Masha, an 11 year old bear retired from a life in a traveling circus based in Moscow, Russia, is now being used in a camp as "bear bait" for training dogs to hunt bear in the wild. Bears at these camps are often kept on a short chain and are defenseless because they have had their teeth and claws removed so they do not hurt the dogs.

These camps, (or parks), in Russia are called "Pritravochnye stations" -there are about ten parks trainings dogs in Moscow region and Masha is at one called TTS Fryazevo. There are hundreds of these parks throughout Russia operating legally, because there are no laws prohibiting them from operating.



Pritravochnye stations train hunting dogs to hunt bear, fox, racoons, badgers, and other animals. The hunted animal is savagely mauled to death by the teeth of trained hunting dogs. This barbaric cruelty results in a slow and painful death, with immeasurable suffering as terrified animals having their flesh torn at and ripped apart by trained hunting dogs.

Video (Warning- Graphic)- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yK8BnJf9A3c

We ask for the confiscation and rescue of Masha, the 11 year old bear from this barbarically cruel Pritravochnye station and that directors of such operations be charged with animal cruelty.

Russian Presidential Executive Office

Vladimir Putin

23, Ilyinka Street,

Moscow, 103132, Russia

Contact: http://eng.letters.kremlin.ru/