Important Information About Arranging Emergency Vet Care For Stray Animals

Posted on: 17 March 2016

If you have ever had a sick or injured animal on your property and are unsure as to whether or not it has an owner, it is important to understand what you can do to help it. Although your first instinct might be to call animal control for your area, many areas do not have emergency services for animal control and you could still find the animal suffering for entirely too long. If you find yourself in the challenging position of needing to make important decisions for an unfamiliar animal, it is a good idea to consider the following advice when making your choices.  

#1-Determine What You Can--And Cannot--Do For The Animal

It is important to note that despite the common idea, veterinary clinics cannot always volunteer time, medication, and necessary supportive care to stray animals. As a result, you should either be willing to take financial responsibility for the animal or have an emergency plan in place. For instance, in some areas there are charities that can subsidize the cost of care for needy animals. Alternatively, you might discuss with the vet options for humanely and affordably ending the pain of a severely injured animal and it is also possible that the clinic is aware of financial resources that can help the animal.   

If you are lucky, the employees of the veterinary clinic may be willing to come to the animal. Otherwise, you may need to be willing to leave the animal where it is until animal control or another pet specialist can come to get it or make arrangements to transport the animal yourself.    

#2-Be Careful And Prepared When Touching Or Inspecting The Animal, As An Injured, Scared, Or Sick Animal Can Still Do A Lot Of Damage

It is not unusual to feel sorry for an animal and then be surprised by its ferocity. It is important to note that an injured animal is often terrified and stray animals may not have had any positive experiences with people. As a result, People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals or PETA, recommends being quiet, staying close to the ground and being prepared with any tools, traps, gloves, etc. the first time you come near to the injured animals.

In addition, plan to move slowly and be very patient, since it could take some time for the animal to be willing to approach you or tolerate your presence. If you feel at risk, do not risk your own health for that of the animal. If you feel threatened, you may need to wait the longer period of time for animal control to provide help or ask the veterinary clinic with whom you have been speaking for additional assistance.    

In conclusion, it is important to understand safe and appropriate ways to care for stray animals that need medical care, when you find them on or near your property. When animal control services in your area are not able to help or have a time delay and you are considering taking the animal to a veterinary clinic, it is essential to consider the following advice so that neither you nor the veterinary clinic incur any unexpected challenges. By planning for what could be aggressive behavior from the animal in question and preventing any unexpected financial expenses for either you or the veterinary clinic you choose, your good deed for a needy animal can work out well for everyone.   

For a local veterinary clinic, contact a business such as Parkview Animal Hospital.

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