photo #9279820

Many people think too much of themselves to lend a helping hand. We need to have a serious discussion about turning a blind eye to animal suffering. And I am going to warn you right now: I am angry. I understand that people have their own shit going on. I do. People are busy. People are sick. People have disabilities, immune disorders, children, jobs, responsibilities, fears, and circumstances that I may know nothing about. I understand that. But when you call me about a juvenile raccoon lying in your backyard, emaciated, compromised, and absolutely SLATHERED in fly eggs, and then tell me you are unwilling to put it in a box because of, “personal reasons that are none of your business,” I am not going to pretend that I understand. I don't. I will never understand being willing to watch an animal be eaten alive in your backyard. Because that is what is happening. Myiasis is not a peaceful death. This animal is not simply going to close its eyes and drift away. Fly eggs hatch. Maggots begin consuming tissue. They enter wounds and body openings. A living animal is quite literally eaten alive. And you were willing to leave it there. Tonight, at 11:00 at night, I am driving 25 minutes to pick up a dying juvenile raccoon. Then I will drive another 25 minutes home. Then I will likely spend the next hour—or more—removing fly eggs and maggots from its horribly emaciated and compromised little body and trying to stabilize it. Why? Because the people who called me couldn't be bothered to do anything beyond making the phone call. They were not willing to transport it. Initially, they were not even willing to put it in a box so that I could come get it. Only after I pushed the issue and made it abundantly clear what was happening to this animal did they finally agree to do that much. I have just gotten over being extremely sick. I was in the hospital twice in one week. Today was my first day back at work, and I worked both of my jobs. I came home wanting to care for my own animals and go to bed. Instead, I am going back out. Because an animal is suffering, and apparently somebody has to care enough to do something about it. I don't expect everyone to be a wildlife rehabilitator. I don't expect everyone to know how to stabilize an animal, administer medication, treat wounds, remove parasites, or provide specialized care. That is my job. But I do expect basic human decency. If you see an animal suffering, make the phone call. And if a rehabilitator agrees to help, please understand that we need you to participate in that rescue too. Put on gloves. Use a towel. Put the animal in a box. Drive it if you are physically able. Meet us halfway. Do SOMETHING. Rehabilitators are exhausted. We are overwhelmed. We have jobs, families, illnesses, responsibilities, and animals already depending on us. We cannot always drop everything and drive an hour round trip because someone else has decided that making a phone call is the absolute limit of their responsibility. I understand that there are legitimate circumstances where someone truly cannot physically intervene or transport an animal. But “I just don't want to” dressed up as “personal reasons” while a living creature is being eaten alive ten feet from your back door? No. I will never understand that mentality. I will never accept it. And tonight, while I am picking maggots off a dying baby raccoon at midnight, I will once again be wondering how some people can look directly at suffering, close the door, and go back inside. 🛑by all odds, baby has survived and will be transferred to @marleys castle later today🛑 See less