Rabbit rescue
I'm using this icon only because Watership Down is front-and-center in my mind right now, not because of the sentiment expressed in it. ;)
We have a very large pine tree in our backyard surrounded by a lot of brush that has, for many years, been home to rabbits.
This evening we noticed a rabbit lying on its side in our back yard, in obvious distress. It appeared to have broken one of its hind legs, although I'm obviously not an expert so I can't diagnose for sure. There's no visible blood.
The rabbit tried to make its way across the yard toward the brush where its fellow rabbits live but it was slow, obviously painful going, as it was lying on its side, trying to slide through the grass using its other three limbs.
I suppose we should have let nature takes its course but we couldn't stand to think of the poor thing suffering out there all night. I put an old laundry basket over it while we called for help.
First we called the non-emergency number of the police department but they told us they can't do anything for wild animals. They gave us the number of the nearest wildlife rehabilitation facility. I left a message on their machine but over an hour later they haven't gotten back to me.
It was at sunset and before it turned pitch black we decided to bring the rabbit inside. I put a towel over it for a little while to calm it down, then put my gloved hands around it (through the towel) for another little while to let it get used to my hands. Finally, I scooped it up and set it in the laundry basket. It struggled a bit but wasn't a problem, and it's obviously not able to move too well in the first place.
The rabbit is currently inside. We put a wet washcloth near its head so it can suck some moisture out of it, if it feels able, but not right next to it where it might get chilled. I left a few towels wadded up all around it but didn't leave the rabbit covered up because I didn't want to overheat it...it's summer and the rabbit has a fur coat already, I didn't think it needed the extra layers! I put a second basket over the top of the first, upside-down, so if there's some miraculous recovery it can't jump out, and covered the side facing out into the room with some dish towels to help it feel secure.
We've left it alone and it hasn't moved since, except to lift its head to look around a little bit. It's inside in a quiet, dimly-lit place, which hopefully will keep it calm.
I fully realize that the only option may be to euthanize it, but I would rather see it done humanely than to think of it out there in the dark, suffering. If it can be rehabilitated, even better.
I'm hoping the wildlife rehab place gets back to us tonight. If not, we'll give them another call in the morning. If they can't help, the vet who treated Addy said we could bring it to him tomorrow, although that would cost money. (I called his emergency number after the wildlife rehab place didn't call back in 10-15 minutes like the lady at the police number said they would.) :p
We have a very large pine tree in our backyard surrounded by a lot of brush that has, for many years, been home to rabbits.
This evening we noticed a rabbit lying on its side in our back yard, in obvious distress. It appeared to have broken one of its hind legs, although I'm obviously not an expert so I can't diagnose for sure. There's no visible blood.
The rabbit tried to make its way across the yard toward the brush where its fellow rabbits live but it was slow, obviously painful going, as it was lying on its side, trying to slide through the grass using its other three limbs.
I suppose we should have let nature takes its course but we couldn't stand to think of the poor thing suffering out there all night. I put an old laundry basket over it while we called for help.
First we called the non-emergency number of the police department but they told us they can't do anything for wild animals. They gave us the number of the nearest wildlife rehabilitation facility. I left a message on their machine but over an hour later they haven't gotten back to me.
It was at sunset and before it turned pitch black we decided to bring the rabbit inside. I put a towel over it for a little while to calm it down, then put my gloved hands around it (through the towel) for another little while to let it get used to my hands. Finally, I scooped it up and set it in the laundry basket. It struggled a bit but wasn't a problem, and it's obviously not able to move too well in the first place.
The rabbit is currently inside. We put a wet washcloth near its head so it can suck some moisture out of it, if it feels able, but not right next to it where it might get chilled. I left a few towels wadded up all around it but didn't leave the rabbit covered up because I didn't want to overheat it...it's summer and the rabbit has a fur coat already, I didn't think it needed the extra layers! I put a second basket over the top of the first, upside-down, so if there's some miraculous recovery it can't jump out, and covered the side facing out into the room with some dish towels to help it feel secure.
We've left it alone and it hasn't moved since, except to lift its head to look around a little bit. It's inside in a quiet, dimly-lit place, which hopefully will keep it calm.
I fully realize that the only option may be to euthanize it, but I would rather see it done humanely than to think of it out there in the dark, suffering. If it can be rehabilitated, even better.
I'm hoping the wildlife rehab place gets back to us tonight. If not, we'll give them another call in the morning. If they can't help, the vet who treated Addy said we could bring it to him tomorrow, although that would cost money. (I called his emergency number after the wildlife rehab place didn't call back in 10-15 minutes like the lady at the police number said they would.) :p