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Today I returned home from lunch to find some children trying to help an injured pigeon that was flapping its wings and walking in circles in the driveway at my apartment complex. One of the children theorized that the pigeon was having trouble getting traction on the asphalt (he called it "concrete"), so he wanted to move it to the grass. I could see, though, that the poor bird was walking with only its left leg, so I suspected its right leg might be broken. Before our eyes, the pigeon flopped over onto its back, twitching—clearly in pain.
I did not what to do for the pigeon—I was not even sure what could be done for it—but I wanted to help, so I made some telephone calls and searched the Web until I discovered The Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley, a facility where injured wild animals are rehabilitated. I looked up and printed driving directions, fetched a shoe box and a T-shirt, then returned downstairs to find the pigeon laying alone on its back at the edge of the lawn. I gently and loosely scooped it up into the T-shirt and laid it in the shoe box. I had punched holes across the top of the lid with a pair of scissors, but the pigeon couldn't even stand, so I left the lid off to allow it as much air as possible.
Unfortunately, the injured pigeon I tried to rescue today did not survive long enough to reach the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley, but everyone who lives in Silicon Valley should know about this facility so maybe the next injured animal that someone finds can be rescued and rehabilitated. Wherever you live, you can look into local animal rescue programs and facilities so you can be ready if and when the need arises. If you don't know where to start, call your local animal control office and ask about procedures and services in your area.
Injured animals may not be able to help themselves, but we can help them.
