Santa was good to the Critters

On Christmas Eve my phone rang. It was the Stephenville Police Department. I immediately thought "Oh oh, what happened?". The very friendly dispatcher asked me to come down to the PD, because somebody wanted to make a donation to the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue, but wanted to stay anonymous and brought it to the PD so they can pass it on to me. WOW!

We drove down there to pick up the donation. I'm pretty sure, it was from somebody reading the wishlist on my website and possibly this blog too, so whoever you are:

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dogfood, Puppyfood, Catfood, Kittenfood, Rawhides, a huge piece of Fleece, and the Tubs for storing it all! That was a GREAT gift for the Critters.

Rainbow Wildlife Rescue 2008

A look back over the year 2008 at the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue.

Saved: 10 rabbits, 15 opossums, 3 raccoons, 38 squirrels, 34 birds, 40 cats and kittens, 32 dogs and puppies.

172 Animals rescued at the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue in the Year 2008. Watch Video below!

Click Image to view larger version!

Christmas Dogs

Dexter turns out to be a funny dog lol:



The following card I printed out and will send to the people who were involved in Olivia's rescue a year ago. Olivia will be 7 years old on New Year's Eve:

Labradors - Butters welcomes Dexter

Today Dexter was strong enough to come out of his pen and explore the yard. I let Butters, my Yellow Lab out, to welcome him. Notice the motion blur on his tail :-).

Butters showed Dexter around, invited him into the house and showed him what and whatnot to do:







The first outing with the pack and the first time on a leash too. He did great! First he tried to refuse, then he protested, then he just got mad, and then he gave in and accepted the leash. After that I took him off leash and we let the pack run and swim:



Lets not forget that I also have some orphaned kittens here!

Dexter first day of recovery

After a few good meals, a bath and a good night's sleep, look at that beautiful dog!

Black Lab Rescue

My neighbor just rang my door bells, said he found this dog half dead in front of his door this morning, if I could help him out with that, because he had to leave.

The dog is in terrible shape, so I called Animal Control to pick him up. After I spent 5 minutes with him waiting for the AC to show, I decided to keep him for a few days, see if I can turn him around. He's such a friendly young animal...mostly Black Labrador, un-neutered male, less than a year old. I know he's probably going to be euthanized if I turn him over, so lets give him a chance. I named him Dexter:











It's hard to see, but he's skin and bones, covered with small cuts and dehydrated too. He could not walk, I had to carry him...at least he was standing up while eating..and boy was he hungry. I'm not sure I wanna know what happened to him.

Kittens and Puppies

I have been lazy in updating the blog, I admit it! But now I will do some catching up.

2 puppies, 2 firekittens and 4 newborn kittens are the current residents of the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue. All 7 puppies are doing fine as of this writing. 5 are being raised at another foster home along with 2 of the fire kittens.





Here is an update on the fire kittens that had been nearly burned in a grass fire that consumed a barn. The other 2 siblings have recovered too:







Here are 2 cute movies of Doogle, who is slowly coming out of his shell:







He isn't too sure about this jingle bells dog, but I have to start exposing him to non-threatening objects so he can gain some confidence. He got lots of treats and associates the singing dog with liverwurst by now.

Help for the Kittens with Smoke Inhalation

Boy, those kittens are coughing up a storm from that smoke inhalation.

A volunteer for the animal shelter who also works at a vet's office, is going to take 2 of the kittens that are coughing the worst with her. Surely they can help the kittens better than I can. The 2 I am keeping are hardly coughing at all.

Here's a movie:

7 Puppies and 4 Kittens

So, here I thought I'm going to get bored now that the rescue is empty. As soon as I was done cleaning everything and repairing and/or replacing the little things that broke over the summer, I got the phone call.

7 puppies had been thrown into the trash in a box and if I could and would. Of course! But 7 is a lot of puppies to feed, so I reached out and found 2 sweet and kind ladies, Laura and Kelli, that took a few off my hands, so I'm down to 2 puppies.


