Nancy Schellenberger BIG HEART FOR SMALL LIVES ASSOCIATE SPOTLIGHT
As I write this I have a baby starling screaming at me for attention and an injured baby opossum licking its hands and washing it’s face after having a meal of scrambled eggs and puppy formula. I don’t recall a moment in my life that I wasn’t a total animal lover. Not just the cute and fuzzy warm-blooded kind but literally all of god’s creatures. I grew up in the country and had more animal friends than people friends. I remember my first rescue was a black bird that had gotten wet and its wings were literally frozen. I brought it in the house to warm it up and let it dry out. I was probably around 6 years old. The accomplishment of saving it and seeing it fly free was so rewarding. I was hooked. I’ve always had dogs, cats, and other domestic animals as pets and have enjoyed them. My belief is that wild animals should remain wild. They have a drive and sense of freedom they doesn’t give up willingly. Their natural instincts are amazingly engraved into their bodies and cannot be removed without completely breaking their spirit. Forward to 2008. I got a call from my dear friend Gail Farris (Samtec Marketing). Her mother found a baby squirrel all alone. It was so small it fit in the palm of my hand. It’s eyes were not open, and it was near death. She asked me if I wanted to try to help save it. I was determined to be successful. I immediately researched what I needed to do to keep this baby alive. Through trial and error, I found the best course for little Tucker. Each day she grew stronger and eventually was ready to go
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