10/05/2025
Yesterday was an interesting day, to say the least. I had been feeling under the weather for a couple of days. I was sitting outside enjoying the fresh air with the dogs as Kellie began water changes for the boys. Suddenly, one of our dogs darts past me into the boy's run chasing after a squirrel. I immediately jumped and ran toward them trying to keep the dogs from getting the poor squirrel. A mele ensued as the squirrel kept fighting to get away from the dogs and me trying to keep the dogs from the squirrel. Each of the dogs had a turn at the squirrel as I'm tackling our big girl Frankie, just trying to give it a chance to get away. I see her laying beside me, not in any of their grasps, so I grabbed her, instinctively knowing I was likely going to get bit as a protective reflex. And sure enough, the little girl clamped down on my finger for what seemed like an excruciating amount of time.
Kellie in the meantime, at the other end of the yard (as usual, see Lilith returning home), hears the commotion and my pleas for help to get this poor squirrel to kindly release my innocent finger. With every motion she made to help, the squirrel clenched even more. Somehow, she was able to loosen her grip enough that I could pull my finger from her grasp. She took a few puncture wounds while trying to get her teeth out of my finger.
Somehow, we got the dogs back into the house and the squirrel was able to scurry up to the safety of the tree house, which isn't stable enough for us to try to get her. She eventually climbed onto a limb from which I saw her fall. We were then able to capture the squirrel and try to find a rehabber.
We contacted a few and found one able to help. By this time, it was nearly dark so we got the boys put up for bed and headed to the rehabber about 45 minutes away.
We chatted for awhile after dropping the baby off to her and she mentioned the birds she currently has in her care (owls, a hawk, cardinal, etc) and the etc included a pigeon. I said how much we fell in love with them after Harper self rescued at our sanctuary. She asked if we wanted to take the pigeon that she nursed back to health. She is a wildlife rehabber and pigeons are domestic so most rehabbers won't take them in. But she did, even though she knew they couldn't be released.
And here we are, showing up with a squirrel that needs her wildlife rehab expertise, and leaving with a pigeon that needs humans and our sanctuary.
God always leads us, we just have to listen, even amidst the chaos.
If you had all of this on your bingo card, please go play the lottery... and donate a portion of your winnings to the feathered friends in our care. 😁
Please say hello to Roxie, who is fitting in amazingly with Harper and Lilith. And our squirrel friend in rehab is on the road to recovery, just needs some tlc. What a day!!
