Last night I was on my way to my mom's house, and I saw a wild rabbit in the middle of the road who had been hit by a car and was moving around, in much pain. My heart broke! :( Cars were driving right over him while he was very obviously still alive. I slammed on the brakes and stopped the car in the middle of the road, stopped traffic, picked the poor little guy up with my hoodie, and began to panic, not knowing who to call.

He had internal wounds - he was bleeding internally, but had no signs of damage to his fur or skin, and was going very limp but moving his head around and looking at me. It seriously broke my heart. I was sobbing, trying to call anyone I could. I called 911, I called the police, I called the wildlife rescue people - no one would help me. All the vets in the area said they didn't handle bunnies. I finally decided to drive 40 minutes back to where I live so I could take him to the emergency exotics vet who sees my bunny.

Sadly, he passed away on the way to the vet, in my arms. I swear, I was such a wreck. I brought him to the vet anyway, they confirmed that he was dead, and I took him out to a field with tall grass to lay him down somewhere a little more natural for him than the middle of a busy road.

I was so upset that I wasn't able to save him. What I want to know is what I should have/could have done differently in this situation. Who should I have called? What would you guys have done?

:(

I don't think you could have done any more. I am shocked that the vets you rang refused to help.

They only thing I can advise is to maybe compile a list of emergency vets in case anything like this happens again.
:(

Try and take some comfort in the fact that you did your best and stopped the bunny being hit by any more cars.

It sounds to me like you did all you could. I can't believe that one of the vets wouldn't help. I saved a baby bunny from one of my cats a few years back (well thought I saved it). I brought it to my vet who said it was too far gone and she at least euthanized it. I offered to pay whatever it cost but she wouldn't take my money. Sorry you had to go through that. It breaks my heart just reading about it.
The positive thing I did today was to look up wildlife rescue places in my area so that if something like this, or like what happened with Sallyk finding the blind bird happens, I will be prepared and know where to bring it! Again, so sorry you had to experience this. :(

Karen - I'm glad you're prepared now, it's a scary feeling when you aren't. I did try to call a wildlife rescue office, and got a message that lasted about fifteen minutes. Hopefully the one in your area is a little more helpful!

That's so sad. I don't think there's really anything more you could have done. Even if you'd been able to take it to a vet in time it probably would have died or they would have euthenised it. Just think how much nicer it was for it to die snugged up safe in your arms than in the middle of the road with traffic running over it. :hug:

:hug: That's so sad.

But...I have a suggestion.

And this is something I've been meaning to do for quite some time, I haven't gotten around to it yet, but I'm still going to do it. I swear.

PETA sells an emergency rescue kit for anybody who comes across a lost and/or injured animal (mainly a dog or cat). It includes a cardboard carrier with a towel. It's meant to be kept in one's car. I suggest that anybody reading this who has a car either get that kit from PETA or assemble something similar from scratch; get a carrier, a towel or two, some pet food, etc. See if a vet has any suggestions for what else can go in the emergency kit. At least that would help to be prepared should anybody come across an injured animal.

http://www.petacatalog.org/prodinfo.asp?number=CA150

That's so sad. I don't think there's really anything more you could have done. Even if you'd been able to take it to a vet in time it probably would have died or they would have euthenised it. Just think how much nicer it was for it to die snugged up safe in your arms than in the middle of the road with traffic running over it. :hug:

That is exactly what I was going to say - I had a similar incident with a bird last year - it flew into the side of my house and broke it's neck but didn't die instantly. I picked it up and held it until it died (only about 5 minutes) but I knew that those last few minutes were more calm for it than if I had left it laying on my porch.

You did the right thing - you gave the bunny a chance - something that none of the other motorists did. I'm sure if the bunny could have talked he would have told you thank you for picking it up - and for loving it enough to try to help.

