Important Update On Destiny:

I've just found out that Destiny has been accepted into the care of an animal sanctuary in Bath, one that specializes in the care and rehabilitation of baby mammals; from badgers to squirrels to hedgehogs to foxes. Gavin found out about them online and after he contacted them they sent one of their staff round to fetch Destiny immediately, in-spite of the weather (a storm was raging at the time). The man said that the care they had given Destiny was not just brilliant but PERFECT; that in the mere three days they had had her (she is a 'her') with them her growth had been well above average and she had progressed nicely from a helpless infant to a VERY healthy baby squirrel that not only knew what she wanted and when but had the strength and determination to SCREAM until she got it (she woke Karen 3 times last night, demanding to be fed); which was a VERY good sign. It's not definite, obviously, but he said he was incredibly likely that she would survive to adulthood, thanks to them.

    The sanctuary people have assured Karen and Gavin that they will continue to raise Destiny until she is able to be released back into the wild . For the time being, the care will consist of exactly what they have been doing over the past 72 hours, then in a few weeks she will be placed into what they call a "half way post" to wean her away from any dependence on human contact. Then after that, release into the wild. They've promised that while they won't be sending daily updates - they have FAR too much to do for that - they will contact them when Destiny is ready for that to happen. 

    So that's that. Destiny is gone to a place that will help her until she is able to fully help herself. I've got to admit that I'm a little disappointed, both because I didn't get to see her and also because in the back of my mind I was hoping - just a little, but I was nonetheless - that maybe she would become a part of our family: Karen and Gavin's pet squirrel. But at the same time I'm aware that those disappointments are wholly selfish and for Destiny's sake, it is terribly good that neither have happened. It is best this way, for everyone; but most of all, for her.

Got to go. Games evening at The Grandpapa's.

Anyway, fingers crossed for Destiny. They're confident of her chances, but still; it couldn't hurt.

Alice

       xxx

PS: Gavin took a video of Destiny being fed on his phone. Hopefully I'll get to see it soon. Yay!