Our Attempt (and Failure) of Rescuing Mr. Squirrel

Just yesterday my client, Becky, walked in saying there was a cute little squirrel hiding out under my SUV.  And then I told her about how Caleb loves squirrels, despite the fact that he would kill them and make squirrel biscuits and gravy when he was young.  He only kills animals for food, because deep down he loves them.  In fact, just a couple years ago he accidentally locked himself out of our house trying to feed the squirrels outside.

Well, my husband's love for squirrels and animals was put to the test today.

 I was working on my client, Amanda's, hair and she noticed a little squirrel near the sidewalk that had a hurt leg and was having trouble walking.  So my co-worker, Adriana, and I stopped what we were doing and ran out to check out the sweet little squirrel.  It's leg was badly broken...and worse, its tail was totally mauled.  It was so sad watching it try to function.  It could walk enough that it wouldn't let us get too close, but hurt enough that you could just feel its pain as it tried, and failed, to climb the tree.  So we got nuts and threw some out to try to gain its trust...but didn't, and went back in to finish foiling.

But when Amanda was under the dryer, processing, I kept going out to check on the little guy and finally tried calling a few different organizations to see if they could come rescue the little guy. Once I found out the Audubon Society would do what they could, if we could get it out to them, Adriana took action.  That girl is a rockstar.  I would never attempt to catch it cause I was afraid of rabies, or germs...but she caught it with a towel!! And put it in a box with an air pocket!  Talk about talented and kind gal!

So....I texted my husband telling him we had a hurt squirrel.  And he called me right away saying we needed to help it and he could come take me to the Audubon Society.  He was so sweet.

Once he got to my salon, we jumped in his car, wild (broken) squirrel in a box on my lap, and took off.

When we got it there, the medic on staff took the box in a room, behind these windows we could look in on.  While I was filling out papers, Caleb saw it squirming and fighting the guy trying to break free.

But, Mr. Squirrel died. :(

Sad.  In the end, the man said that he probably died of internal damage cause he was badly bruised.  And he could tell he had had multiple encounters.  The squirrel had scar tissue on some part of his leg.  He said that he was probably hit by a car or attacked by prey weeks before.  Then it slowed him down, and today probably got hit badly.

Sad.

We did what we could.

So tonight, after our walk, we are going to go to the pet store and look at some cute little puppies that will soon get homes to make up for Mr. Squirrels death.

RIP Mr. Squirrel.....