Beaten and left to die by the side of the road, the stricken figure in the Parable of the Good Samaritan could well have been a dog or a cat. Lucky for the biblical victim, the one man who took pity happened to have cloth and ointment for first aid, a donkey to transport him, and sufficient shekels to get further help. He was also willing to endure criticism for helping a victim others wouldn’t touch.
The right tools are key to succeeding at most endeavors; and so it is with rescue operations.
The person is, however, the essential rescue unit, and both the mind and the body must be up to the task. The right frame of mind may consist of quick thinking, resolve, imagination, or even chutzpa, according to thesituation, and in all cases selflessness and courage—qualities that make an every-day hero of the average person. A rescue operation may involve risk, such as being bitten or hit by a car, as in the leading rescue situation: Injured animal on busy road. The vast majority of drivers will not (I repeat, not) slow down at the sight of an injured animal or the person trying to help. It is therefore crucial that the rescuer’s physical ability be up to the task. If an animal is drowning, you must know how to swim; if he is on the road, you had better run. Being realistic and knowing one’s own limitations doesn’t mean abandoning the cause. If physical involvement is not safe, call for help, and try to protect or block the animal from further injury until help arrives.
Regardless of one’s own age and condition, those of us who can’t look away when an animal is in danger may find that a great motivation to stay fit, stay agile, build self-confidence, and be ready—it’s like being a cop, a soldier, a lifeguard. Finally, a better reason to go the gym, walk every day, get on with the program.
With mind and body ready to rescue animals, let’s now review the hardware that can assist us. Even a jogger or a bicyclist can stash some essentials in a fanny pack:
- Adjustable nylon leash to fit small-to-large dogs
- Moist treat (sealed in plastic)
- Rolled up pillow case to transport a bird or cat (being encased in one calms the animal down and prevents an escape as you hold the open end tight)
- Money to “buy” solutions—like a can of food to lure a hungry stray
- Cell phone with vital numbers keyed in your directory:
(1) Your veterinarian or a veterinarian(s) in the area(s) you frequent.
(2) Animal Emergency Center (918-665-0508), Tulsa’s 24/7 emergency and trauma medicine clinic, fully equipped and staffed, at 7220 E. 41 St.
(3) Animal Aid (918-744-8280)
(4) Tulsa SPCA 918-428-7722 to report cruelty cases ( also can be done via www.tulsaspca.org/ContactUs/contact_form.htm.)
(5) Pet-friendly taxi service (even if you have a car, find one beforehand, in case it breaks
down as you transport an injured or ailing animal).
(6) Police nonemergency (918-596-9222) for animal disturbances. In cases of criminal activity such as animal fighting, physical abuse, and other life-threatening situations, call 911.
(7) ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-426-4435), a 24-hour emergency hotline.
Your vehicle can be a mobile rescue unit including:
- Additional dog leashes/collars (because strays may run in pairs)
- Cat carrier (good also for birds and other small animals)
- Lightweight thermal blanket (because injured animals will go into shock)
- Bag of puppy training pads (to protect car upholstery)
- Can of dog/cat food
- Bottled water and disposable bowls (to leave behind for a thirsty animal you may not be able to rescue)
- A booklet on animal first aid procedures
- First aid kit with: latex gloves; towel and washcloth; muzzle (lengths of gauze roll can be used instead); scissors and tweezers; assorted sterile gauze pads and nonadhesive bandages; splints (clean paint sticks, scrap wood, etc.) and elastic bandage rolls to immobilize broken limbs; eyedropper; any other items you can think of.
- Pharmaceuticals to include in first aid kit: saline solution (for rinsing wounds); styptic powder (clotting agent); instant cold compress; hydrocortisone cream; 3% hydrogen peroxide; sterile eye rinse; triple-antibiotic ointment (for wounds); antibiotic eye ointment. Ask your vet for further suggestions.
- Flea and tick prevention and treatment product (can bring relief to an animal you can’t help otherwise)
- Be aware that neither food nor pharmaceutical products should be left in the car when temperatures are high. Extreme Samaritans may wish to also consider the following items. Check www.livetrap.com for reference and further ideas.
- Collapsible or regular live trap (for shy or feral animals)
- Control pole (for dogs likely to bite due to injury or lack of socialization)
- Hoop net (for cats, birds, and other small animals)
- Kevlar gloves (sometimes available free of charge from those discarded by the Tulsa Fire Department)
- Bolt cutters (…you will know when to use them)
- Microchip scanner
In some cases there’s no substitute for imagination. Like the case of a woman who befriended two semi-wild dogs she could not coax into the car. Although a control pole could have helpd capture at least one dog, she didn’t want to separate the pair and so, while continuing to earn their trust, she placed reflective collars with her phone number on their necks. Collars increase the chances of a dog being helped because would-be rescuers expect to find information (phone number(s), rabies tags, etc.) leading to the owners. In this case, one of the dogs was trapped by animal control officers, who called the number on the collar. Thus the woman took possession of the animal, socialized him, and found him a forever home. Sadly, the other dog 
was not seen again.
Which brings us back to the mental aspect of animal rescue. Not all attempts are successful. The stricken animal may be killed as help is on the way or die on the way to the clinic. Don’t be discouraged; you could have saved a life, and other times you will. Others didn’t even try.
Also disturbing is that people often refuse to assist the rescuer and may even chastise or ridicule him for helping “an animal.” I once was vociferously reprimanded –but not assisted— by one of Tulsa’s finest for pulling a large injured Shepherd away from the oncoming wave of traffic on the eastbound BA expressway. As the dog agonized in my arms on the shoulder of the road, the man proceeded with his tirade until I finally yelled back: “Would you be talking to me like you are if this were a person!?” That’s what I mean by chutzpa. Don’t be intimidated.
Why be a Good Samaritan to animals? Simply because it’s the right thing to do.
Story by Dolores Probasta
