‘Guard squirrel’ keeps watch over jeweler’s cash

Rescue leads to rare relationship

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (CBS News) - Turkish jeweller Mehmet Yuksel found the best place to squirrel away his earnings. His cash register is guarded by a staunch, lion-hearted squirrel named 'Memocan'.

Yuksel rescued Memocan and his brothers after their mother was found dead three months ago. The duo has been living together since then.

One day, Yuksel realized Memocan would not let anyone but the jeweller near the cash register. At first he thought it was a coincidence.

"When I took a closer look, I realized that it is not the case. This tiny animal has strong feelings," Yuksel said, adding he moves Memocan away when his staff need to use the register.

"He feels that this is important and valuable. I saw this. I move him away from the cash register because the workers cannot use the cash register. He intervenes and he even made their fingers bleed."

When he is not guarding the cash register, Memocan loves to dash about the display counter and stroll around when customers come in to shop.

"Memocan has been staying with me longer than expected because of a paw injury. He strolls around the shop. I take him home at nights. I don't use a cage. He is a free animal."

Yuksel says the squirrel will return to the wild one day soon after making a full recovery.