You discover a litter of kittens and their sick mother while on a walk. You have recently started seeing a dog in your neighborhood who is getting very thin but seems to have no home. You are driving and see a cat or a dog on the side of the road, alive but unable to walk and obviously in pain.
Chances are these scenarios, if and when they happen to you, will be your introduction to the suffering going on all around you. Suffering that is caused by thoughtless and careless pet caretakers, who allow their animals to roam, get lost or injured and contribute to our massive pet overpopulation. These all-too-common situations are killing pets daily in the Tulsa area. Tens of thousands of animals become homeless and die in our city every year. It is likely that, sooner or later, you will have an opportunity to find and save a homeless animal in need. What will you do?
Your first action needs to happen today, before you find yourself sitting on the side of the road with an injured animal. You need to think hard, right now, about whether you want to help. Too often, people act on impulse and pick up an animal they cannot or will not take into their homes. So, think through this common outcome: you pick up a litter with their mother, make a few calls and suddenly realize that there are too many animals and not enough rescuers to save them all. If you put a litter of babies in your car, are you prepared to take responsibility for them for an hour, a day, a week, or longer? If every group is full and you must wait for an opening, can you provide the needed care until someone has space? If not, you are likely to be faced very quickly with a choice- how to "get rid of" animals that you are now responsible for. Yes, you are responsible, the minute you pick up that animal or that litter. Saving animals is hard and expensive work, and Animal Aid and the other rescue groups in Tulsa work tirelessly to save as many as they can. But the simple truth is that, even with their combined efforts, an estimated 25,000 dogs and cats will die this year in Tulsa, as they do every year. Please do your part- if you can help, do so. Make advance plans now. Think about housing arrangements for any stray you might be able to save. Most of us have a room that can be blocked off, so your own pets will not mingle with a homeless stray. How can you provide for potty breaks for a dog, litter box for a cat? All it takes is a little creativity to come up with a place to sleep, bowls for food and water, and something to eat for a homeless animal. But it also takes willingness- willingness to put yourself out a little bit, in return for saving a life. You won't be sorry!
So, having thought this all through, you see an animal in need and are willing to help. What now? I recommend that you have a few basic items in your car, a sort of a roadside emergency kit. You will need to carry a blanket. The bigger it is, the better. It can be used to cover and pick up frightened smaller animals, cover the head and face of a larger animal who needs to be picked up, warm cold or shocky animals and it makes a great hammock for transporting larger animals. You will also need a leash. If your vet's office has disposable slip leads, ask if you can buy a couple. If not, carry a leash long enough to fashion a slip lead. Not only are leads good for keeping a dog from leaving, they also make good temporary muzzles for safely handling dogs who are in pain. Ask your vet to show you how to use a lead as a muzzle. And leads can be used as tie-downs as need arises. Another good item for your kit is a can or two of cat food. Cat food is a great lure for nervous dogs and cats. You can also leave food for an animal you cannot catch, to tide him over until you can come back and try again. An old shower curtain or large plastic sheet can be put on your car seat to keep blood or dirt off, should you need to transport a dirty or bleeding animal. A cardboard box makes a good carrier for babies or cats- be sure to provide air holes.
A vital part of your kit is your cell phone. If you find orphaned nursing babies or an injured animal who needs immediate veterinary care, call Animal Aid (744-8280) from the site. They can tell you where to take the animal, day or night.
For less critical cases, such as the thin stray wandering in your neighborhood, gain the animal's trust by offering food and water. You can call Animal Aid for help during regular hours, but this animal's situation is generally not a nighttime emergency. Do not try to pet an animal who is scared or skittish- traumatized animals can bite. You have no idea if he is healthy, or if he carries a transmissible disease. Remember, too, that although he may be a perfectly nice animal, if you hurt him or scare him and he bites, his chances for a good home go down. Use common sense and always be safety-conscious.If a situation comes up and you are not sure how to handle it, call someone and ask! Situations you should always call for help with are trauma cases, very ill animals and nursing babies. Puppies and kittens are not little cows, and they should not be fed cow's milk; call for advice on formulas. Never give any medication to any animal without specific advice from a veterinarian.
We all want to help save animals. Follow these few simple steps to do your part: be willing and prepared for all outcomes ahead of time, have an emergency kit ready in your car, and call Animal Aid for help and advice. The time, effort and expense you put in will be rewarded when the animal you save becomes someone's new best friend!
