Veterinarian helps save injured wildlife

FEELING BETTER NOW--This frisky little animal wasn't so rambunctious when she had an abscess. If you look closely, you can see a scar under Squirrelly-Girly's left cheek. She's better now, thanks to a local veterinarian and a wildlife rehabilitator. Did you know that Thousand Oaks has its very own "squirrel doctor"?

When our resident squirrel "Squirrelly-Girly" came by one day with an abscess the size of a golf ball in her left cheek, we contacted the Conejo Valley vet, who instructed us to trap her and bring her in, and she would be rehabilitated without charge.

We quickly rented a cage from Agoura Feed, and after two tries catching other squirrels, we caught her and brought her in.

The vet turned her over to Sharon Baird, a volunteer licensed wildlife rehabilitator who specializes in squirrels and is associated with the rescue organization Wildlife Care of Ventura County.

Within a week, the squirrel healed and Baird brought her back and releaseed her in our backyard--all without charge.

Of course, we donated to the organization, which has a website at www.wildlifecareofventura.org.

We wanted you and your readers to be aware of the wonderful "squirrel lady" who exists right here in our town and the partnership that Wildlife Care has with the Conejo Valley vet, who also accepts other injured animals for donations only.

Notice the scar on Squirrelly's neck under her left cheek.

Our son, Sam, a senior and honors student at Westlake High School, took the photo. Adrienne Kligman Thousand Oaks