer Sarah van Herpt described her as “one of the most broken bears” she had ever seen.
But Animals Asia refused to give up. With gentle voices, soothing music, tailored enrichment, and even antidepressant treatment, Dawn’s carers worked tirelessly to reach her.
The First Spark of Joy
Slowly, tiny changes began to show—an ear twitch at a familiar voice, the stretch of a paw, the faint return of presence. Then, after moving into her den with hammocks, toys, and her very own pool, a miracle happened: Dawn splashed, played, and smiled for the very first time. For a bear who once seemed lost, that moment marked the beginning of a new life.
Reunited and Restored
Soon, Dawn was introduced to two other survivors from her farm, Dotti and Twilight. To everyone’s surprise, it was Dawn—not the others—who initiated play. She leapt, wrestled, and zoomed around the den with sheer delight, as if their companionship had unlocked her soul.
Then came another milestone: stepping outside. With cautious bravery, Dawn touched natural ground for the first time in over two decades. Nose lifted to the breeze, she blinked in the sunlight and began exploring the world she had been denied for so long.
A Symbol of Healing
At the end of 2024, something magical happened—her crescent moon chest marking began to grow back. Unique to every Asiatic black bear, it was more than fur returning. It was a symbol of healing, resilience, and rebirth. Dawn was no longer broken—she was whole again.
More Than a Survivor
Today, Dawn thrives in sanctuary life. She forages, plays in her pool, and rests peacefully alongside her friends. Her transformation has inspired tens of thousands around the world, reminding us of the power of love, patience, and compassion.
By purchasing Meet the Bears: Dawn, you’re helping to fund rescues just like hers and support Animals Asia’s mission to end bear bile farming forever. All proceeds go directly to the foundation, creating a kinder world one bear at a time.
✨ Dawn’s journey shows us that even in the darkest places, hope can be reborn. With your support, more bears like Dawn can find their way from helplessness to happiness.
Meet the perfect gift for any holiday, birthday, or special occasion, the teddy bear with its own t-shirt. Available in an adorable size of 7″ by 10″, the teddy bear comes with a cute bow, super soft synthetic fur, and 100% polyester fiber filling for maximum huggability. All your designs, names, and photos go on the t-shirt in pristine detail and vivid colors.
.: Material: 100% polyester
.: One size: 7″ x 10″ (17.8 x 25.4 cm)
.: Comes with a black bow tie
.: Sewn in label
.: Handwash only (the shirt)
