(no subject)

[pacificpikachu]

I found the tundra swan I've been caring for dead this afternoon when I came home. ;___; I thought it was going to pull through, but apparently whatever was wrong with it was too much. Definitely a bit sad, it was a magnificent bird, but with rehabbing I do mostly manage to keep more of an emotional distance to my patients (and accept that 50% survival statistic) so I'm okay. The swan's body is going to Linda, where it will likely become a part of UC Davis' avian taxidermy collection.

Boy am I glad I got some pictures of it yesterday. They're not the greatest photos, but they'll do. Better than none at all.

Sorry to keep posting such bad news!

I did some resting and thinking over the weekend and I'm feeling better now, not so angsty and bawwww. I think it was partly hormones, in addition to the ol' sadness of losing sweet young birds in unfortunate ways. I'm keeping my spirits up. Things will be just fine even when there are bumpy patches in the road. :)

Comments

[pheonixxfoxx.livejournal.com]

I am sorry to hear about the Swan. At least you made the it comfortable before the Swan's time came. Sadly, we can not save the world, but we can sure try...*hugs*

[pacificpikachu.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your understanding. *Hugs* Yes, with wildlife rehabbing there is only one option, and that is to do your best with the knowledge and expertise you have. If the animals make it, they do, and if they don't...well, without us they would all be dead, so the way we see it is any one life saved is one life that would otherwise be dead. If they die, they're simply returning to where they would be without us.

[pheonixxfoxx.livejournal.com]

Working with animals, especially when it is rehab work can be very rewarding. It also takes a special person to do such work!! I have been told that I have a special way with cats, a connection with them. I use to work at the local animal shelter and I would often work with cats that my fellow employees labeled as mean and dangerous. Most of the time it was a simple misunderstanding. Alphonse was one such cat, he liked to grumble and growl, but that is how he would communicate with us...

There were also some heartbreaking moments too. There was a little kitten that had been brought in, the kitten seemed to be doing well and was on the list to go to the Humane Society. I came in one morning and the kitten was very lethargic, I called my boss. She hooked the kitten up to IVs, but it was to late. Tonya told me that the kitten probably should of passed away overnight, but more then likely waited for us to come in for he did not want to die alone. It was not always easy to separate myself from emotional moments like that, but at least we made the kitten comfortable.

I know if I had never worked there in the first place, Jiraiya, my youngest cat would be dead. He was a dumpster kitten that needed some serious TLC. The shelter had no one that could safe house him, so I took him in...Jiraiya was so tiny, he was the size of the palm of my hand, he also had a serious infection in his eyes. Obviously, I got Jiraiya threw it...He is going to be turning 4 in April. Jiraiya lying on his back right now, his feet all tucked up while he dreams his kitty dreams!! XD

[kirarakim.livejournal.com]

I am sorry about the swan but you did your best.

[pacificpikachu.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I feel all right about it, although it is sad to see such a beautiful creature go down. It got a peaceful death here, though, and it had food and water and shelter available. Too bad, but rehabbing is rough like that. I've been doing it for enough years that the rehabbing deaths are mostly pretty manageable emotionally.