Oh my god!!!!!
I sincerely cannot stop crying right now. I won't be able to sleep either, oh my gosh my heart is just breaking
Lelle, I didn't doubt for a minute that your intentions were pure. I think we all love animals on this site and would never have malicious intentions that motivate our conduct toward animals. I, too, was in the same horrible situation about a year ago. I was driving and witnessed a cat that had just been struck by a car. he was still alive, his upper body squirming, wiggling, trying to drag himself across the road, but his lower body was an absolute pancake and their was lots of blood. I too, was totally panic stricken and did not know what the best thing to do for the animal was. If only he could have spoken and told me what he wanted me to do.
Anyway, my first instinct was too try and get him to an after hours vet (it was 3:30 am) to save him. Butmy next instict was that I was being selfish and that he was in excruciating pain and it would be cruel to NOT do something right then and there to put him out of his misery. But, like Kollision said, I did not have a gun and so I couldn't put him out of his misery. Anyway, all this was going through my mind in literally less than one minute. The cat died in my arms within minutes which is good I guess, because he did not suffer for long, but I knew that he did suffer what I am sure was unbearable pain for at least a few minutes!!
I was so depressed for such a long time after that, so it is perfecly natural Lelle that you are going to feel sad and even maybe guilty for a while. But don't be hard on yourself. You're not the asshole that hit the animal and just drove off. You stopped, which is more than most people apparently did. Running over the animal twice like you did, in order to try to kill it so it stops suffering, must have been EXTREMELY traumatic for you.
BUT EVERYBODY, LET US ALL MAKE THIS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE SO WE CAN BETTER HANDLE A SITUATION LIKE THIS IF IT EVER HAPPENS AGAIN. The day after my incident, I contacted a few local shelters and vets to ask them what their opinions were on the best thing to do when in that situation. Everybody advised me that running over the animal was
NOT WISE, because, like Kollision said, it is not a sure kill. Unless you have a gun and can execute the animal swiftly and painlessly, then
please do not try to kill it by running it over or steppiog on it and hitting it over the head or anything like that. You really only have two options - the best is to rush the animal to a 24 hour vet. So, to be prepared, I suggest that everybody right now take two minutes and find out where there are 24 hour vets in your city. Jot down the numbers and the addresses, and keep it and at all times in your wallet or car. Please do not just put this on your to do list, use the internet right now to locate this crucial info. Call the vets to make sure that the info is up to date and accurate. if you see aa half alive animal, and have a cell phone, call the vet and tell him what happened and that you are on your way. if you do not have a cell phone, just drive there asap.
Since injured wild animals can be dangerous to handle, be very careful and have the proper "equipment" in your car at all times like a rescue kit. This includes a blanket, a flashlight, and most importantly, a long pair of real sturdy construction gloves in case the animal tries to bite you. Aagain, please do not put this off. make this an urgent errand.
The only other option is to stay with the animal and speak to it gently and in a soothing and comforting manner. But it seems though that the animal can end up languishing in pain for too long with option two,
so if I cam ever in a situation like that again, I am going to try adn go with option one. I have the numbers and addresses of two 24 hour vets in my purse, and the gloves and blanket and box/cage in the trunk of my car. I am prepared.
I feel guilty that I never thought about posting tips on how to handle a situation like that sooner. if I had, maybe Lelle you would have been a little more prepared, and the little fox would have suffered less
Lelle, we are hear for you when you need us. Don't be hard on yourself. You know you love animals and want to end animal suffering. That is why you are vegan.
YOu help animals everyday with your veganism. Do not let it eat away at you. Learn from it, take the above actions and be prepared for next time, if there is one
I will never forget what that beautiful cat looked like. I am sure you will never forget the memory of that fox which you tried to help either.
Everybody, unless you want to be depressed for a long time and have bad dreams, please take the above noted steps immediately and be prepared. It
CAN happen to you anytime, and if it does,
you will wish you were prepared.
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