October 25th:
A very small coonie was found slowly and methodically rolling her way to an
apple pile to eat. She has no use of three of her legs currently and is
progressing slowly, but looks better each day. She manages to get around by
curling up into a ball and pushing herself around with her one good back leg.
She has been named Gabriella. High hopes that she can endure this challenge and
heal. It is apparent that she has survived a wolf or coyote attack and hopefully
the paralysis will get better. She is 2 pounds in weight presently and appears
to be a 7 month old. {She should be close to 30 pounds at this age in our area.}
December 4th:
Gabriella has tripled in size and still
improves. She is eating well, is approximately 8 or more pounds now, and is
beginning to regain her normal body shape. Gabriella appears to be an adult
female of 2 years or more in age and was near total starvation on intake. The
estimation of 7 months old was considerably low. Since she is completely
nocturnal, and doesn't budge during the daylight hours, it isn't known how well
her legs are beginning to function as of yet, but she gets to her litter pan,
water and food just fine. She also covers herself, stuffies, pillows, and other
blankets & hay [Thanks for the hay
Cher!!] under her big pink one [Thank you for the
blankets Doug & Mary!!]. New pictures of Gabriella will be forthcoming as soon
as I get new batteries for the digi-cam.
December 16th:
Today Gabriella has gotten up on all four legs and is walking! She is now the
size of the Crack Babies. She will be released back to her home in the forest as
soon as breeding season has ended in hopes she does not become pregnant right
away and to let her body continue to heal. Believe in miracles -- they happen
every day.
March 23, 2007
Today Gabriella was taken to approximately 80 acres of private land in the
Chequamegon National Forest Area {Thank you Bob!!!}. Her mini-coondo was loaded
into the trusty old dinged up van and driven in total comfort to her new
location. She only dared to peek out once, and hid her head under her pillow for
the duration of human contact. Gabriella has grown to about 30 pounds, gotten
her nails back, and is walking just like nothing ever happened to her. Now that
she is free in her forest land again, perhaps that haunting look in her eyes
"What exactly has happened to me again?" will fade into cyberspace for her and
she will concentrate on fishing in the creek and maybe creating a little family
of her own.
Be safe Gabriella. I will think of you often. Ask your great great grandchildren to wave at my great great grandchildren when they see each other, and I will do the same.