On a sunny afternoon in late September 2013 I got a text from my neighbour and good friend; Donna. She had spotted a little Hedgehog in her back garden and wanted me to come over and have a look. The timing of this event was a bit spooky as just the week before I had told the shelter that I had been fostering kittens for (but had to stop - that's a whole other story) that if they got any small mammals in; including Hedgehogs, that needed care I would try to help them out.
By the time I got over to Donna's she had put some food down for the wee hoggie and we watched as it munched away - it was obviously very hungry. When I picked her up she was feather light and boney. Then, when she rolled into a ball her bottom end was 'pointy' instead of round - indicating a very underweight HH. We named her Pebbles because Donna had found her in the pebble garden.
At this stage I didn't know a lot about HHs but I did know that as a general rule they shouldn't be outside during the day, and that this wee one was too little to be out alone and was seriously underweight so I scooped it her and brought her home. Once I had her settled in a cage with a heat pad, some food and water I contacted Hedgehog Rescue New Zealand.
Luckily for me I had stumbled across the Facebook page for Hedgehog Rescue New Zealand earlier that week (another spooky coincidence!) and I had offered to become involved with their rescue efforts. I guess Pebbles overheard the conversation. Narelle called me and talked me through what I needed to do and what to watch out for. Pebbles did really well for the first 36 hours but late on the second night she went down hill fast and sadly passed away during the night. We have no idea what the problem was, but HHs can be notoriously difficult to save and she was so very tiny, poor baby.
RIP Pebbles. Have a happy time playing over the Rainbow Bridge.
By the time I got over to Donna's she had put some food down for the wee hoggie and we watched as it munched away - it was obviously very hungry. When I picked her up she was feather light and boney. Then, when she rolled into a ball her bottom end was 'pointy' instead of round - indicating a very underweight HH. We named her Pebbles because Donna had found her in the pebble garden.
Luckily for me I had stumbled across the Facebook page for Hedgehog Rescue New Zealand earlier that week (another spooky coincidence!) and I had offered to become involved with their rescue efforts. I guess Pebbles overheard the conversation. Narelle called me and talked me through what I needed to do and what to watch out for. Pebbles did really well for the first 36 hours but late on the second night she went down hill fast and sadly passed away during the night. We have no idea what the problem was, but HHs can be notoriously difficult to save and she was so very tiny, poor baby.
RIP Pebbles. Have a happy time playing over the Rainbow Bridge.
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