While returning from work late one night, I heard a sound nearby following which something fell right in front of my bike. Immediately, a car whizzed past me. I looked down to see a dog bleeding and struggling for life,” recalls M Logeshwaran, an IT professional from Sholinganallur. “I carried the dog to the side of the road and called a couple of my friends for help. Though we tried to save the dog, it died within 15 minutes, whining in pain,” he added.
“This is just one among many incidents that happen every day in the city. Each week, I spot at least three dogs lying bleeding on the road after being hit by a vehicle,” said Logeshwaran. Animals have been the second most common victims of road accidents, but the issue has not shaken the people. According to data from the Blue Cross, between November 1 and December 31, around 1,115 injured dogs were rescued from the roads in the city. “Every day we get close to 250 calls about injured animals including dogs, cats, cows and donkeys,” said Dawn Williams, general manager, Blue Cross.
“One of the reasons locals report such cases is because they come across these animals roaming the streets looking for food and shelter. Most stretches in residential areas and smaller streets are usually dug either for relaying the road and laying pipes or cables. Roads have a flat surface, which forces animals to come to the streets,” said Dawn.
“When dogs are hit by a vehicle, they are left unattended for at least a few hours until the civic workers clear their bodies. But in the case of an injured cow or buffalo, the local butcher immediately takes it and sells the meat of the animal,” he added. At least 50% of animals either die immediately or after a few days, said C Padmavathy, founder, Animal Welfare Protection Trust.
“The actual number could be much more as many don’t bother to inform the Animal Welfare Board if they accidentally hit an animal. They simply speed away. Most people who cause such hit-and-run accidents are drunks,” she added.
What to do when you see a injured animal?
Check for Injuries
Look to see if the animal is breathing (one breath every three to four seconds). If it doesn’t try to get up, look for injuries like broken bones, any excessive or noticeable bleeding, or the presence of gaping wounds.
Move Towards the Wounded Animal
Gently, go near the animal. If you feel the dog will bite, you can throw a blanket or a cloth over the dog’s head, so its teeth are covered. Then approach the animal and check for injuries. Make sure the animal can breathe. Don’t jostle the animal too much.
Check Pulse Rate
The injured animal may go into shock and may be panting. Other signs include collapse, weakness, rapid breathing, pale gums, cold paws, and lack of response to stimulus.
Give First Aid
Traumatic injuries are of two types, heavy bleeding from severed arteries or veins and slow seepage from scrapes and wounds. The wound losing blood should be given priority over a slowly seeping injury. First, apply pressure using a pad of cotton material placed directly on the wounded area.
Press down with sufficient pressure to prevent blood seeping through the cotton. If this doesn’t work use a pressure bandage. Make a cotton pad and hold it over the wound. Next, take a bandage or a cotton garment cut into strips and wind it around the area and the pad to hold it firmly in place.
Look for a Sterile Environment
Do not waste time washing the wound; this should be done in a sterile environment like a veterinary clinic.
how to prevent such incidents?
Strict punishment should be enforced People should be educated about such incidents at the time of issuing driving licence Brakes should be applied by drivers when they see animals crossing In case, they run into an animals they should call animal rescue volunteers