Finnegan the squirrel (with pictures)

Stargazer · #1 (**permalink**) 01-05-2009, 07:44 AM

Debby Cantlon, who plans to release Finnegan, the young squirrel, back into the wild, bottle-fed the infant squirrel after it was brought to her house.

When Cantlon took in the tiny creature and began caring for him, she found herself with an unlikely nurse's aide: her pregnant Papillion, Mademoiselle Giselle.

Finnegan was resting in a nest in a cage just days before Giselle was due to deliver her puppies;

Cantlon and her husband watched as the dog dragged

Cantlon was concerned, yet ultimately decided to allow the squirrel out and the inter-species bonding began.

Finnegan rides a puppy mosh pit of sorts, burrowing in for warmth after feeding, and eventu ally working his way beneath his new litter mates.

Two days after giving birth, mama dog Giselle allowed Finnegan to nurse; family photos and a videotape show her encouraging him to suckle alongside her litter of five pups.

Now, Finnegan mostly uses a bottle, but still snuggles with his " siblings" in a mosh pit of puppies, rolling atop their bodies and sinking in deeply for a nap.

Finnegan and his new litter mates, five Papillion puppies, get along together as if they were meant to.

Finnegan naps after feeding.

Try all you want, but I just don't think you'll find anything cuter than that.

Icicle · #2 (**permalink**) 01-05-2009, 08:10 AM

Wakey, Wakey Little Squirrelly.

Stunning

96Blacksunshine · #3 (**permalink**) 01-05-2009, 03:42 PM

Finnegan rides a puppy mosh pit of sorts, burrowing in for warmth after feeding, and eventu ally working his way beneath his new litter mates.

Nope, it doesn't get much cuter than that.

kimszoo1 · #4 (**permalink**) 01-05-2009, 03:48 PM

I think im gonna melt at all that cuteness

Stargazer · #5 (**permalink**) 01-05-2009, 05:34 PM

Oops, wrong thread for what I just posted.

Anyway, I think squirrels are way cuter than puppies.

kellymack515 · #6 (**permalink**) 01-05-2009, 05:48 PM

I love that story but personally I think it's wrong to release him. Finnegan has been raised to believe that dogs and people are friends and unfortunately not all of them are. I'm so glad he was saved but he needs to live his life in a protected animal sanctuary.

Stargazer · #7 (**permalink**) 01-05-2009, 05:51 PM

I was wondering about that, too. I think he should be released into the fenced yard with a little squirrel door to get back into the house.

It actually pains me that I can't climb into that scene and cuddle.

-KB- · #8 (**permalink**) 01-05-2009, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kellymack515

I love that story but personally I think it's wrong to release him. Finnegan has been raised to believe that dogs and people are friends and unfortunately not all of them are. I'm so glad he was saved but he needs to live his life in a protected animal sanctuary.

That is exactly what I was thinking.
.
Cute? Yes. Smart? I don't think so.

fuglyfarmhand · #9 (**permalink**) 01-05-2009, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kellymack515

I love that story but personally I think it's wrong to release him. Finnegan has been raised to believe that dogs and people are friends and unfortunately not all of them are. I'm so glad he was saved but he needs to live his life in a protected animal sanctuary.

You can always send him to me.

No he won't become food but there are plenty of trees and such he can play on in 25+ acres on the property. He can come and go as he wants to on my zoo.

He's so cute and I just had a sheppard deliver 11 pups so he has more playmates.

FragginDragon · #10 (**permalink**) 01-05-2009, 08:13 PM

OMG! Cuteness with a capital 'C'!!!

el cascabel · #11 (**permalink**) 01-05-2009, 08:16 PM

That is adorable. I've always wanted a pet squirrel.

Hairless · #12 (**permalink**) 01-05-2009, 08:17 PM

Very CUTE!

el cascabel · #13 (**permalink**) 01-05-2009, 08:17 PM

Oh, and they taste good too.

Hairless · #14 (**permalink**) 01-05-2009, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by el cascabel

Oh, and they taste good too.

Yes they do. One of my favorites.

LukaTisus · #15 (**permalink**) 01-05-2009, 08:28 PM

I think the adoreability (if that is such a word

) has caused my poor head to explode!

faroutinmt · #16 (**permalink**) 01-05-2009, 08:32 PM

I absolutely love it. Finnegan is awesome.

It's wonderful to see friendship among animals who would often be at odds with each other in nature.

Thanks for sharing that!

I also think that such habituation could be harmful if Finnegan had to go back to the wild. He has lost a fear that might otherwise save him from harm. Perhaps one cost of rehabilitation in this case is his permanent home among humans.