Alcoholic bear cured of vodka habit

Komsomolskaya Pravda, via Ananova ^ | 10/29/2001

[dighton]

An alcoholic Russian bear has kicked the habit after a millionaire animal lover paid for him to be treated at a drying out clinic.

Potapych became famous in Moscow for his binges after developing a taste for sharing his keeper's daily bottle of vodka.

At a new home, the bear was weaned off liquor, through a steady reduction of vodka mixed with his food.

According to the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper, it is a fairytale ending to the bad start the bear made in life.

He was bought as a cub by a Russian businessman who kept him in a park alongside his Moscow villa.

After the businessman was jailed, Potapych was ignored by everyone except his keeper, known as 'Uncle Misha'.

With little to do, Uncle Misha increasingly turned to the bottle to pass the time, and shared it with Potapych by pouring it on his food. Later the bear helped itself to the vodka, and the pair would often be seen staggering around the estate.

Many visitors who travelled to the park made the matter worse by bringing vodka as gifts for the two.

The bear's binges only ended when the wealthy head of the animal department of a Russian film company learned of Potapych and paid to finally dry him out.

Film company spokesman Tatyana Yarkina said: "The separation was heartrending for them both, but Potapych is far happier now. Now Potapych drinks milk."

Copyright © 2001 Ananova Ltd

[SamAdams76]

I never understood the appeal with vodka. Basically its a tasteless and colorless liquid. What's the point? Give me beer and wine that I can taste and smell and that fills me up so I don't drink too much for my own good.

[Silly]

"Hello. My name is Potapych and I'm an alcoholic."

Shouldn't that be, "Potapych The B."?

[riley1992]

Come and step into my time machine!

Okay, but I think I had better warn you. Depending on where we go back to, I was a wee bit on the wild side. LOL

[dighton]

Secret History promo 'n' ping.

[aculeus]

Many thanks.

New chapter on other species now in the works.

[aculeus]

I never understood the appeal with vodka. Basically its a tasteless and colorless liquid. What's the point?

It does seem to be the favorite of most active alcoholics. Don Imus, now recovered, says he kept his in the freezer.

(I'm a wine guy myself.)

[nunya bidness]

[riley1992]

LOL. That's sort of a new spin on what a bear does in the woods.

[RichInOC]

Bummer...I would have liked to see him do some vodka commercials in the style of the Coca-Cola "polar bear" spots:

POTAPYCH: [tips the bottle up to his lips for a healthy shot, brings it back down and sighs contentedly...] MMMMhhhhhhhhhh....
ANNCR: Stoli for New Years? You betcha.

[dennisw]

How horrible. Am glad bearski is doing so much better now. Vodka is a terrible thing to waste!

[CommiesOut]

Horror.
Let's hope furry dude didn't switch to pretzels.

[mrustow]

Am I the only one to see the tragedy in the break-up of Potapych and Misha? They say drinking alone sucks. Just try being sober alone!

[Erasmus]

In a followup, the bear has completed a 12 step program and accepted Christ as his redeemer and holds a steady job at the local KFC making cole slaw where he bemaons the availability of moderate paying jobs. "Theres really no place for an ex vodkahund like me to get good job training" He emphatically stated, "capitalism sucks and so does perrier"

After his conversion, that's just the cross he'll have to bear.

[AnAmericanMother]

His English cousin . . .

I'm sure homebrewed ale is better for you than vodka (or gin). Hogarth certainly thought so.

[mrfixit514]

Back in the 80's, the game warden found a bear who had overdosed on cocaine. A package had fallen out of a plane that was carrying the drugs. The bear was found laying next to the package which had been ripped open. He had white powder all over his face. It was reported by the local newspaper in Blue Ridge GA and I have seen several t-shirts commemorating the event.