Magpie

[den]

As the magpie's feet healed and he started to stand, I could start to observe him. His left leg is just dangling. I felt along the bone, and at the top of the thigh I could feel a sharp point and some crepitus as I moved it. The femur is broken just below the hip.

I have to euthanaze him. bugger.

Comments

[weyrdbird.livejournal.com]

*HUGS*

[dizzdvl.livejournal.com]

Ah crap.

You have made his life better at the end. He got free worms and a warm place to sleep.

[red-frog.livejournal.com]

Crap, I'm sorry. That's got to be worse now that you'd taken care of him for a bit and one part of his condition had improved. :(

criteria

[hopeforyou.livejournal.com]

Difficult question to ask, but I've read a lot of these euthanasia posts lately and I wondered: What criteria do you use to decide whether or not an animal can be rehabilitated? Is there a grey line between saving and euthanising?

Re: criteria

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

It's pretty subjective but there are a number of factors to consider. Things like the possible success of complete healing, if the injury affects the animal's chance in the wild (the wild is not kind to the disabled), and if the injury will recure after the animal is released. The last one is important for Kangaroos. A broken leg will break again even after 18 months in rehab.

Sometimes the injury isn't enough to worry about. I know of a couple of one-eyed blue-tongue lizards.

And ferals are euthanased because it's illegal to release them.

Re: criteria

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

Re: criteria

[i-harobed.livejournal.com]

Just seconding this ... It's exactly what I wanted to say.

Re: criteria

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

Thirded.

[walkertxkitty.livejournal.com]

Damn...I'd been hoping he would recover and you would then be able to release him. He was making such good progress, too. I'm sorry :(