JACKSON COUNTY, Ohio (WSAZ) -- It's hard to grin and "bear" it when somebody steals a beloved pet.

But when that pet is a half-grown bear, you wonder what the thieves were thinking. About a month ago, we told you the story of Sally the stolen bear. Fortunately, there is a happy ending to her story.

Paul Rupe has raised Sally from a cub on his Jackson County farm.
All was well until early November when Jackson County Sheriff John Shasteen said a pair of thieves stole the 140-pound pet black bear.

"We didn't know who took her or what their intentions were," Rupe said.

Deputies tracked down a van seen near Rupe's home the night of the heist; it was full of bear-stealing equipment. Further investigation found the thieves sold Sally to some ladies who took her to a Columbus veterinarian.

The animal care facility in Columbus was getting ready to ship Sally to Texas when detectives and the DNR found the bear was the stolen pet in question.

"With some luck we found the bear and got it back to its owner," Shasteen said.

Shasteen said he has two suspects and needs to gather more evidence to assure arrests and convictions on felony theft charges.
Rupe said he's just happy to have Sally back home where she'll stay forever.

As a mature adult, Sally is expected to get to be about 350 pounds and 6-feet tall when standing on her hind legs. Rupe said as longs as Sally doesn't get too ornery, she'll stay.

"We'll see what happens," he said.