Stray dogs and cats do not always manage to perceive the sense of danger, and unfortunately too often they become the victims of road accidents. On the side of the roads, bodies of animals run over and abandoned are found every day. Let's see what to do when we find an injured animal.
Unfortunately, there are still many people who still cannot become aware of this phenomenon, so these animals are often ignored and dismissed with a simple phrase, "it's their nature". Fortunately, there are also kind-hearted people who take care of mistreated dogs and cats.
However, it may happen that these people are not always informed about what tools are available to them to help animals in danger. So let's try to understand how to behave according to the situation in which you find yourself.
The animal is injured and tries to escape
It may happen that the dog or cat has an injured paw or a fractured limb. In this case, if they are very frightened, their instincts will lead them to run away, despite the pain and difficulty walking.
If you are in town or in any case in an area on the outskirts that you can reach without risk, try to approach it. Attract him with food and get some water.
Avoid running towards him and respect his conditions. A suspicious dog or cat may run away or attack you.
Try to stay calm by talking to him in a sweet tone of voice. Do not look at them straight in the eyes for too long and do not approach them directly. Rather, try to show yourself quite disinterested, while remaining around and if they get close, let yourself be smelled and resist the temptation to caress them.
In the meantime, call the competent local authorities, then the traffic police or the ASL Veterinary Service.
Stay with the animal until help arrives. Make sure he does not run away and that he does not get any more injuries trying to escape.
The animal is seriously injured
The greatest danger for stray animals is being run over. When you find a seriously injured dog or cat in the village or on an accessible road, or if the accident was accidentally caused by you, do not hesitate to help him.
Immediately call a veterinarian who is willing to help injured animals on the street. For this reason, it is always useful to have a contact details of your veterinarian or whoever deals with these situations at hand.
Alternatively, you could take it directly to the nearest clinic. Transporting an injured animal is a very delicate operation, because in the case of fractures of the spine or other complex injuries, incorrect movement can worsen the situation.
In order to transport him to the vet, you will need to get an object that can serve as a stretcher. A cardboard, a plastic or wooden board, an old carpet, choose the one you have on hand, as long as it is stiff enough.
Gently lay the animal on the makeshift stretcher, paying great attention to perform slow and fluid movements. Avoid pulling or dragging it, as this will aggravate the injuries.
If you really have nothing, take him in your arms, trying to stretch him out.
It can happen that an injured cat is particularly alert and scared. In this case, it may be useful to get a towel or a blanket and wrap him around it so that it does not escape and does not try to scratch you.
Absolutely avoid offering him water or food, as he could have very serious injuries, for which immediate surgery is required. Wait until you reach the vet, who will take care of it.
The injured animal is on a road that is not accessible by feet
If you are on the motorway or on a road that is not intended for walking, do not stop. Rather, contact the competent law enforcement agencies, including the traffic police who will be able to act promptly to help the animal.
In fact, on roads, the risk of being run over is very high, so it would be useless to put your health at risk, when there are those who take care of it in the correct way.