Panda Bear
August 2008
“Panda Bear” came to us as a very tiny baby in the fall of 2007. She was found in someone’s yard and they were kind enough to call Foothills Animal Rescue to get her the help she so desperately needed.
She had been attacked by another animal, probably a domestic dog judging by her injuries. She has several scars on her face and a puncture hole in her ear. She was found lying on the ground covered in parasites….fly larvae, red ants, etc. Her prognosis for recovery was almost non existent.
Panda Bear is a true miracle. By all accounts, she shouldn’t be alive today. Maybe we should have let her go, but she held on for dear life and how do you turn your back on that? Tresa couldn’t do it and she worked tirelessly ridding her tiny body of the parasites that were invading her body both on the inside and out. Just when she thought she’d put her through enough and it was time to let her go, Panda would perk up and show signs of life and a will to go on. Sometimes you have to let them decide for you!!
Tresa and I shared babysitting duties with Panda. We would keep her for a day or two here and there and we simply fell in love with her and she was thriving at this point health wise. There was still hope that she would catch up and be releasable.
It became apparent as she got older that Panda wasn’t growing as she should and that she was having issues with motor functions, etc. Whatever animal had attacked her had obviously robbed her of oxygen, add to that days of dehydration, lack of food, etc., and we knew that she was never going to catch up nor be able to be released back into the wild where she belonged.
It was decided at Christmas time that she would stay with us full time as we were more able to give her one on one time. She has made great strides and has weeks where she seems to make small progressions in her development and then there are other times where she seems old and feeble. Her limbs are too short, her tail has just begun growing hair, and her joints seem fused and atrophied. She is barely the size of a young raccoon. She will forever be our “baby” because of her tiny size.
Because Panda is a non-releasable rescue I have allowed myself the privilege of loving her with all of my heart! It’s not a luxury we allow ourselves often, but each day that she is in my life is a blessing that I know will not last. I know that my heart will be shattered when she goes, but it is a price I’m willing to pay for being allowed to care for her.
She is almost a year old now, but each day I see signs that she may be nearing the end of her life. I hope that I have it in me to let her go when she needs to go.
She has changed my life forever. That may be difficult for some to understand, but raccoons are so human like in their affections that it’s easy to fall in love with them. I am a mother to two human children and while my love for them is incredible it’s sometimes difficult for me to separate the love that I have for Panda Bear from that of humans.
Luckily, under normal circumstances they have no problem with biting the hand that feeds them and it’s easy to sever the ties that bind! For whatever reason, Panda was sent to us as she is and I am thankful for having had her in my life.
I will continue to treasure each day with her as if it’s our last because it just may be. I know she will be the one that I always remember throughout my life. Raccoons will come and go each spring, but Panda Bear will be forever in my heart and I know that in her short life thus far that she has touched the hearts of many.
She has been a true ambassador for her species and has helped to spread the word about wildlife rescue and conservation. I don’t know what the future holds for her, but I’ll be right there with her whatever it is!
September 2008
Panda Bear is gone. I am crushed beyond belief. It is so much worse than I could ever have imagined!!!! I know that there were so many underlying health issues that even the vets didn’t understand, but that brings me little relief…..
I think Panda as we knew her had been ‘gone’ for several days….her last moments were spent cuddling with Jael and I and she was very calm and she would “sing” to us in her little raccoon voice. She didn’t want to be alone even for a moment and we were happy to oblige her.
They wouldn’t allow us to go back with her when the deed was done. Maybe this would be easier if we had been allowed to be with her. I don’t know. She wasn't alone as Tresa was with her, but I wish I could have held her just that last little bit.....
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