Being Ready for Animal Emergencies on the Road

You’re driving along a dark road when your headlights catch the glint of a cat’s eyes. Is the animal lying motionless beside the road dead or merely stunned? Even if you’re late for an important appointment, you should always stop and check, says PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk, who explains exactly what to do in the event of a roadside animal emergency and what supplies you should have in your car in the following excerpt from her book Making Kind Choices.

“My only solution for the problem of accidents … is to stay in bed all day. Even then, there is always the chance that you will fall out.”
—The Bishop of Durham, 1920

“I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.”
—Abraham Lincoln (to friends who chided him for stopping to pick up an injured bird)

In addition to the jack, a can of Fix-A-Flat, and those other odds and ends floating about in the trunk of my car, I’ve found that keeping a kit for animal emergencies handy is essential.

Perhaps to compensate for my deteriorating eyesight, I seem to have developed a sort of animal radar. I’m forever spotting a lost dog stranded on a median strip, discovering an injured seagull in a parking lot, or turning back to see if that squirrel by the side of the road is really dead. Sometimes he’s not, and I must get him suitably confined and into my car quickly so I can rush to the vet or wildlife worker. (Squirrels, who are the dearest of animals, can break your heart by lying very still and covering their eyes with their tails when they are hurt, in an attempt to hide.)

One afternoon, when dashing for an appointment, I almost didn’t stop. Then a little voice, my conscience no doubt, forced me to turn around and find my way back to that tuft of fluff I had passed a mile or so back. The fur had moved as I drove by, but it was unclear whether that was just the wind caused by traffic zipping by on the busy highway. I parked my car on the shoulder, got out, and walked over. A part of the fluff itself raised up and looked at me.

She was someone’s cat, a beautiful little tabby, and very much alive—although so hurt she was unable to crawl far from the edge of the road. That would be the last time I’d tell myself it was all right to “keep on keeping on” unless I was absolutely sure!

Some people are quite squeamish or afraid when it comes to touching, moving, or handling animals found in distress, let alone getting them into the car. Having a small animal emergency kit in your trunk can make your kind act a lot easier to perform.

Animals, whether wild or not, are usually very afraid of human intervention when they are hurt or dying. They may be uncertain whether you are friend or foe, so be reasonably cautious in your approach not only to avoid being bitten but to avoid frightening and hurting them even more (and should you be bitten or scratched, just as an extra precaution, check in by phone with your local health authority). It will help to remember the four rules of approach:

1. Be as quiet and deliberately slow moving as possible.
2. Avoid eye contact, which can be taken as a challenge.
3. Talk very softly.
4. Try to take with you on that first approach whatever you might need to use so that you won’t have to go back to the car for something and approach yet again.

My first recommendation is to make the container for the kit useful in and of itself. Use a cat carrier, for instance, either a cardboard one (available from any veterinarian or pet supply store) or, better yet, a sturdy plastic cat carrier that can be used later if you take any small animal on a longer trip or on a plane. Having a proper, sturdy carrier will mean you will be ready to safely and appropriately transport an injured animal, such as a raccoon, squirrel, owl, or cat, without worrying that the animal will escape and get trapped under the seat or otherwise run amok while you are driving.

With the animal safely confined, here are the usual options:

For nonwildlife species: If you are willing to pay for treatment, head to the nearest veterinarian and insist on being seen right away. Some veterinarians will not charge for strays, but don’t count on it. Try to call first, as some will refuse to treat an animal you do not own, even in an emergency! Another option is to drive the animal to the nearest humane society, shelter, or SPCA, usually listed in the telephone directory under the county you are in.

Wildlife: I do not feel it fair to put a wild animal through the trauma of being handled by humans and suffering the pain of surgery and recovery in an alien environment, especially when most do not pull through. Those who do are doomed either to live in a cage in captivity for the rest of their lives or to be released, but this time they will have a physical disadvantage as they attempt to fend for themselves again in Nature. I would suggest paying for euthanasia at the veterinary office, heading for the animal shelter, and staying with the animal to ensure immediate euthanasia. Few experiences can be more traumatic for wild beings than to find themselves trapped in a cage in a facility where they can smell and hear predators (dogs and cats) all around them.

If the animal is only stunned or if injuries are minor, you may wish to find the nearest wildlife rehabilitator by calling the local humane society, SPCA, animal control, or a veterinary office and making inquiries.

It is wise to take the time now to research the telephone numbers and addresses of your local humane society, wildlife rehabilitator, and some well-recommended veterinarians. Write this information on a couple of cards and put it in both your wallet and the glove compartment. There is nothing worse than having to scramble for information when an emergency arises.

What to Put in the Basic Kit
A nylon lead
A towel
Names, addresses, and phone numbers you might need, such as your local wildlife rescue/rehabilitation center, humane society, veterinarians, and 24-hour emergency veterinary services.
A pop-top can of smelly cat food, like mackerel
A gauze bandage to staunch bleeding or to use to make a muzzle

Resources
The PETA Rescue Kit
The kit is available for purchase at www.peta.org. The Rescue Kit contains a cardboard carrier, a nylon lead, a towel, and a “Be an Angel for Animals” packet full of information on how you can help animals in your community.

Order your copy of Making Kind Choices today!

Making Kind Choices: Everyday Ways to Enhance Your Life Through Earth- and Animal-Friendly Living details easy, convenient, and satisfying everyday choices for cruelty-free living. With sections on home and garden, fashion and beauty, food and entertainment, and more, it’s filled with helpful tips and recipes, moving stories, and inspirational ideas.