ANIMAL, STUFFED

Description: A STUFFED BEAR WITHIN A SEALED, CLEAR PLASTIC BAG. THE BEAR HAS LIGHT BROWN FUR, AND DARK BROWN LEATHER PADS ON HIS PAWS. UPPER RIGHT HAND PAW HAS THE WORD "ZEDDY" EMBROIDERED IN WHITE ON ONE OF THE PADS. THERE IS A BROWN SCARF AROUND THE NECK OF THE BEAR; SCARF HAS WOOL TASSELS ON ENDS. ATTACHED TO SCARF IS A ROUND BUTTON. THE BUTTON IS WHITE WITH RED PRINT; IT READS "HUG-A-BEAR LETHBRIDGE CITY POLICE AND TELEPHONE PIONEERS", AROUND THE PERIMETER. IN THE CENTRE IS THE IMAGE OF A BEAR WEARING A POLICE HAT. THERE IS A NOTE STAPLED TO BAG THAT READS "FROM THE DESK OF CHIEF E.T. WAUTERS" "FOR POLICE DISPLAY CASE NEW BUILDING 1ST CARE BEAR".

History: BEARS WERE BOUGHT AND DISTRIBUTED TO CHILDREN WHO HAD UNDERGONE SOME TRAUMATIC OR EMERGENCY EXPERIENCE. THE HUG-A-BEAR PROGRAM WAS STARTED BY THE LETHBRIDGE CITY POLICE ON JANUARY 19TH, 1990. THE CRITERIA FOR THE POLICE TO GIVE A CHILD A BEAR ARE: " A CHILD BETWEEN THE AGES OF 2-10 YEARS INVOLVED IN: 1)DOMESTIC CIRCUMSTANCES 2)LOST/FOUND CHILDREN 3) MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS 4) HOUSE FIRES 5) ANY OTHER SITUATIONS WHERE A CHILD HAS BECOME TRAUMATIZED TO THE EXTENT THAT THE INVESTIGATING OFFICER FEELS THAT A CHILD WOULD BENEFIT BY HAVING A BEAR, CHILDREN INVOLVED IN A SEXUAL ASSAULT WILL NOT BE GIVEN A TEDDY BEAR."