Who Would've Thought that a Bear Could Be a Loving Pet?

[Carmen Elsa Irarragorri Wyland]

While dogs and cats make ideal domesticated pets, could a bear be just as loving? The idea may be hard to grasp, but Russian couple Svetlana and Yuriy Panteleenko have their very own pet bear, named Stephan. This domesticated bear was just a 3-month old orphaned cub when he was found in a forest all alone and in very bad condition. Fast forward to 23 years later, and Stephan has grown into a human-loving bear who helps around the house by watering plants. He also enjoys watching TV with his human family. Take a look at his story:

Stephan was adopted by Svetlana and Yuriy at just 3 months old. 

Weak and all alone, the couple nurtured him back to health. 

Stephan is an incredibly sociable bear and loves spending time with people. 

Contrary to popular belief, Stephan is not aggressive at all.

In fact, both Svetlana and Yuriy claim that they have never been bitten by Stephan. 

 

Now at 23, Stephan does many things with his time.

Mostly, he keeps himself busy with acting in films and posing in photo shoots. 

Fish, vegetables and eggs form a big part of Stephan's diet - he consumes them daily. 

And every now and then, he enjoys a cup of tea. 

Another one of his hobbies? Gardening.

However, what he truly loves is cuddling up to humans on the couch, while watching TV.

He loves to stay in shape and plays football with his family.

Watch what life with a cuddly pet bear is like:

[Minque Paw]

Carmen, this is AWESOME! Loved it!

[SunKat]

Thank you for sharing this!  I am am an animal lover and activist so I rather enjoyed this.  I had seen a documentary on bears years ago and it tainted my opinion of bears and I started to view them as killers.  It was the documentary with Timothy Treadwell called Grizzly Man.  However this story makes me feel guilty and I am starting to see them in a new light.  All animals are wonderful as long as you remember they are wild and will act as such when provoked.

[Carmen Elsa Irarragorri Wyland]

I am glad you loved it Minque and I am even happier for you, SunKat, if it changed your opinion about bears, I have only seen them from afar, at Yellowstone Park in Wyoming, however, my Totem Animal is the Bear and when I was taking Shamanic classes, a big huge black bear appeared to me and he told me he was a healer like I was and he could help me with that.

I am not a professional healer, but I have been an instrument for healing many people, though, people and situations, both.

And yes, I think of him and I am able to do the right thing!

But I also invoke Archangel Raphael, whom I have seen in many occasions, so I use whatever I can avail myself of!

What matters is the end result, right?

Animals respond to us, according to a different instinct that they have, if we are in fear, they know it, and as I understand it, at least dogs, because that is their best sense, they smell it and that smell causes them to become aggressive.

Other animals may use another sense, but they all know!

Saint Francis of Assisi could communicate with all of them, what a gift!