WESTFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) -- We’ve all heard the phrase: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Now, one local non-profit organization has a little bit of a different approach to taking care of mother earth: Rescue, Rehabilitate, and Release.

This weekend, Urban Wildlife Rehabilitation celebrated 25 years of providing medical care, food, and shelter to injured, sick, and orphaned wild animals from across the Bay State; until they are healthy enough to go back home to the wild.

On Sunday, a celebration was held at Stanley Park in Westfield. It was a day of family fun; with games, raffles, and a chance to meet some of the wildlife ambassadors.

Western Mass News was at the event, getting the chance to speak with Kathy Gaynor, the President and Lead Rehabilitator of Urban Wildlife, who explains, “...It’s all about trying to teach the kids about our native wildlife, our animal control officers, what wildlife rehabbers do. We have all of our turtles and the ambassador animals coming from Berkshire County Turtle Rescue... and hopefully the kids had so much fun today they didn’t know they were learning.”

While the celebration may be over, your chance to learn more never ends. You can click here to learn more about the non-profits mission, what classifies as an orphaned wild animal, and how you can help get them back home.

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