A forever home needed for a forever squirrel

[sqwrlgrl]

Fellow TSB members,

A close friend of mine and fellow TSB member is in need of a permanent home for a non-releasable juvenile squirrel (female E Gray).
She has malocclusion and needs her teeth trimmed weekly.
Otherwise she is quite healthy and about 5 months old.
She is friendly and young enough to adapt to a new home if adopted soon.
She was a baby orphaned at about 4 weeks old, fell out of a tree.

This is something her owner is sad to have to do, but has to be done for the squirrels well-being.
Another NR squirrel in the home has been diagnosed with a chronic and contagious condition.
To avoid passing it on to the juvenile she would have to be contained in a cage and never allowed to roam freely in the home.

This would not be the kind of life that would benefit a young and healthy squirrel, no matter how big the cage!
Ideally someone could offer her better circumstances to grow and live in permanently.

Certain qualifications MUST be met:

* experienced with squirrels
* proper housing (details to be discussed)
* live in FL or another legal state
* able and willing to provide vet care when needed, and to clip teeth regularly
* feed healthy squirrel diet recommended by TSB
* character reference from 2 or more TSB members.

If you feel you can meet these requirements and are interested please IM me asap.
I’m trying to help out as my friend does not have internet access for a few days.
She will probably want to talk to anyone seriously interested, so please include your phone number.

Thank you! Kay

[mugzeezma]

Fellow TSB members,

A close friend of mine and fellow TSB member is in need of a permanent home for a non-releasable juvenile squirrel (female E Gray).
She has malocclusion and needs her teeth trimmed weekly.
Otherwise she is quite healthy and about 5 months old.
She is friendly and young enough to adapt to a new home if adopted soon.
She was a baby orphaned at about 4 weeks old, fell out of a tree.

This is something her owner is sad to have to do, but has to be done for the squirrels well-being.
Another NR squirrel in the home has been diagnosed with a chronic and contagious condition.
To avoid passing it on to the juvenile she would have to be contained in a cage and never allowed to roam freely in the home.

This would not be the kind of life that would benefit a young and healthy squirrel, no matter how big the cage!
Ideally someone could offer her better circumstances to grow and live in permanently.

Certain qualifications MUST be met:

* experienced with squirrels
* proper housing (details to be discussed)
* live in FL or another legal state
* able and willing to provide vet care when needed, and to clip teeth regularly
* feed healthy squirrel diet recommended by TSB
* character reference from 2 or more TSB members.

If you feel you can meet these requirements and are interested please IM me asap.
I’m trying to help out as my friend does not have internet access for a few days.
She will probably want to talk to anyone seriously interested, so please include your phone number.

Thank you! Kay

What is the chronic and contagious condition the other squirrel was diagnosed with?
All assurances aside I think it's relevant if this animal is moved to another part of the state.

[sqwrlgrl]

Hi mugzeema,

It's due to a chronic staph infection that is resistant to treatment therefore may not be "curable". Any other pets or people the squirrel comes in contact with may contract it.

So far the juveniles have been kept separate, and in a large cage because they were being kept wild for release. Since she is now non-releasable obviously she will need time outside of the cage to explore and play and interact and bond. That's not possible now since there is risk she would be exposed and infected.

I'm not sure what you meant by moving the animal to another part of the state though.

The reference I had made (in case it's not clear) is that the squirrel be relocated in a legal state, so she can have access to vet care and not subject to confiscation.

[mugzeezma]

Hi mugzeema,

It's due to a chronic staph infection that is resistant to treatment therefore may not be "curable". Any other pets or people the squirrel comes in contact with may contract it.

So far the juveniles have been kept separate, and in a large cage because they were being kept wild for release. Since she is now non-releasable obviously she will need time outside of the cage to explore and play and interact and bond. That's not possible now since there is risk she would be exposed and infected.

I'm not sure what you meant by moving the animal to another part of the state though.

The reference I had made (in case it's not clear) is that the squirrel be relocated in a legal state, so she can have access to vet care and not subject to confiscation.

mmmm :thinking
Are we talking MRSA here?
My biggest concern is that if this little one has been exposed that she may carry whatever it is without being symptomatic and infect other releasables into the indigenous population.
I'm not trying to prohibit what you are doing here.
It's admirable.
These are some concerns that have to be addressed.

As much as we love these animals we need to respect the very real possibility that others may be affected.

[Rhapsody]

I might be able to take her (will have to talk it over with my husband), but I too am concerned about the condition the other squirrel has as I presently have one adult squirrel I am wintering and three baby squirrels I am rehabbing and all of them will not be released until May.

Plus I have my own two inside dogs and my oldest son's dog often stays over at our house... not to mention our two cats (both inside and outside cats). I would not want any thing to happen to any of them and even though they all get their regular check ups and yearly shots they could still pick some thing up from another animal they come in contact with.

P.S.
I have never had to trim a squirrels teeth - how easy is this do / learn?

[sqwrlgrl]

Sounds like there's a lot of questions and I don't necessarily have all the answers, since I'm a third party here!

If you want PM me your phone number and I will pass it on so you can get more details.

:D

[Skul]

You're doing fine.
There are lots of good folks down your way.
Most all of the members from Florida are pretty capable of watching after the little one.
Watch the board, talk to them, make a choice.
You're probably not going to be wrong.

[Milo's Mom]

P.S.
I have never had to trim a squirrels teeth - how easy is this do / learn?

Personally, I think that it is easy. I just cannot think about what I am doing or else my teeth hurt. It does not hurt them, well maybe their pride, but not their teeth. The pride usually comes back as soon as the after trimming treat is received. :D

[gs1]

if it's any interest to your friend...

cranberries are showing promise of helping to cure mrsa....

here is the link.....

http://www.thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26006&highlight=cranberries

[sqwrlgrl]

Thanks to those with interest and those who share helpful thoughts.
Still waiting to see what comes of it, but it was a busy day for me and I did not get a chance to check in.

...And yes, trimming teeth is not hard but I do hold my breath every time.
I'm usually the one holding the squirrel, not the one doing the clipping if I can get someone else to do it!

Have a lovely night!

[Rhapsody]

I talked to my husband and we both have agreed that at this time in life it is probably best that I stick to rehabbing and releasing squirrels and not keep any as a family pet or one that requires vet care.... I am sorry that I will not be able to help out - I did my best. :Love_Icon