Thank goodness so, because an hour ago I received 4 kittens that had been rescued from a fire. It was a very close call. One of the lil noses is burned and they are coughing and stinking of smoke and were all black with sud. I bathed them, put some antibiotics on the wounds and fed them.

The eyes are just opening and they are otherwise in good shape, so I'm hopeful, providing that the lungs didn't get damaged by the smoke and heat.

Red-tailed Hawk

Today I received a red-tailed hawk from Animal Control which I am holding for the raptor rehabber, who will pick him up tomorrow. His right wing does not function properly, even though I can't detect any visible injuries.

He sure was very hungry and seems to be in good shape, so I think he has good release chances:








And here are a couple of snapshots of my dogs that I just have to share!

Doogle, the singing Chihuahua

Don't believe me? Look for yourself!

Doogle, the singing 4 lbs Chihuahua



How about a singing squirrel?



Or a roaring and barking Calico cat?



A Psycho Labrador



The apologizing Opossum

Shelter Dog stolen from the Erath County Humane Society

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I was very upset when I got the phone call this morning from the Erath County Humane Society. It was the shelter manager telling me that Trinity had been stolen. Trinity, a Yellow Labrador, is also Honey's daughter, for those of you who remember Honey, who is now a service dog.

Trinity was the pick of the litter and eventually became the shelter dog. She will be 1 year old this Christmas. Everybody was in love with her sweet personality, dogs and humans alike. So naturally, Trinity is being missed and everybody is worried out of their minds!

A reward is being offered for information leading to her save return, so if you know anything, PLEASE CALL THE ECHS AT (254) 965 - 3247 or email me and I will forward the information!

Pets at the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue

Butters (photo)	Olliver, whining (movie)
Click Pictures to view larger version of picture or a movie
Doogle, the 4 pound Chihuahua (movie)	Olivia (photo)

October Newsletter

October 2008 at the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue

The Rainbow Wildlife Rescue is a non-profit organization in Stephenville, Texas. My name is Birgit Sommer. I founded the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue and am a licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator for the State of Texas as well as a Shelter Walker and volunteer foster parent for the Erath County Humane Society.

I, like many other licensed wildlife rehabilitators, work out of my own home and volunteer my time and just about every spare cent I can gather. No state funding is available for animal caging, veterinary care, medicine or food. That's why most rehabilitators gratefully accept donations towards the care of animals they receive from the public.

If I find enough time, I accept various online jobs including web design and hosting, to add to the funds needed to maintain the rescue. So, if you need a website or know somebody that does, here is a list of clients.

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Hurricane Ike's Squirrels are still here!

Click Pictures to view Video!

I had planned to get the squirrels back to south-east Texas last weekend, but the ride didn't come through, so hopefully something will work out this weekend. The squirrels are soooo ready to get out there and start a life outside of a cage! All 8 are healthy and as wild as they get.

To refresh your memory: gray squirrels are not native to Central Texas. They populate the eastern and southern parts of Texas.

If anybody in the Stephenville area is going to drive to south-east Texas, south Texas or east Texas this or next weekend, PLEASE EMAIL or call me at (254) 968 - 4626!!

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The Eagle Scouts built a brandnew Enclosure

The Eagle Scouts came on the 25th of October and built a new enclosure for the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue's future critters! It was a coming and going, but I think we were around 30 people at one time. The Scouts had managed to get all the material donated and put the new enclosure up within 7 hours!

We would like to thank:

Colton Beverly, Jamie Burns, Steven Gibbons, Chad Gifford, Creed Alexander, Rusty Ford, Bobby Brown, Andrew Murray, Skylar Bell, Michael Fick, Dana Gibbons, Chris Bell, Travis Johnston, Kenneth Gifford, Chili Alexander, Mike Beverly, Michaela Beverly, Debora Beverly, Pat Alexander and Jimmie Don Alexander.

The Following businesses and individual donated material and tools for the project.

