A dead deer :o(
Whenever I'm out driving, I'm always on the lookout for animals. I love spotting deer grazing in the fields or bald eagles flying way up high in the sky :o) I think it's a privilege to see such beauty in nature and it's something that many of us take for granted.
But whenever I'm out driving, I'm also on the lookout for dead animals :o( Why? Well, it's not what you might think. About four years ago, I was driving to work when I spotted a dead animal (or what I thought was dead) in the other lane of the highway. When I looked in my rear view mirror, I was shocked to see that ball of fur was moving!
I was running late for work but I knew that I couldn't just leave a poor animal in the middle of the highway, only to be hit again. I turned the car around and as I came up to the animal, I noticed that it was a small dog. Not really thinking, I carried it to the side of the road. This was a section of road that only had a few houses but I had no idea where to start searching for the owner.
I finally decided to drop the dog off at the veterinary clinic on my way to work. I scooped little Fido up and placed him/her in my car. What a sweet little dog it was too :o) When I brought the dog in, I told them what I had found. I felt really guilty because I was in a rush and I figured they thought "I" was the one that hit the dog. I left my name and phone number and said I would call later on to see how the dog was doing.
Apparently the dog had a broken/fractured pelvis (I think this is right but my memory may be wrong) but no other wounds. Luckily, the owner located her dog when little Fido didn't return home. That night, she called me and thanked me for looking after her dog. I told her that I would hope someone would do the same for me.
So, last night as I was returning home from one of our "paint get-togethers", I noticed something in the ditch and it looked an awful lot like a deer...just sitting there. I thought it was too odd for a deer to be doing that so I turned the car around and went to investigate. I pulled over on the opposite side of the road and sure enough, it was a deer...a very pretty doe.
As I walked over to her, she tried to get up but her back end was failing her. And then I knew...someone had hit her with a car and had just left her there to suffer :o( I didn't dare leave her while I went and found a phone so I moved the car over to the other side of the road and put my headlights right on her. I was torn about what I should do. Thankfully, someone 'finally' stopped. They had a cell phone and called for help.
I got about five feet away from the doe but she wouldn't allow anyone closer than that. I kept talking to her when she'd get upset because she'd try to stand but her broken leg(s) wouldn't allow her to :o( It was just gut wrenching watching this. I sat down so she didn't feel so threatened and after about 15 minutes, she stopped panting. What a beautiful animal she was. Her face was so delicate with huge dark eyes. I knew what was going to happen to her and in a way, I think she knew too.
The ranger arrived about 20 minutes later. He explained what he had to do and gave us a chance to leave if we wanted to. We both left. I had to. I didn't want to be witness to an animal being killed, no matter what her fate would have been. By the time I got home, I was shaking from head to toe.
You often hear people berate animals for some of their so called strange behaviour when in reality, that behaviour is quite normal. They are only adapting to 'our' world. We're the ones that invaded their space and made it smaller. We're the ones that are forcing them to change their habitats. As much as they say that humans are an intelligent race, I have to disagree. We have made many mistakes along the way and we are continuing to do so. Will we ever learn? Maybe, but I bet by then it will be too late.
Whenever I'm out driving, I'm always on the lookout for animals. I love spotting deer grazing in the fields or bald eagles flying way up high in the sky :o) I think it's a privilege to see such beauty in nature and it's something that many of us take for granted.
But whenever I'm out driving, I'm also on the lookout for dead animals :o( Why? Well, it's not what you might think. About four years ago, I was driving to work when I spotted a dead animal (or what I thought was dead) in the other lane of the highway. When I looked in my rear view mirror, I was shocked to see that ball of fur was moving!
I was running late for work but I knew that I couldn't just leave a poor animal in the middle of the highway, only to be hit again. I turned the car around and as I came up to the animal, I noticed that it was a small dog. Not really thinking, I carried it to the side of the road. This was a section of road that only had a few houses but I had no idea where to start searching for the owner.
I finally decided to drop the dog off at the veterinary clinic on my way to work. I scooped little Fido up and placed him/her in my car. What a sweet little dog it was too :o) When I brought the dog in, I told them what I had found. I felt really guilty because I was in a rush and I figured they thought "I" was the one that hit the dog. I left my name and phone number and said I would call later on to see how the dog was doing.
Apparently the dog had a broken/fractured pelvis (I think this is right but my memory may be wrong) but no other wounds. Luckily, the owner located her dog when little Fido didn't return home. That night, she called me and thanked me for looking after her dog. I told her that I would hope someone would do the same for me.
