Lost, Found and Saved

A Veterinarian’s Perspective on Animal Rescue

A Veterinarian’s Perspective on Animal Rescue

A Veterinarian’s Perspective on Animal Rescue

A Veterinarian’s Perspective on Animal Rescue

A Veterinarian’s Perspective on Animal Rescue

Easily the hardest part of a veterinarian’s job is seeing the cases where pet ownership goes bad. Having to make the decision on whether an animal lives or dies because of such factors can be heartbreaking and is a major problem within the industry. Every year, thousands of animals are surrendered to pet shelters across Australia. The reasons are many and vary from not enough time to spend with the pet, not prepared for what the reality of owning a pet for life means or unexpected health or behavioural issues. Sometimes, though, we have a chance to make a difference. It is those times that I love my job, and am so grateful that I am in the position in a practice where I can make the decision to help an animal in need.

Take Delilah for example. One busy Sunday afternoon, our Practice Manager came to me with the news that a couple were on their way with an emergency – a young calf had been viciously mauled by a dog and was in a bad way. The idea of what we were confronted with would make even the most toughened stomached person queasy, but suffice to say, she certainly WAS in a bad way. Bleeding profusely, both ears completely bitten off and in severe shock, her poor owners were devastated, having only adopted her 24 hours before. Given the severity of her injuries, the only options were immediate intensive care and extensive reconstructive surgery, or humane euthanasia to end her suffering. The level of veterinary care that would be required to save her would be extensive and financially, her owners could not help. With broken hearts they signed the consent form and left her with us.

Now, I am not silly. I went into this career knowing full well what difficult scenarios I would face, and how devastating these cases might be. I have come to accept that we cannot save everything and that no matter how hard we try there will still be situations where the outcome is beyond our control. But as that little trembling face looked up at me, eyes glazed from the emergency pain relief administered on presentation, long Betty Boop eyelashes fluttering, I knew we had to try and save her – and so Delilah came to be part of our Veterinary Clinic Family.

Several days of intensive care, extensive surgery and 12 months recovery, Delilah is a whopping 400kg of solid Friesian cow whose only problems in life are when her next delivery of premium grade calf milk will arrive in her bucket and when she can next play with clinic dogs, Trixie and Molly, who ‘adopted’ and helped raise her. We know she isn’t a baby any more but after such a traumatic start, we figure she can have as much milk as she would like!!!! Unfortunately, her ears were damaged beyond repair, but she still leads a very happy (albeit ultra- protected!!) life. Gone is the frightened, tiny baby and now is a fat, shiny, happy adult cow, who will live out our days on our family property (motherhood may also be in the future). Every time I look at her I still see my baby Delilah, but the girls assure me she knows how to use every one of her 450kg and is adept at using her horns to get what she wants! She is the pinnacle of why I wanted to be a vet and we are reminded every time we look at her about the good we can do.

Of those who have met Jemima, our clinic cat, may not have had a pleasant experience. Draped luxuriously across the monitor at the Clinic reception, she may look sweet, but those who know her will know that this is an act. Jemima was another rescue case, adopted when I was an idealistic final year student on rotation at an emergency centre. Tiny and weak, only recently born with umbilical cord still attached, this tiny little kitten was handed to the reception of the clinic having been found in a drain.

“Look at her”, the head vet said “She is too young. There is nothing you can do to save her, and you need to toughen up if you are going to survive in this industry”. Again, I am not silly. SOME people who know me (!) OCCASIONALLY comment that I am a little bit of a crazy cat lady (those of you know I am passionate about kitten rescue and the promotion of responsible cat ownership) but even the toughest heart would have melted at the site of this pathetic meowing bundle of fluff. After much pleading, the emergency centre let me take her home and so began the many weeks of round-the-clock feeding, cleaning and caring for this kitten.

Hours of research to ensure all her needs were met, long emotional nights when she developed gastritis at three weeks of age, cleaning, playing, teaching, socialising (maybe not the last one so well!). She came to university, out to dinner, to horse shows – my poor mother (also a very experienced small animal vet) received so many distraught phone calls when I wasn’t sure if things were going well! When she was six weeks of age I had to travel to Melbourne for placement, and after leaving her and her many belongings with Mum, I cried the entire trip down. I am forever grateful to Mum for stepping in at that point and the care she gave her is reflected in the fact that she and I are the only ones who can ‘handle’ Jemima now.

Several years on and for those of you who know her now, there is no longer ANYTHING mild or meek about her. Unfortunately, some hand raised cats are not always that sociable and given that she was most likely a feral cat descendent, she is not the friendliest cat you will meet. She LOVES being around people – but only on her terms! No one ever believes me that at the end of the day when things in the clinic settle down, she turns into a purring loving fluff ball who sleeps curled at my feet every night. To us she is beautiful, unique, and my first ‘success’ story as I took the plunge into the world of veterinary medicine.

And so, there are two of my fur babies. At present, we (the clinic) are involved with two major rescue projects; a cat that was found and presented to us with a severely fractured leg (dubbed Battle Cat) and a dog, Pepper, who was surrendered for euthanasia due to a nasty leg fracture. We have been lucky enough to join forces with the amazing team at Amanda Vella’s Horse Rescue and Sanctuary, and with their help have raised enough money to give Pepper a second chance at life. After posting Battle Cat’s dilemma on Facebook, we were overwhelmed by the generous support, he too is well on the way to recovery. Both animals will be desexed, microchipped, vaccinated, wormed and flea treated before being adopted out to the best of homes only (as I said we are passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership!).

I am privileged to be in a position where I can donate my professional time, experience and resources to help these animals. For anyone wanting to get involved, contact your local animal shelter or a veterinary clinic – even a few hours of volunteer time can make a difference. Support charity organisations and attend events like the Million Paws Walk and Cupcake Day hosted by the RSPCA.

Above all, remember as they say – it takes nothing away from a human to be kind to an animal. Saving one animal will not change the world, but surely, for that one animal, the world will change forever…