Help 1,000 Rescued Lions, Tigers, Bears & Horses

Behind the picturesque coastline of Bandon, Oregon, the West Coast Game Park Safari once promised families a fun-filled day with exotic animals. But inside its gates, something far more troubling had been unfolding for years.

Thanks to tips from concerned visitors and a growing trail of Animal Welfare Act violations, federal inspectors began piecing together a case that would lead to one of the largest animal seizures in recent U.S. history.

The situation prompted a multi-agency raid on the facility in May 2025—and what the Oregon State Police found was staggering.

The park’s conditions were worse than anyone had imagined: overcrowded pens, garbage-strewn enclosures, emaciated animals, and the unmistakable signs of long-term neglect. But the cruelty wasn’t the only crime uncovered. Authorities discovered a full-scale methamphetamine operation hidden behind the scenes, along with 44 firearms and nearly $2 million in cash. It quickly became a high-profile case involving both state and federal forces.

A total of 310 animals were rescued— of which three were sadly beyond saving. The operation involved numerous Animal Welfare Organizations and Sanctuaries, each specializing in different types of animals. Our Sanctuary was the top of the list for two Syrian Brown Bears named Betty and Buster. Betty, the smaller of the two, coped with her trauma by compulsively licking her paws and gazing skyward for hours in what can only be described as disassociation. Buster, her companion, suffered from painful arthritis and the kind of relentless pacing that comes from years of stress and captivity—the well-worn path in the pen a silent scream for help.

Betty and Buster's visible distress made their rescue a critical priority for the entire mission. The chaos of the raid could easily startle the traumatized bears, and lead to a potentially dangerous situation for themselves and others. When our veteran rescue team arrived, they found the bears confined in a small enclosure with a murky, stagnant pool. This was immediately determined to be a serious hazard if a tranquilized bear were to stumble into the water. With no drainage system in place, the team had to improvise with a gas-powered pump and hoses from a nearby hardware store. They drained the pool to a safer depth, then crafted a temporary cover of bamboo branches to prevent a possible drowning incident.

Betty was the first to be sedated, inside her feeding lockout area—a small but critical advantage in ensuring her safety. As she was removed from the enclosure, Buster began pawing anxiously at the ground, sensing her absence. Tranquilizing Buster proved  to be more difficult. As soon as the dart struck, he began circling frantically—each pass bringing him dangerously close to the still-draining pool. Our team used bamboo poles to create loud tapping sounds against the concrete, gently guiding him away from the edge. Thankfully, the scheme worked and Buster was able to collapse in a safe spot.

After a quick veterinary assessment and the administration of a reversal drug, both bears were loaded into our climate-controlled rescue trailer. Their long road to freedom had begun.

Back at our Sanctuary in Colorado, Betty and Buster entered quarantine, where they began receiving the medical attention they so desperately needed. Flea treatments, joint care, nutritious food, and above all—gentle, consistent care. Slowly but surely, they began to heal.

Just weeks later, they were moved introduced into a more natural wide-open space. Having spent their lives on concrete, the sight of trees, rolling hills, and cool pools of water was almost overwhelming. Betty, still shy and anxious, gradually stopped her paw-licking. Her eyes, once vacant, now followed birds through the trees. Buster’s pacing gave way to curiosity—and even joy. He discovered the simple pleasure of rolling in fresh grass, over and over again.

Today, Betty and Buster are finally starting a life filled with the freedom, dignity, and peace that should have always belonged to them.

We share their story not only as an update, but as a heartfelt thank you. Your donations made this possible. Your compassion gave Betty and Buster the bears a chance at a new life, far removed from those who had exploited and mistreated them for sinister purposes.

But we still need your help. The rescue, transport, medical care, and long-term rehabilitation of animals like these are only possible with your continued support. With countless animals still hiding in the darkest corners of human society, your partnership is critical in our work to bring them to their forever homes here in Colorado.

Please consider renewing your support today so we can continue rescuing animals from lives of cruelty—and give them the peace they deserve.

Read more about the Syrian Brown Bears rescued from an Oregon Safari Park in our most recent newsletter found here: Newsletter Summer 2025.