:angel:

That's so sad. I don't think there's really anything more you could have done. Even if you'd been able to take it to a vet in time it probably would have died or they would have euthenised it. Just think how much nicer it was for it to die snugged up safe in your arms than in the middle of the road with traffic running over it. :hug:Well said. :)

:( <<<--- for the rabbit.

:hug: That's so sad.

But...I have a suggestion.

And this is something I've been meaning to do for quite some time, I haven't gotten around to it yet, but I'm still going to do it. I swear.

PETA sells an emergency rescue kit for anybody who comes across a lost and/or injured animal (mainly a dog or cat). It includes a cardboard carrier with a towel. It's meant to be kept in one's car. I suggest that anybody reading this who has a car either get that kit from PETA or assemble something similar from scratch; get a carrier, a towel or two, some pet food, etc. See if a vet has any suggestions for what else can go in the emergency kit. At least that would help to be prepared should anybody come across an injured animal.

http://www.petacatalog.org/prodinfo.asp?number=CA150

Thanks Amy! That sounds like a good idea. Does it come with a magic wand that makes animals not die? I wish it would :(

Thank you for the comments everyone...seriously, it was one of the worst feelings ever. Siiiiigh. Poor bunny.

I'm glad you were there for the bunny in his/her last moments. :cry:

:hug:

You deserve big fat hugs for all you did! It makes my eyes tear up just thinking about it.... If only more people were like you.

do most cities have emergency vets? mine does. what I might do is take the animal directly to the emergency vet without even calling first (especially if I was being turned away by other vets). I think they pretty much have to see you - or it would be appalling if they didn't if you showed up with a severly injured animal of any sort... I think at the point you were at with the rabbit, euthanasia was probably the best thing - and at least the emergency vet could figure out how to do that properly.

Oh Mingo, I'm sorry :hug:

I'm going to disagree with holding a dying wild animal for a peaceful death.
They are wild animals, being held by a person is probably stressful for them and they only tolerate it because they are dying and too weak.

You did what you could and I think that's all anyone can ask of you. I'd probably just move a dying animal to the side of the road or place them on the back seat of the car. If they are that close to dying, probably best to just move them to the side of the road so they don't get run over again.

I don't know that just moving the animal to the side of the road is a good idea. An animal moved to the side of the road may take days to die, if the injuries are things like a smashed pelvis. Being euthanized or killed quickly seems kinder.

[QUOTE=mingo]Thanks Amy! That sounds like a good idea. Does it come with a magic wand that makes animals not die? I wish it would :(
[QUOTE]

Funnily enough, I think you can get something which you can give to animals that would usually die from shock, which prevents this. I can't remember what it's called....this is really going to bug me. It's like a liqiud, medicine type thing.

I think you're talking about Rescue Remedy. It's a homeopathic remedy. Sure, one can try it, but it wouldn't really fix the problem for a severe physical injury. In that case the animal needs medical trauma care.

I think you're talking about Rescue Remedy. It's a homeopathic remedy. Sure, one can try it, but it wouldn't really fix the problem for a severe physical injury. In that case the animal needs medical trauma care.

Can you tell me more about this? When does it work and when should it be used? It sounds interesting, especially for animals that aren't severely injured but that die simply from the shock and fear of their injury.

I'm not a big believer in homeopathic remedies like this, but some people like them and believe that they have had success with them. Here's something...
http://www.herbs2000.com/h_menu/1_bach_fl_rr.htm But if you do a search with combinations of terms like: Bach flower/rescue remedy/animals/trauma etc. you should find a lot of references. You can usually find it in health food stores.

Mingo - you did a wonderful job.

I'm going to disagree with holding a dying wild animal for a peaceful death.
They are wild animals, being held by a person is probably stressful for them and they only tolerate it because they are dying and too weak.



I do wonder about this. Is it better then not to hold the wild animal and to - as you suggested - just leave them at the back of your car?

well done mingo for doing the right thing ans stopping, if only the other people did it earlier... some people have no feelings. i couldnt have driven past a poor bunny. you did all you could. and i wish there were more people like you! :)