Squirrel Faces of Freedom

Miss Scruffers aka Scruffy aka 'the Scrufster'

Meet little Scruffy... she's now a guardian angel.
And she keeps a loving eye on Rosie Posie who was just released to the great outdoors!

Rosie enjoying her freedom.

Ok.... let me tell it from the beginning.  Monday night we had a violent storm.. sudden wind gusts of 45 mph, pellet sized hail and flying tree limbs and leaves everywhere. My thought was... "I sure hope the outdoor squirrels are OK.

The next day I saw all of the outdoor gang and breathed a sigh of relief.  It wasn't until Wednesday afternoon, (I was almost out the door for a dentist appointment), when the phone rang. I didn't pick up, thinking it could take too much time, but I listened to the message:

St.Ed's police department was calling me to come pick up a little squirrel that a student rescued from a feral cat.
My thought was... "but what about the dental appointment."
Just then the phone rang again and I picked up... the dental office asked if they could re-schedule due to an emergency.   (Now that was definitely the hand of the Great Squirrel! WOW) I hung up the phone and 'high-tailed' it over to St.Ed's.

So upon picking up this poor little squirrel, I ask a lot of questions... where was she found... did you see a mama squirrel or other little ones? Is there a tree nearby with a nest?  The student that found her answered "No" to all the questions.  I sat outside and the police officer and I rode around to see if we could spot a mama looking for her lost darling.  No luck.

Then the dorm director said that there were a lot of tree limbs down from the storm the other night... right on the other side of the building where Scruffy was found.
Storm! OMG... that's it.
 The little squirrel was hurt in the storm, separated from its mom and was wandering on the ground.  A feral cat (of which there are many on campus) saw her and went after her.  Luckily, a student witnessed this and chased the cat away.  Then she put the little squirrel in a box and brought it to the police station on campus.

Scruffy trying to eat a pecan.

So I brought her home.  After warming her and giving some Reiki, I gave her some liquid nutrition, complete with acidophilus and vitamin E added. She slurped it down... probably hadn't eaten since before the storm (2 days ago).  I made a comfy bed for her and let her sleep.  She had 2 more feedings that same day and was peeing and pooping.  Her right eye was red and irritated, and she couldn't really use her right paw and leg. That's common with head injuries. I gave Reiki a few more times and we snuggled. I gave her little kisses and told her she would be fine. I tried not to get too attached... but it was too late...    I was smitten with squirrelove.

Meanwhile Rosie is being released... her cage has been outside with the doors closed (the first week) so she could get used to the weather, bird chirps, city noises, and lawnmowers, etc.  And this 2nd week we began to open the doors on her cage!  

How exciting is that!

On Thursday, Scruffy's 2nd day of recovery, she got hungrier and even ate a couple pecans. I got very hopeful because of her appetite and elimination system was working well.
Then late last night, she became uncomfortable... moving around trying to feel better.  I held her, tried to soothe her, but her internal injuries were having the upper hand.
I prayed for relief... and relief came.

This morning I woke up and went to the kitchen... I could swear I heard her rummaging around in her nest, nails scraping on the sides of the box.  I got her breakfast ready and uncovered her box... and there she lay.... totally at peace.

Relief had come. RIP little angel.

It's funny how we hear what we want to hear and
see what we want to see. I 'saw' her getting well and 
I 'heard' her this morning... funny how the mind works.
I hadn't known her for long and she was 
gone!  Her furry body was still warm 
and her face so serene.



Of course there would be a lovely burial
with flowers and incense and a large pecan
for her journey...




 I wrapped her gently in white tissues and placed
 her in the earth.  Then we sprinkled rose petals
on her, burned incense and sang Indian chants.
Then suddenly I couldn't sing anymore...
 it was as if I was silenced and told to wait.
 "Just be quiet and go inside" said my heart.

And then the message came:
"Rosie can now be fully released.  Scruffy will be
 her guardian angel, watching over her and
making sure she is safe during storms.
And Scruffy will warn her of any feral cats nearby!




And then I smiled... and I knew...
 "Squirrelove" is unconditional.