After my last depressing post, at least I can bring you some encouraging news about our brave “Watermelon”. Gradually over the past few days this handsome fellow has taught himself to stand! 

At first we poked his straw through the sides of his cage so he could reach it to build a “nest”, then we started putting it on top to encourage him to stretch his limbs. Now he can balance on all fours and reach up for a paw-full of straw.

He can’t stand for very long yet, but the fact that he’s standing at all is wonderful. He still has a long way to go before he’s in the clear, but he’s showing much more interest in all that’s going on.