Chances are these scenarios, if and when they happen to you, will be your introduction to the suffering going on all around you. Suffering that is caused by thoughtless and careless pet caretakers, who allow their animals to roam, get lost or injured and contribute to our massive pet overpopulation. These all-too-common situations are killing pets daily in the Tulsa area. Tens of thousands of animals become homeless and die in our city every year. It is likely that, sooner or later, you will have an opportunity to find and save a homeless animal in need. What will you do?
Your first action needs to happen today, before you find yourself sitting on the side of the road with an injured animal. You need to think hard, right now, about whether you want to help. Too often, people act on impulse and pick up an animal they cannot or will not take into their homes. So, think through this common outcome: you pick up a litter with their mother, make a few calls and suddenly realize that there are too many animals and not enough rescuers to save them all. If you put a litter of babies in your car, are you prepared to take responsibility for them for an hour, a day, a week, or longer? If every group is full and you must wait for an opening, can you provide the needed care until someone has space? If not, you are likely to be faced very quickly with a choice- how to "get rid of" animals that you are now responsible for. Yes, you are responsible, the minute you pick up that animal or that litter. Saving animals is hard and expensive work, and Animal Aid and the other rescue groups in Tulsa work tirelessly to save as many as they can. But the simple truth is that, even with their combined efforts, an estimated 25,000 dogs and cats will die this year in Tulsa, as they do every year. Please do your part- if you can help, do so. Make advance plans now. Think about housing arrangements for any stray you might be able to save. Most of us have a room that can be blocked off, so your own pets will not mingle with a homeless stray. How can you provide for potty breaks for a dog, litter box for a cat? All it takes is a little creativity to come up with a place to sleep, bowls for food and water, and something to eat for a homeless animal. But it also takes willingness- willingness to put yourself out a little bit, in return for saving a life. You won't be sorry!
So, having thought this all through, you see an animal in need and are willing to help. What now? I recommend that you have a few basic items in your car, a sort of a roadside emergency kit. You will need to carry a blanket. The bigger it is, the better. It can be used to cover and pick up frightened smaller animals, cover the head and face of a larger animal who needs to be picked up, warm cold or shocky animals and it makes a great hammock for transporting larger animals. You will also need a leash. If your vet's office has disposable slip leads, ask if you can buy a couple. If not, carry a leash long enough to fashion a slip lead. Not only are leads good for keeping a dog from leaving, they also make good temporary muzzles for safely handling dogs who are in pain. Ask your vet to show you how to use a lead as a muzzle. And leads can be used as tie-downs as need arises. Another good item for your kit is a can or two of cat food. Cat food is a great lure for nervous dogs and cats. You can also leave food for an animal you cannot catch, to tide him over until you can come back and try again. An old shower curtain or large plastic sheet can be put on your car seat to keep blood or dirt off, should you need to transport a dirty or bleeding animal. A cardboard box makes a good carrier for babies or cats- be sure to provide air holes.
A vital part of your kit is your cell phone. If you find orphaned nursing babies or an injured animal who needs immediate veterinary care, call Animal Aid (744-8280) from the site. They can tell you where to take the animal, day or night.
For less critical cases, such as the thin stray wandering in your neighborhood, gain the animal's trust by offering food and water. You can call Animal Aid for help during regular hours, but this animal's situation is generally not a nighttime emergency. Do not try to pet an animal who is scared or skittish- traumatized animals can bite. You have no idea if he is healthy, or if he carries a transmissible disease. Remember, too, that although he may be a perfectly nice animal, if you hurt him or scare him and he bites, his chances for a good home go down. Use common sense and always be safety-conscious.If a situation comes up and you are not sure how to handle it, call someone and ask! Situations you should always call for help with are trauma cases, very ill animals and nursing babies. Puppies and kittens are not little cows, and they should not be fed cow's milk; call for advice on formulas. Never give any medication to any animal without specific advice from a veterinarian.
We all want to help save animals. Follow these few simple steps to do your part: be willing and prepared for all outcomes ahead of time, have an emergency kit ready in your car, and call Animal Aid for help and advice. The time, effort and expense you put in will be rewarded when the animal you save becomes someone's new best friend!
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