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Adopt animals and help the Wildlife Center of Virginia

Date published: 3/8/2007

By Rob Hedelt

YOU CAN trace Sheri and Larry Pedersen's support for education animals at the Wildlife Center of Virginia to a possum with a taste for cat food.

The Orange County residents said it all started when a possum raided their barn for kitten kibble.

"I snapped a picture and sent it to my mother," said Sheri Pedersen.

Wanting to follow up on that interest, the couple sought to find out about a program called "Caring for Critters" at the Wildlife Center in Waynesboro.

Through the program, one or more of the 20 or so animals used in the the wildlife hospital's educational programs can be "adopted" with donations.

"For Christmas that year, we adopted a possum named Lucille in [my mother's] name," said Pedersen. "She was thrilled to get a picture of Lucille, a certificate of adoption and a handout filled with all kinds of basic information about possums."

But wait, as the popular commercial pitches, there's more.

Not long after that, the Pedersens got wind that their grandson had developed a slightly unusual fear of outdoor swimming pools.

"For some reason, he was afraid they might have possums in them," said Pedersen. "We adopted Lucille a second time, for him, thinking that the information on possums would help. So much of any fear can be a basic lack of knowledge."

It's safe to say that Lucille and the package of knowledge that came with her adoption put an end to the fear of swimming pool possums.

Ed Clark, president and co-founder of the Wildlife Center of Virginia, said the Caring For Critters program has been around for years, but has been formalized and ramped up recently.

Its purpose is simple: giving the public a way to connect, in a personal way, to the medical and educational mission of the nationally known wildlife center.

"We have people who support us in a host of different ways," said Clark, "but this program lets people feel a direct connection."

He noted that when people hear about the thousands of animals treated at the center each year, it's hard to visualize any particular animal.

To sign up Sponsorships can be arranged online at wildlifecenter.org or by calling 540/942-9453 or e-mailing wildlife@wildlifecenter .org. Open houses The center will be open to the public in one-hour sessions March 18, April 1 and April 15. Session times those days are 12:30, 2 and 3:30 p.m. There's no cost, but reservations are required (540/942-9453 or e-mail to wildlife@wildlifecenter.org).

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Date published: 3/8/2007