It is our goal to successfully treat as many sick and injured adult wild animals as possible and release them back to their home in the wild. However, it is a sad reality that some animals are too sick or too injured and will never be able to cope in the wild again. Domestic companions – like dogs and cats – have a human to care for them; a wild animal must be able to find food, shelter, evade predators and carry out natural behaviours all on their own. The inability to do this due to an illness or injury will cause the wild animal to suffer and eventually perish, often in a painful and drawn-out way. Humane euthanasia is one of the kindest treatments we can offer to an animal that is seriously injured or suffering from an incurable disease. It is a much more peaceful path than these animals would receive if they were left to succumb to their injuries in the wild.
We also strive to rehabilitate as many orphaned wild animals as possible (over 1,000 babies every year!). But in some cases, humane euthanasia may be the only available option to them. More information on this can be found in our post I Can’t Find a Rehabilitator for the Wild Baby I’ve Found – What Do I Do?
