Injured squirrel.... sigh

Mountains

Yesterday afternoon I pulled out onto the busy thoroughfare near my house. Just as I pulled into traffic, the car in front of me hit a squirrel that had darted out. I saw immediately that it hadn't been killed, as it was still actively trying to crawl away from the cars. Naturally my heart cried out, but with the traffic there was no way I could stop or do anything. So I said a little prayer for it and went on.

This afternoon, the little girl a couple of houses down (toward the busy street) was sweeping the driveway. I looked over and saw a squirrel about 15' up in a maple tree hanging by its front legs, dangling. I immediately thought of the little guy from yesterday. After a few seconds it lost its grip and fell to the ground. It was still able to crawl around, but clearly its back was broken and it was paralyzed from just behind its shoulder blades.

So long story short, I put the little guy into a box and drove him over to the animal hospital where I used to work and we euthanized him I **hate** doing that, but for him I know it was the most compassionate thing we could possibly do. It was peaceful and quiet for him when he went. I still feel awful for the little guy...

Sigh...

riverflow

"Numberless beings, I vow to save them..."

_()_

Jeffrey

:bawl: makes me sad too

MindGate

Happened to me a couple of months ago... we saw someone hit this squirrel and its entire back was crushed. Rather than just letting it suffer there, there we, well, you know...

vixthenomad

@Mountains - Compassion is the desire to alleviate the suffering of another sentient being...your act was a compassionate one. You weren't killing to kill, you were killing to save. Karma is intention, after all. But a sad story nonetheless.