A VERY Eventful Day

Twenty-eight years ago today I was born!!!  Yea!!!  Now on to the important stuff...
This day has been a very busy day with tons of interesting things happening.  NONE of which I'm happy about.  Don't get me wrong...I'm happy to take the animals in, care for them, and make them all better.  I just hate it when they are hurt or sick.  It makes me really hurt to see them hurt or sick.  Especially when they die.
This past week, one of my babies became gravely ill.  After battling whatever it was for 3 days, she passed away.  Here are some pics I snapped of her the night before she passed.  What a sweet little angel?!

Here are some pictures of her litter mates.  

This is my favorite!

Got in a bunny today that a lady ran over with her lawn mower.  Obviously the little guy isn't doing well.  It really stinks when there's nothing you can do, but make them comfortable.  :-(

The turtle with the damaged shell is doing very well though.  His shell is beginning to heal, but it will take a very long time for it to be completely healed.  

Also got in some baby possums that aren't doing so well.  They have been eating each others tails!!!  YIKES that has to hurt.  We have started a more rounded diet and are continuing the medication that the Good Samaritan provided!!!   They did the right thing by contacting a licensed rehabber.  Please if you find injured or orphaned wildlife, contact a Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator.  Wildlife requires specialized care and are NOT like caring for domestic animals.  

WARNING GRAPHIC PICTURES!

Wildlife Rehabilitators are NOT paid for their services.  We pay for veterinary services, food, cages, etc out of our own pockets.  Donations are always greatly appreciated AND welcomed!

My Life Really IS a ZOO!: Country Bumpkin

My Life Really IS a ZOO!: Country Bumpkin: "There are only 11 days left until I leave for Utah. I'm feeling so many emotions right now. 1. I'm feeling pretty guilty about leaving H..."

Country Bumpkin

There are only 11 days left until I leave for Utah.  I'm feeling so many emotions right now. 
1.  I'm feeling pretty guilty about leaving Heath behind.  He's going to have to be caring for a lot of animals on his own.
2.  Worried...Because Heath is going to be caring for all of the animals on his own!
3.  Sad...This brings home the fact that my Grandma is really gone.  Normally she would be making this trip.  I remember that Grandma would always forget my birthday because she would be so busy in Utah.  She would always call a few days later and apologize.  I just thought it was kind of funny.  A tradition in a way.
4.  Nervous...I've NEVER been out of the South in my entire life.  I'm just a regular, hard working country bumpkin that raises possums for fun!  How am I really supposed to fit in with these folks?
5.  Even more nervous and EXTREMELY excited...I'm meeting a lot of family that I've heard about my entire life.  I'm also meeting some "new found" family.  (That's a story for a different time.)   I'm also getting to visit Best Friends Animal Society.  Best Friends is like the most amazing animal rescue/sanctuary EVER!
6.  Terrified...They want me to go near THE GRAND CANYON!!!  My mom used to pretend that her brakes had gone out while driving down hills.  It scared me to death as a child and now she wants me to ride over, across, or however you drive around the Grand Canyon???

I'm ready though.  It's going to be a roller coaster ride of emotions from beginning to end.  Grandma would have loved nothing more than to see us all together.  If only we had done this before she passed away.  Please be thinking of my family between June 18-28.  It's going to be a very exciting and joyful time, but we are all going to be feeling a lot of very difficult emotions.  My family has discovered a lot of secrets that we were not prepared to discover.  I have to say that some of the secrets are amazing and wonderful to find out, but with that comes a lot of other emotions.  We've been left with a lot of questions that will likely never be answered and the fact that my Grandma carried a lot of pain on her own.  Now I understand why Grandma had such an understanding and non-judgmental nature.  I've learned a lot about patience and understanding since she passed.

Be ready for lots of pictures and lots of reading when I get back! 

First Turtle Shell Repair

Originally, Heath and I were going to each get our own rehab permit, but it was suggested that only one of us get the permit since it would be easier as far as record keeping.  Heath wanted to rehab non-venomous reptiles.  Well today we had our first opportunity to rehab a reptile!  Erin sent me a text that she had found a turtle with a cracked shell.  So it was Heath to the rescue again!  I wish I had taken before pictures, but in the rush of trying to get him "fixed", I just didn't think of it.  I can't imagine how painful it has to be when these guys have a cracked shell.  This guy or girl has received antibiotics, had the wound flushed, and shell repaired.  Now let's home there are no complications.

Here's his injury after it was fixed.

Here you can see the scuffs on his shell.