I held a small life in my hands this morning. A squirrel caught my attention as I drove down a tree lined street in Long Beach. Big beautiful jacaranda trees reach toward the sky for nearly two miles. I often slow down to enjoy the view, not to mention the intoxicating aroma of the trees when they are in bloom.
A squirrel caught my attention as it fell from ajacaranda onto a car moving at about 50 miles per hour. It bounced off the windshield and rolled to the curb. It was alive, but obviously gravely injured. Its hind legs dangled lifeless behind its back, which was slightly twisted. I pulled to the curb and walked back for a look. It was not pretty picture.
The squirrel’s soulful screams seemed loud this fine summer morning. I think it knew it was dying. I studied the poor animal for a few minutes and determined it would not live. It was in obvious pain. Using the knife I keep on my belt, I quickly dispatched the poor critter.
As I walked back to my truck, I reflected on how fragile life is. On how easy it is to fall from a tree and never climb back up again. My beautiful little moment was broken when a passing motorist yelled from her window. You monster! I’ve got your plate number – I’m calling the police. With a bloody knife in one hand and a bird in the other, I calmly told her to piss off.
I fled the scene confident that my mercy killing was humane and just.
it would be inhumane and unjust not to put it out of its misery.
ReplyDeleteit's terrible that it had to die. but i think we would all agree that dying painfully is bad enough- why make it a slow and painful death?
good job.
if the cops come, tell them your case.
Hey, if the cops come after you, all your readers can act as character witnesses and vouch for you.
ReplyDeleteOf course, given who we are ... that ought to put you away for a long time.
Oh, that was depressing. You clearly did the right thing, though. I wonder if that woman was a good, God-fearing woman...
ReplyDeleteUpdate: The police called and asked me about what I did. I told them my story. They said I did the right thing.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the cops should have a quiet word with your complainant about humane treatment of animals.
ReplyDeleteGod forbid any cute furry or feathery thing could be hurt - that's just wrong! Immoral I say!
;)
I've had to do something similar on a couple of occasions. It's not a nice feeling, but it does stop the animal suffering.
ReplyDeleteThat woman was wrong - she guessed and didn't stop to think, or ask.
You did the right thing; so many simply wouldn't stop.
Carolyn Ann
Why would God allow this poor creature to be injured? You can be sure though, that it fits into his "plan". And, of course, you should have taken the poor thing to a vet and racked up a significant bill trying to save it without noticing how much it was suffering or how long it would live if it survived and was re-introduced back into the wild after an extended convalescence. Perhaps this was God's test to see how worthy you are... yeah, that's it!!!!
ReplyDeleteEverything's a test in the unicorn/love/magic world for the Sky Wizard followers. Many never admit that there are some things worse than death and that sometimes it is merciful to end an animals' suffering rather than go through vain heroic measures.
I admit that when we are in a position where we have to do something like that. It is both compelling to not let the animal suffer any longer and also that life is precious.
ReplyDeleteThere are people who would die quickly if the world were to ever be in real turmoil and such is the lady. They never see the obvious, they never seek the truth, they simply follow the status quo and keep the firm belief that their world will be better because of a mythological creature meeting out destinies on a whim.
I would have done the same as you. As I have in the past. Glad to hear the cops at least are open minded.
You have some strange things happen to you. :)
ReplyDeleteMy boyfriend told me a story about how (about five or six years ago) he accidentally backed over one of his little dogs. It was one of those things where.. he always looked and the dog was always out of the way.. but this one time he didn't look and the dog just happened to run behind his car. Unfortunately it didn't die right away. So with his mom crying in the driveway and the dog screaming in pain on the ground he closed it's mouth and covered it's nose and suffocated it.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't imagine what that must have felt like. But it was necessary. It was the best thing to do.