I'm very concerned about a recent experience that demonstrated a significant gap in Victoria's animal services. A raccoon was hit by two cars on McKenzie Avenue at Gordon Head Road. He was alive, but critically injured. He clearly needed euthanasia.
Six people stood over him in the dark for nearly two hours. We called Conservation Officer Services, the police, public works, animal control and the SPCA. The latter said Wild ARC was closed; drive him there "in the morning." With the clear assumption we had the skills to handle him, a place to keep critically injured wildlife overnight, or would allow him to suffer that long. They didn't offer to send a volunteer or staff member.
Finally, VCA emergency clinic agreed to take him. It turned out they have a contract with Wild ARC, which none of these agencies told us. The two drivers who hit this animal did not stop. Please, always stop. I'm a former vet tech and can assure you that animals survive car hits at least 50% of the time. Too many times, they will suffer for hours or even days.
I went home at 11 p.m., got a crate, and pondered how to get him in without having my face ripped off. No one else felt safe handling him, but I was a vet tech and rehabbed wildlife – though I'd never handled an injured raccoon this large. I wrapped a borrowed jacket around his head, and caused him even more pain by hoisting him into the crate. I have a spinal injury, and caused myself quite a bit of pain (which is why I no longer work in my beloved field).
Two kind people got in my car to help. I honestly prayed the raccoon would pass on the way to the vet. In the meantime, another caring person was diverting traffic, further endangering herself. I will say that just as I was leaving for the vet, the fire department came and asked if we needed help. Is this who we should have called? Although, I sincerely doubt they'd transport wildlife.
I got lucky, because the raccoon was aggressive with the vet. He sadly had to be euthanized. I learned previously that public works will only attend if they know an animal is deceased. They won't help, otherwise. When I've found deer, they asked if I'd checked for their status. In one case, I had to tell them, "I'm not sure," as the poor thing had been hit on a hazardous curve where I couldn't safely go over and touch her. I'd like to add to drivers: even if you know an animal has passed, move them to the side of the road. Predators will feed on them, and get hit by other cars.
Why was there no one, of all these agencies, who would help the raccoon? How could six people endanger themselves on a busy road at night, trying to help a suffering creature, and receive no assistance?
Reisa Stone
Saanich
