B: Good evening dear readers! What a busy month it has been and it is only halfway done! With exciting events and new intensive care patients, plus a pending court case over a raccoon, October is proving to be one for the record books.
A: Britt and I feel so fortunate to be at the center of such an exciting Center! Particularly since we are fortunate enough to earn the support of wonderful communities like the neighbors of Travilah Oak. I was honored to be a part of their Travilah Oak Day celebrations last Saturday, manning our SCWC education table. We were the lucky beneficiaries of the proceeds from all the activities and vendors involved in that day. I got to meet some of the most caring, generous people in our area in the form of the organizers (who volunteer their time and work tirelessly to put together this event) and the participants, who gave so generously. I only wish I had been able to enjoy their pony rides, hay rides, delicious samples from local restaurants and free cake!
B: You missed out on free cake?! That’s horrible!
A: Well, I was working and not there to partake in the fun.
B: But… but its cake!
A: I know. I wept a little. But despite my tears, everyone seemed to be having a great time. Check out Travilah Oak Day next year, its fun for the whole family!
B: Another event that is fun for the whole family is Second Chance Wildlife Center’s 13th annual Open House which is THIS Saturday, October 18th from noon to four pm. Satisfy your sweet tooth at our delicious Bake Sale (run by yours truly, this dynamic duo) where you will be sure to find tasty treats for all appetites. Enter in one of our many raffles (including a contest to name our new mascot!) to win one of many great prizes - a beautiful, hand-made quilt, gift certificates to local restaurants and stores, gift baskets from local grocery stores, plus Wizard’s tickets!
A: There will be terrific live entertainment like educational animals, brought to us by Dina the falconer and Brian and his Reptile Wonders, mini-concerts by folk singers Morrigan and Steve Gellman and educational tours and displays. It’s sure to be a day to remember. Join us and help support our wildlife patients!
B: Take your time to tour our outdoor grounds, say “hi” to all the squirrels and pigeons in their pre-release enclosures and learn fascinating wildlife trivia from our many education posters. Trivia such as, what happens when you try to keep a snapping turtle as a pet? Well, what happened to one of my new favorite admissions was that she developed such as severe fungal infection on her plastron that it was turning black (normal color - dull yellow). Not only was one area so infected that the fungus ate through the shell, she also had severe “bed sores” on the bottom of both hind feet. I was horrified when I was performing her initial exam. I made sure that our volunteer vet made her a top priority on her next visit and after two weeks of dry-therapy (with intensive ointments and bandages) interspersed with soaking in warm, Stresscoat™-laden water, her wounds look fantastic.
A: Well, fantastic compared to what they used to look like.
B: True; she still has a long way ahead for a healthy shell. Since she will be over-wintering with us anyway, I have high hopes for a spring release.
A: Other animals looking forward to a spring release include the two raccoons I recently checked in. One of these siblings is involved in a court case. No, he’s not suing for royalties to his portion of this blog. He’s a key witness in an animal welfare case- the welfare we’re concerned with is his own. Apparently, he was left for two days in a trap in the attic of a home. The professional trapper allegedly neglected to check his traps and the animal suffered from dehydration, extreme hunger and stress from being separated from his family. Luckily, his sibling was admitted a couple of days later after being removed from the same attic and the two of them have settled in nicely; they both eat well, sleep well and avoid humans, as they should. SCWC is happy to not only be able to positively affect one life but to also play a small role in a case that may effect many more.
B: Although less than overjoyed at the prospect of cleaning an outdoor raccoon cage through the winter, cracking down on irresponsible trappers puts a shine on my day. Know what else puts a shine on my day?
A: What is that?
B: Knowing that those three kennels of young squirrels we should be feeding now will soon be graduated into wire cages and we will no longer be tethered to the kitchen table every four hours.
A: That is a good thing.
B: Indeed it is. See you at the Open House!
