A shrine to a squirrel: Town's 'Diana style' show of grief for dead albino rodent

[question everything]

Tuesday, Nov 10 2009

A shrine to a squirrel: Town's 'Diana style' show of grief for dead albino rodent

By Daniel Bates

Beside the grave lie gifts, flowers and heartfelt messages, some in verse. A tribute page on the social networking site Facebook has attracted more than 250 members. And the cause of this remarkable outpouring of grief? Albi the albino squirrel is no more. Albi, also known as Snowy or Percy, fell foul of a hit-and-run driver outside the churchyard where he used to live and play in Dorking, Surrey. Dozens of tearful mourners have made the pilgrimage to his grave in a flower bed and turned it into a shrine to their 'light that has gone out'. Cards, flowers and bags of nuts surround the small wooden cross which marks the spot where his body lies.

(snip)

Only one in 100,000 squirrels is an albino. Since he appeared about two years ago Albi had become such a celebrity that his fans would wear white squirrel costumes at fancy-dress parties. After his death the Dorking Advertiser printed a tribute feature where readers were invited to send in their pictures of him. Lou Gardey was one of the first on the scene following the accident. She buried Albi in St Martin's churchyard so he could 'have some dignity'. 'Someone had just run over him and left him lying in the road,' she said. 'I went to get a bag for him and borrowed a spade. 'We made a little grave for him with a little wooden cross. He was so special – I thought he was something out of a fairy tale.

(snip)

However, Dorking is not unanimous in its grief. Some of the comments on the Facebook site suggested the squirrel was to blame for jaywalking, with one, from 'Kevin', saying: 'He should have joined the Tufty Club and learned the Green Cross Code.' And a friend of a woman visiting the grave remarked: 'Everyone's getting worked up about this, but I don't understand it. It's like the squirrel was Princess Diana or something. 'A few elderly people have been knocked down and killed by cars just down the road and you don't see a shrine for them.' Mother-of-four Juliet Grant, 33, added: 'I think it is a bit over the top and I was surprised to see so many tributes. At the end of the day, it is just a squirrel.' A Surrey Police spokesman said they were not looking for anybody in relation to Albi's death.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1226203/A-shrine-squirrel-Towns-Diana-style-grief-dead-albino-rodent.html#






Tributes: Flowers surround the inscribed tile where the squirrel was buried after he was killed by a hit and run driver

[virgogal]

1. Choosing a squirrel over elderly people says all you want to know

about the society in which we live.

[MichellesBFF]

4. Why is it always either or?

Why can't we be compassionate to BOTH humans and animals? Let's face it, it's hard to find sympathy for people when you can't
muster any for animals....

[question everything]

5. Now I know why you have this avatar

Thank you. Yes, individuals who show compassion to animals will be better in life. This is why we often point to criminals who, as boys, would torture animals.

[BrklynLiberal]

16. Well put. thank you.

[roguevalley]

28. I agree with you. People feel for animals and the WHY DO YOU HATE

OLD PEOPLE?!?! brigade slithers out. SIGH!

[Sal Minella]

6. People are all over the place.

Albino squirrels are exceedingly rare. Lovely things that are rare are cherished and lovely things that are exceedingly rare are exceedingly cherished.

The human who ran over him would certainly be well-advised to avoid getting in front of my car.

[aquart]

18. No, but it does say something about the person who dismisses honest grief.

Grief is only allowed where it is deemed appropriate? By whom? You?

The elderly individuals belonged to their families and were, we hope, mourned by them. The squirrel brightened the day of the community and it is the community which honestly feels its loss.

But why, exactly, is that a problem for you?

[Lorien]

27. It's not either/or. In fact, your statement says more about how you feel

about any living thing that isn't YOU. Psychologists have long known that humans who have the capacity to love animals are also more loving toward their fellow humans than those who are inconsiderate toward other species. A child who loves and cares well for a pet grows up to be an excellent parent. A child who kills animals for "fun" (like Bush jr.) grows into an adult with sociopathic tendencies. Most serial killers started their careers with animals.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

2. Unfortunately, we don't have an agreement with the squirrels.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

3. Wow, he was beautiful!

I've never seen an albino squirrel.

[barb162]

12. Neither have I

and yes, he's beautiful.

[barb162]

7. I think it's sweet that they cared for a wild animal.

And that they grew attached to having him (or her) around. I know I have grown attached to seeing the birds, squirrels, etc., around here that come by every day. WIldlife is important. :)

[Skip Intro]

15. Me too.

I would hate to think he was hit purposely.

[question everything]

19. Same here. We spread seeds and peanuts in the back yard

and everyone enjoy them, including enchanting red squirrels and, last year, a couple of young red foxes who loved the shelled peanuts and ignored the squirrels just hundred yards away..

[barb162]

21. I know the scenario.

:)
I just about have the birds looking in the windows for me to come out and feed them. I have red and gray squirrels coming here, bunnies, raccoons, etc. I didn't know foxes liked peanuts. I saw a fox here a few months ago just by accident. What else is interesting is the gray squirrels here are smaller than red squirrels but the red squirrels seem to be afraid of the gray squirrels.

[question everything]

22. Now that's a bizarro world

Our grays are like Sumo wrestlers. OK, we feed them almost around the clock. As soon as they see a movement in the house, they run to the back door.

The reds are smaller but the way they chase the much bigger grays is amazing. They may find a peanut, but they will abandon it to chase the gray across the street.

The reds are like a torpedo. Several years ago there was a mama red who would rush straight to the back door, If I tossed a peanut her way she would not stop, just come straight to the door.

About those foxes: not regular peanuts. We purchase them at a feed store, they are "rejects" - of the candy industry - meaning they are sweet and I think this is what the foxes were hooked on. You could almost see them smacking their lips.

[Lorien]

26. I do too. I have a friend who has raised three pet squirrels

he recently lost his oldest who was 10. He was shattered by grief; as much as anyone who has lost a beloved dog or cat would be. One can't minimize the love another has for an animal.

[GaYellowDawg]

8. They should just shorten the name of the town to "Dork."

What a bunch of dorks.

[KamaAina]

9. Wonder how they treat people with albinism (and other disabilities).

:shrug:

[barb162]

11. I would hope, very kindly.

Seriously.

[Hissyspit]

10. "Albi Nomore"

[libodem]

13. Ahhhh

Poor little squiddle.

[dysfunctional press]

14. "A Surrey Police spokesman said they were not looking for anybody in relation to Albi's death."

:rofl: :rofl: - oh wait...i don't think that he was joking.

a guide to urban wildlife:

squirrels- rats with furry tails
pigeons- rats that fly.
cockroaches- tiny rats.

[elehhhhna]

17. there's a bunch of albies in a town in illinois

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/set/squirrels.html

[question everything]

20. What a nice website. Will have to remember to visit Olney (nt)

[JCMach1]

23. Rodent fans putting the DORK back in DORKING

[eppur_se_muova]

24. "He was something of a legend in the area of Dorking."

(That line was used in a completely different context, but I've been waiting for a chance to use it.:evilgrin:)

[REP]

25. Finally figured it was St Princess not the goddess of the hunt Diana referred to in header

Doh.

[question everything]

29. LOL. This being the UK, yes, it was Princess Di

Have you seen the movie the Queen?

:hi: