Owners rescue giant teddy bear from trash heap after photos go viral

Jan 22: A giant-sized teddy bear has been rescued by its owners after sad photos of it lying discarded next to a Chicago dumpster went viral online.

The big teddy bear became a viral celebrity earlier this week when it was photographed atop a pile of refuse next to a dumpster in a Wicker Park alley, and the photos eventually reached Jonathan Reno, who had given the bear to DJ George Rizzio last February.

Reno said the bear had been the unofficial mascot of the Trap House weekly DJ dance party, but it was apparently thrown out by an employee at the Crocodile Lounge, where the party had been based until its recent move to Sound Bar in River North.

“We wondered [about the bear] but when we left [Crocodile] for another venue, the owner [of Crocodile] wasn’t happy about it and I think that’s why he tossed it,” Rizzio told DNAInfo.

Reno had a friend retrieve the bear — named Rupert — just before trash collection day

Rizzio said he took the bear to Greenspin Cleaners to be dry-cleaned. He said the $175 cleaning will have Rupert ready for the Trap House party next Tuesday.

“The bear — aka Rupert — has been rescued and is now safe at the dry cleaners! It was a sad day seeing him out on the streets,” Reno said Wednesday.Upi.com