Hi, my name is David. I am a musician/artist/animal lover. I am currently back in school working towards getting certifications in veterinary care.

I am Daphne the Squirrel's caretaker going on 7.5 years. She mostly answers to Pooh Bear though. She came to me from a rehabber that was hit with tons of baby squirrels at the same time. Daff was 3 months old and immediately connected to me. She is unreleasable due to malocclusion, which she developed from falling out of her tree. I've trimmed her teeth, fed her a proper diet, and given up most things in my life to be there for her and her siblings 100%.

Everything was great and I was handling a job, school, and music until about 2 months ago when she suddenly started having issues putting pressure on her right leg. I immediately took her to her vet and got her X-rays. The news was terrible. The vet said she has bone cancer and gave me the talk about euthanization. I then reached out to a squirrel expert in Florida and his opinion is that it is Legg Perthes, which is more commonly found in dogs but other animals have it as well.

A couple of days later when I got home from work, Daff lost complete use of both back legs. I think she stopped feeling pain and decided she could still climb like a monkey. She is now on painkillers and a steroid, but with this also came an infection from her biting her own leg. I was able to get her on antibiotics and treated her wound with Silvadene cream.

I am asking for help since I am no longer able to work regularly and she needs to see her vet on a regular basis. The game plan is to get her strong enough to operate on her hips and reattach the bone, which is a procedure called FHO where they shave down part of the bone to reattach. I am hoping to travel down to Naples, Florida, where the squirrel expert can do the procedure.

Even if you are unable to help, please share this with other animal lovers.

Thank you,

David

UPDATE- Pooh has passed away. I took of about two months of work to be by her side, feeding, cleaning and making sure she knew she wasnt alone in this. I have spoken with those that have donated & theyve let me know they want me to use the money to get back on my feet. I appreciate everyones support and love for my baby girl. I am a wreck. She was my everything, my reason to get up w a smile on my face, my reason to rush home just to see her beautiful face.

i buried her next to her sister, Paris. I also let her bunny sister Violeta say goodbye to her. Now its just me and my lionhead bunny, V. She is also special needs but her issues are being managed.

thanks again to everyone. We love you all.

please keep being kind to all animals