Higginbotham's all lumber, corrugated tin, nails and hinges. Fibergrate donated staple gun and staples, friend of Boy Scout troop 18 donated the mesh wire, Jimmie Don Alexander donated use of tools, Jean Beverly for use of air compressor, CiCi's for donating the pizzas for lunch.

Also a HUUUUUGE Thank You to Kelli Parham who got the ball rolling!!!

Here are my favorite photos and a movie of today plus a link to the COMPLETE ONLINE PHOTO ALBUM

Click Pictures to view larger version (watch movie HERE)

We still have enough lumber left to build yet another enclosure. The Scouts were considering sending out another group for this project, but there are no details yet.

After that enclosure is built, all there is left a Storage Shed, few more fence panels, concrete for a walkway, and a flight cage, which is nothing else but a very long enclosure. The latter is the last item I need to complete my application for the federal migratory bird rehabilitation permit.

You can help by clicking this link or contact Birgit at help@rainbowwildlife.com

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Rainbow Wildlife Rescue in the News

• Orphaned squirrels find refuge in Stephenville
• Locals build ‘homes’ for orphaned squirrels
• Rescuing Animals
• Stephenville woman takes in 'squirrely' hurricane victims
• Donations helping baby squirrels left orphaned by Hurricane Ike

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Erath County Humane Society Animal Shelter

I want to mention the ECHS, since they have a current Adoption List on petfinder.com. I go to the shelter at least once a week and take pictures to update the petfinder page. It has been a great success!

Don't Buy, Adopt a Pet!

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Wildlife

Currently residing at the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue

It's late in the year and baby season is over. Now we are concentrating on building and preparing for next season's start this coming spring. The first baby squirrels usually arrive mid February..

• 8 Gray Squirrels: 5 of the 15 were transferred, 2 expired, 8 are still "in custody" ( watch movie )

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Our Pets

Butters (photo)	Olliver, whining (movie)
Click Pictures to view larger version of picture or a movie
Doogle, the 4 pound Chihuahua (movie)	Olivia (photo)

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Miss Dolittle's Websites:

Critter Blog with Daily Updates - Kittenbaby.com - Puppy Education - Funny Animal E-Cards - Squirrel Rescue Texas - Rainbow Wildlife Rescue in Texas - Pets and Wildlife Forum - Magic Postcards - MissDolittle on Youtube - Webdesign in Support of the Rescue

Funny Doogle Updates

Just a couple of funny Doogle updates in picture and movie:





And a short movie of Olliver, who is whining and complaining as usual:

Ike's Squirrels last Video

The squirrels will be picked up this weekend and taken back to south Texas for release!

Eagle Scout Project at the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue

The Eagle Scouts came today and built a new enclosure for the Rainbow Wildlife Rescue's future critters! It was a coming and going, but I think we were around 30 people at one time. The Scouts had managed to get all the material donated and put the new enclosure up within 7 hours!

We would like to thank:

Colton Beverly, Jamie Burns, Steven Gibbons, Chad Gifford, Creed Alexander, Rusty Ford, Bobby Brown, Andrew Murray, Skylar Bell, Michael Fick, Dana Gibbons, Chris Bell, Travis Johnston, Kenneth Gifford, Chili Alexander, Mike Beverly, Michaela Beverly, Debora Beverly, Pat Alexander and Jimmie Don Alexander.

The Following businesses and individual donated material and tools for the project.

Higginbotham's all lumber, corrugated tin, nails and hinges. Fibergrate donated staple gun and staples, friend of Boy Scout troop 18 donated the mesh wire, Jimmie Don Alexander donated use of tools, Jean Beverly for use of air compressor, CiCi's for donating the pizzas for lunch.

Also a HUUUUUGE Thank You to Kelli Parham who got the ball rolling!!!

Here are my favorite photos and a movie of today plus a link to the COMPLETE ONLINE PHOTO ALBUM:

Gathering, planning, measuring, laying it out

The Boss' hat :-)

The "Supervisor" ;-)

Doogle runs all over the Scouts

Taking a break

Group Picture

I released them back into the wild, I swear!!!!

All done! Excellent job!

Now watch it all happen!