Rescuing injured animals - what would you do/have done?

[Skibird]

I don't know what it is, but I seem to be a magnet for it, yesterday is just another example.
When out walking my dog I came across some sort of Gull that was just "sitting", very close to the Military Road in the IOW. I went over to see if it was just resting and would fly away, which it tried to do but couldn't because of an injured leg (or more). I could not just walk away, so to cut a long story short, with a neighbours help we rescued it and it was taken away by a 'Gull's rescue' when once again I could get no response from the RSPCA.
I'm not exaggerating when I say it always happens to me, as in the 3.5years we have been here in the IOW, I have rescued dog's on 3 different occasions, multiple sheep running free on main roads twice, birds 3 times and even cows on one occasion.
What has happened to you, and what was the outcome?

 

[Deleted member 26715]

It's those islanders they just don't care

 

[Drago]

RSPCA as a bunch of [deleted by mods to avoid forum meltdown]

 

[Joffey]

Can't you just take em to the vets?

 

[Alex H]

Found a young barn owl trapped in our garden gate - it was hanging by it's wing in between the uprights and it looked dead, as it wasn't moving. Got some gloves and picked it up - it woke up. Put it in the garden and left it - it flew off a couple of minutes later

 

[Chromatic]

Can't you just take em to the vets?

Yes you can, they're obliged to care for an injured wild animal and will arrange specialist care. I found an injured barn owl once, there is a barn owl place in Glouceste which is where I took it, they told me to take it to a vet and they will care for it. The vet took it in gave it some immediate care then arranged for a barn owl rescue place to have it. Unfortunately it was too badly injured and when I contacted the owl place to enquire after it they said as such and they had to put it down.

 

[Accy cyclist]

I've kind of rescued a few birds over the last few years,but they didn't survive. I think it's the shock of whatever happened to them that makes survival difficult. I'd say the best you can do is make them comfy and i know some will say "What"?!, but i talk to them and stroke them to show them a bit of love before they pass away. I rescued a rabbit once while out window cleaning. It was in a hutch outside. Not only was it freezing cold (no straw for warmth,just chewed up newspapers and a plastic sheet,not a thick blanket covering the hutch),but the owner had been feeding it,wait for this......chapatis and rice!! I pointed out to him that rabbits don't actually like such stuff,but the next time i went round to do his windows there was the rabbit looking very cold and most likely very hungry. Yes,i could've spent 20 minutes on the phone trying to get the ineffective at times RSPCA out,but i decided to do a bit of 'animal liberation' instead,so i sneaked back later in the day and took the rabbit out of the hutch and took him/her round to another customer who rescued rabbits and hares. When i went round to the rabbit owner's the next time i asked what had happened to his rabbit. He told me it must've been eaten by foxes. The rabbit lived happily ever after in its new home.

 

[Levo-Lon]

I usually have to put them out of their misery at work.

Nice little cat that visits likes to tear pigeons doves and other birds apart but often leaves them alive in distress.

Residents all think Arthur is a lovely cat, I'd like to bury the fooker

 

[Sharky]

It's those islanders they just don't care

At least they are not at risk from Triffids as we are on the mainland.

 

[Chris S]

I faced a similar dilema last week when a fluffy white bird with black tail feathers flew into my window. My neighbour's cat solved it for me by killing it and leaving it as a present for them on their doorstep.

 

[annedonnelly]

RSPCA don't seem to be interested in that sort of thing. It's worth knowing details of a local wildlife rescue centre if you have one as they can usually advise on what to do. Vets seem to be prepared to do a lot for wild animals.

 

[annedonnelly]

Found a young barn owl trapped in our garden gate - it was hanging by it's wing in between the uprights and it looked dead, as it wasn't moving. Got some gloves and picked it up - it woke up. Put it in the garden and left it - it flew off a couple of minutes later

View attachment 492069

I suppose it had exhausted itself by struggling to get free. Well done for rescuing it.

Is there anything you need to do to your gate to prevent it happening again?

 

[Milkfloat]

I usually have to put them out of their misery at work.

Nice little cat that visits likes to tear pigeons doves and other birds apart but often leaves them alive in distress.

Residents all think Arthur is a lovely cat, I'd like to bury the fooker

For some reason this popped into my head.

 

[swee'pea99]

Found a young barn owl trapped in our garden gate - it was hanging by it's wing in between the uprights and it looked dead, as it wasn't moving. Got some gloves and picked it up - it woke up. Put it in the garden and left it - it flew off a couple of minutes later

View attachment 492069

Wow - what a beautiful creature.

 

[Dec66]

A cautionary tale...

View: https://youtu.be/ULx9k2QkL94