Contact: Laura McLeod, 908-303-3099, lauramcmas@gmail.com
 
MOBILE, Ala., March 19, 2015 /Christian Newswire/ -- What do you do when you find an orphaned wild animal? The first instinct is to rescue it. But rescuing may not always be what's needed, according to the Humane Society. They recommend leaving the animal alone, unless it appears injured or in distress. They list these signs that a wild animal needs your help: "A cat or dog presents the wild animal to you; …bleeding; …broken limb; a …featherless bird on the ground; shivering; or a dead parent nearby." They also provide a contact list to locate wildlife rehabilitators (people who can help you determine what to do).

Laura McLeod understands the needs of wild animals who become orphaned because she's made a hobby of rescuing them. Her rescues include various birds, a turtle, a baby deer, a skunk, a snake, and assorted dogs and cats. One was a baby squirrel, named George. She tells his story in her new, illustrated book, George the Squirrel.

In the story, Willy and Libby find George who has fallen from a large tree into a pile of leaves but is still alive. After talking with their mother and a visit to the vet to make sure George is healthy, they decide to adopt. That's when the crazy fun begins. Mom has laid down some rules, but George can't help himself sometimes. Like when he turned the family's 4th of July party upside down!

In the end, George and his adoptive family realize he needs to be with his own kind. George's return to the wild is a poignant moment.

Laura shares, "Having been an animal lover my whole life, I've learned to care for wildlife and domestic animals through volunteer work. I've also had opportunities to work with veterinarians. Christians should have respect for wild animals. We need to understand that rescued animals should be released when they're healthy enough to survive on their own." She continues, "While rehabbing George, we learned a new kind of love that places the creature's needs above our desire to have a pet. The story of George the Squirrel demonstrates freedom, kindness, and God's protection for all creatures—great and small—peppered with some of George's zany antics.

George the Squirrel,
by Laura McLeod email: lauramcmas@gmail.com,
32 pages,
4/C Hardcover, $15.99, www.amazon.com ,
ISBN: 978-158169-5489
Published by Evergreen Press christian-publishing.net (2015).