So, last night as I was returning home from one of our "paint get-togethers", I noticed something in the ditch and it looked an awful lot like a deer...just sitting there. I thought it was too odd for a deer to be doing that so I turned the car around and went to investigate. I pulled over on the opposite side of the road and sure enough, it was a deer...a very pretty doe.
As I walked over to her, she tried to get up but her back end was failing her. And then I knew...someone had hit her with a car and had just left her there to suffer :o( I didn't dare leave her while I went and found a phone so I moved the car over to the other side of the road and put my headlights right on her. I was torn about what I should do. Thankfully, someone 'finally' stopped. They had a cell phone and called for help.
I got about five feet away from the doe but she wouldn't allow anyone closer than that. I kept talking to her when she'd get upset because she'd try to stand but her broken leg(s) wouldn't allow her to :o( It was just gut wrenching watching this. I sat down so she didn't feel so threatened and after about 15 minutes, she stopped panting. What a beautiful animal she was. Her face was so delicate with huge dark eyes. I knew what was going to happen to her and in a way, I think she knew too.
The ranger arrived about 20 minutes later. He explained what he had to do and gave us a chance to leave if we wanted to. We both left. I had to. I didn't want to be witness to an animal being killed, no matter what her fate would have been. By the time I got home, I was shaking from head to toe.
You often hear people berate animals for some of their so called strange behaviour when in reality, that behaviour is quite normal. They are only adapting to 'our' world. We're the ones that invaded their space and made it smaller. We're the ones that are forcing them to change their habitats. As much as they say that humans are an intelligent race, I have to disagree. We have made many mistakes along the way and we are continuing to do so. Will we ever learn? Maybe, but I bet by then it will be too late.
15 comments:
It's already too late for many. We are alot alike. I always want to stop and be sure something is okay, hubby never does. Bless your heart for doing something so she didn't need to suffer anymore. Off to get some kleenex *sniff*
Wow, I'm not even sure what to comment, except it's very sad.
From the doe's point of view, better a very quick and painless ending, than a carnavore coming across her, in a helpless state.
:o(
I'm glad you were there to make her ending a lot better than it would have been otherwise.
Like you, I have an incredibly soft heart that breaks whenever I see an injured or dead animal. For what it's worth, you did the right thing for the deer by helping to put her out of her pain.
I am crying as I read this.
If it makes you feel better, (and I know it won't), I firmly think that we are judged by how we treat the creatures we were given dominion over. And I think you were a wise and faithful guardian to help them like you did. Bless you
Your compassion is astounding. As difficult as it must have been for you to see the deer suffering, it was great that you stayed with her long enough to get her calmed down some.
Hugs to you!
We live too where there are many deer and other animals crossing the road to only be left on the side of the road. Kudo's to you for staying with her.
Your art work is beautiful. I love black and white photo's. I sure hope it brings a pretty penny.
Oh Hun! How sad,at least the poor thing isn't in any pain now!!
Cathey, you never cease to amaze me. If it hadn't been for you, the deer would have suffered way too long. I'm so glad you were there for her, and the dog as well.
First of all, how wonderful for you that you live where you can see deer when you are out driving. What a pleasure that must be.
How sad though to see the poor animal injured. I'm glad you care! I too love animals.
How kind of you to help that little dog and save it's life. And so nice to stop for the deer. I love deer, they are such delicate animals. I had 2 deer walk through my back yard a few days ago and I find they are just breath taking animals. I knew what would have to happen to the one you found, but there really was no other option. Hope you don't feel bad about it ;)
How awful! I was so sad reading that, but just think that poor deer would have sat there and suffered if you had not the heart to stop. Though it did not change the outcome-you did a beautiful thing.
On an up note-I am glad little Fido will okay and is reunited with his owner!
I'm so glad you were able to help the dog, without you he wouldn't have made it. When I think of my own pets I know how much his owner must have appreciated it as well. How heartbreaking on the deer though. To know that you couldn't help and make her better would be so hard. However, you allowed her end to be so much better than it would have been otherwise.
Sue
:sad:
Thank you for staying with her until help came. I'm sorry the help wasn't more positive.
God Bless you, Cathey for being such a caring person. I have always loved animals but I don't think I really appreciated them when I was younger as much as I do now. I am amazed by them and how much beauty they bring to the earth.
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