Wildlife Keeper Blog: June 2011

VALLEY WILDLIFE CARE WORKING HARD TO PROTECT WILDLIFE! - RANDAL.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Valley Wildlife Care, wildlife rehabilitation <valleywildlife@aim.com>
Date: Sat, Jun 18, 2011 at 6:10 PM
Subject: Meet Tina
To: valleywildlife@aim.com

For many of you have been supporting us for a while, you have seen VWC end up with many critters that are technically not considered "wildlife". Of course our goal is to rehabilitate orphaned, ill, and injured native wild animals our volunteers are here due to their love and compassion for animals that would have not received a second chance if not for our hard work and dedication year after year.

Each year we are presented with cases in which we must make a split decision when a helpless animal's life is on the line. While we believe in doing anything we can to give our wild friends a second chance at life, we are sometimes presented with these life and death decision for things other than our wild friends.

Meet Tina-

VWC received a call yesterday from a local "farm rescue". They told us of a newborn goat that was currently sitting at a local animal shelter. The farm rescue was not able to take the goat for reasons we will not discuss at this time. The goat was picked up by a DWP worker when his route took him on a deserted road to perform a routine check on a power line. The road was one that was not traveled often and was very desolate. He had almost reached his destination when he spotted something. A baby goat that was walking in circles, collapsing to his knees and crying loud. He said the cry sounded as if someone was killing him. He stopped his truck and approached the baby. He knew a baby goat in the middle of no where was a problem. He noticed flies in the babies ears and once he picked the baby up he collapsed into a deep sleep. The only thing that was there other than the goat was a bowl of rotted oatmeal that whomever dumped him must have left. Since this baby is less than a week old, he has no interest in anything other than mommy's milk. The worker drove him to the closest animal shelter which was 50 miles away.

We are guessing that Tina (yes a boy and named by one of our volunteers) was dumped because he is just that "a boy". Someone in the area is probably breeding goats for sale or for the milk. Boy's are of no use to goat breeders just as roosters are of no use to chicken farms. We are certain this is not the first time someone has done this and we are working hard on trying to find a volunteer who can survey this area routinely.

Tina is receiving round the clock care in the home of one of our dedicated volunteers. He will see the Vet every 2-3 days to check his respiratory system as he is suffering from a mild case of pneumonia. His weight and hydration will be checked daily and he will be monitored continuously. Tina receives a bottle of goats milk every 2-3 hours in a 24 hour period.

The Vet assessed that Tina was probably out there for at least 3 days. He is just under a week of age with his umbilical still attached and infected. It is amazing that he was not eaten by a predator. It is amazing that the DWP workers route placed him in a desolate area that is only checked once every 6 months. It is amazing that Tina has ended up at VWC and will receive the second chance at life that he so very much deserved.

Brenda Varvarigos, Executive Director
Valley Wildlife Care, a 501 (c) (3) non profit, volunteer organization
www.valleywildlifecare.org
6520 Platt Ave #203
West Hills, CA 91307
818-346-8247
Dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating California's orphaned and injured native wildlife.