Immaculate Deception

It probably didn't live, but there's a slight chance that it may have. There was a paraplegic squirrel around my home-- I suspect that she suffered the same sort of experience. She not only survived, but also did remarkably well by climbing trees as well as building dreys again. I suspect that she appreciated not being bludgeoned.

However, I realize that my example is most likely a rare instance. That said, I probably would have tried to go back to run it over again, since I cannot fathom beating a squirrel to death.

There was nothing that you could have done, given the circumstances. It is difficult to know to do when something like this happens. You have my sympathies, as does Mr. Squirrel,

ID

6748_smith_w

Hey, don't feel too bad- Within 20 minutes of receiving my temporary learner's permit at 16, I ran over 2 swans that crossed the road in front of me. If I had been a more experienced driver, I could have probably stopped quickly enough to avoid them, but I was on a narrow, bumpy road with a deep ditch on one side and I was afraid to slam on the brakes for fear of losing control- I slowed down as much as I could but it wasn't enough. As I passed over them, I heard a loud *crunch*, and saw a small cloud of feathers behind me in the rearview mirror. I didn't cry, but I felt pretty awful.

Born Free

I'm sorry you had to go through that however don't be too hard on yourself. Your driver made it very difficult for you to do what you wanted and it would have been hellish trying to figure out how to do it. With any luck someone else might have done it behind you or hopefully the poor thing died shortly after it.

I feel for you I really do. I found a pigeon lying in a carpark that had been shot with an air gun. Well I couldnt' just leave it so I got a box and went to a wildlife centre where the vet told me there was nothing to be done and would only put it down. Better than being squished by a car or another animal I suppose.

I hate seeing animals in distress like that, it's awful.

Godless Dave

"Beating" it to death may not have been necessary. I have killed voles and mice with a single hard rap on the head with a hammer or shovel. Our dog would occasionally catch them in the back yard and injure them but not kill them. Dad delegated the euthanasia to me, probably out of some attempt to make me a man or something.

Pyrrho

Well, yes, you should have put it out of its misery. But, your situation was not ideal, with the driver not wanting to stop. So don't be too hard on yourself. But next time, insist that the driver stop. You'll feel better about it later if you do (which you probably know without me telling you).

As for veterinarians, I worked for a few and can tell you that they usually care very much about animals and their suffering. They generally do what they can to minimize suffering. They obviously are capable of witnessing extreme pain without falling apart, but it does bother them some. They know, however, that if they fall apart, the animals will suffer more than if they keep a cool head and react calmly to what is happening. The same idea applies to doctors and nurses.

Gar

Think of a starving child mangled by a landmine in a third world country. That might help.

Immaculate Deception

For me, it probably would encompass more than just one blow, which is why I'd try a re-run. Invariably, I need a couple of warm-ups before I can pound a nail into a board Add in an adrenaline rush (as happens in these situations) and I'm a sure miss. I hope that I didn't offend you by my statement -- I wasn't referring to your accuracy, and I do realize that one blow may suffice if it is accurate and hard enough.

Even though I grew up on a "hobby" farm, I still have a very difficult time seeing animals killed, even when it's meant to put an end to their suffering. I can rationalize it, but it still bothers me.

ID

Daggah

I almost ran over a little baby squirrel today myself...saw the thing in the road and dodged it by going over to the other lane, and I'll be damned if the little bugger didn't decide to change directions, heading straight for my car. I turned around at the next road and headed back, but I didn't see any squished squirrels, so thankfully it made it to whatever side the bipolar little fuck eventually decided on.

Phew.

yguy

Better yet, think of all the animials which are at this very moment being eaten by other animals who don't even do them the courtesy of killing them first. Then wonder why the suffering you can see affects you more than the suffering you know is happening.

KoopaFanatic

It's the difference between hypothetical suffering elsewhere that you can't do anything about versus tangible suffering here that you can do something about. And in lots of the putting-down-an-injured-animal cases it's suffering that you're directly responsible for, even if it was accidental.