Bluebelle and I will be leading the third Annual Wimbledon Common ‘Dog Walk for Freedom’ at 11.45 am on 2 September 2006. 

All proceeds from the walk go direct to the Animals Asia Foundation Moon Bear Rescue to free and care for more suffering and endangered Moon Bears.

I was horrified when I found out about these poor bears condemned to a life of suffering in tiny 'coffin' cages on factory bile farms in China and Vietnam. Here, they are milked for their bile through holes crudely cut into their gallbladders. The pain is unimaginable.

Bear bile, which is used in some traditional Chinese medicine as well as shampoo, soap and wine, is completely replaceable with equally effacious and cheaper synthetic and herbal alternatives.

An estimated 7000 bears are imprisoned on farms across China; they will live and die in their cages, without seeing the sun or touching a blade of grass.

The bears suffer terrible injuries; have missing limbs from traps and their teeth and claws brutally removed. Others have deep head wounds from repetitively banging their heads against the cage bars. Some will live in these conditions for up to 25 years before dying in agony from tumours and infections caused by the bile extraction process.

Please sponsor Bluebelle and help rescue more bears from this terrible life and a chance to live without pain and fear, free to frolic in water or roam through woodlands and play in the sun.

Thank you from Paul and Bluebelle

PS Animals Asia Foundation will receive your money faster by donating through this site and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.