Mama dog nurses orphaned baby squirrel

Bushy-tailed rodent welcomed into litter of canine pups

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updated 3:19 p.m. ET Oct. 13, 2005

SEATTLE - Animal lover that she is, Debby Cantlon didn’t hesitate when someone asked if she could take in an orphaned newborn squirrel and nurse it back to health.

Neither did Mademoiselle Giselle, her pregnant pooch.

The black and white Papillon with long-haired butterfly ears dragged the squirrel’s cage to her bedside — twice — before giving birth to pups last month.

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Cantlon was concerned at first, but ultimately decided to let the squirrel out. Mademoiselle Giselle even encouraged the little rodent to join her litter.

Since then, cameras have captured images of the squirrel bonding alongside its canine brothers and sisters.

As for the bushy-tailed critter’s name: Finnegan. “As in, 'Finnegan, begin again,'" Cantlon said.