What would you do with a squirrel with a broken leg?
Posted on 08. Oct, 2009 by kchristieh in animals
I knew something was up when I called my little dog to come inside last night and I didn’t hear him. He has so much bling (aka tags) on his collar that I can usually hear him from across the yard. I grew worried, afraid that he’d escaped into the darkness. My son finally found him in the corner of the yard, with a young squirrel in his mouth. Thankfully, he dropped the squirrel and came running to me, so I put him inside and pondered what to do with the squirrel.
The squirrel was still alive, but it appeared to have a broken back leg. It limped about, and couldn’t climb a tree or a fence. We were in a hurry to go out, so I had to decide quickly. I figured I had two choices:
- Kill the squirrel
- Let the squirrel live until it died on its own
It was so cute. It looked like the picture on the right. I took an actual picture of it, but I don’t think you want to see it.
I let the squirrel live. My son used a shovel to cajole it into a long box we had in our garage, and we dumped the squirrel onto a bed of leaves in a neighbor’s yard that doesn’t have a dog. (and doesn’t read this blog) I didn’t want to leave it in our yard, for fear that my dog would find it and finish it off.
Maybe I should have whacked it with the shovel so that it wouldn’t suffer. I just couldn’t. Maybe I’m a wimp, or a softie, or just a naive product of suburbia.
It was sad.
A trip to the Pasadena humane society with the wounded animal would have done more for the poor squirrel than all these words. Most likely he had also internal injuries from the dog’s jaws. It was cruel to let this animal die in misery.
I had no idea that the Pasadena Humane Society took in squirrels. I’ve been there many times, but have never seen a squirrel there. The only wild animals I’ve seen have been an alligator and a hawk. I called them yesterday after some people on Facebook mentioned them, and they confirmed that they do take squirrels in. I felt awful when I found this out.
At the time this happened, I didn’t even imagine that that was an alternative. In fact, the first few people I spoke to said I should have killed it to put it out of its misery, so they had no idea either. I love animals, and was entranced by this little squirrel, and that’s why I blogged about it.
Hopefully these words will inform other people about what to do in this circumstance. The reaction to them has informed me about what to do if this should happen again.
I suppose some cultures wood put it on their menu: Red Spicy Squirre!
well, i’m sure whatever you had to go out and do was just so far more important then to help the little animal. to tell you the truth, i can’t believe you didn’t stay and help him. it’s discusting. and makes me feel ill. i have had several squirrels and rehabbed. they are smart and my dog shares her home with one right now. we got him with a broken leg..he has a cast now. he’s sweet and my dog ..german shepherd, is very good to him. unfortunate that this poor little thing had to come into a yard with someone who didn’t even care enough to bring him in and take him to someone who could help.
shame on you.