...so i have this reputation of picking up strays
much to the exasperation of my former roommates
but it's usually been limited to cats and dogs
(except for that one cockatiel I found in a tree...oh, and then there was that skunk)
anyway
driving home post-call, kinda got that post-call loopy/sleep-desperate thang
the cars in my lane are one by one driving around what looks like a piece of cardboard
when i come up on it, nope, it's a fawn (that's a baby deer, no I'm not a hick, but I have seen Bambi)
well, shit
I pull in front of him
he can't get his legs under him, he is totally freakin out, trying to clamber out of the road, over the curb, his little knees are scraped up and bleeding, blood at his butt (bad news), he is just in a panic
who the hell do I call, and when would they get there (more importantly, how long am I gonna have to stand in this hot sun directing traffic...post-call)
obviously, i can't wait around for someone, I have to just do it myself
just cleaned out my truck, nothing in there to pick him up with except.......
my pristine, one-month-old, very-important-looking white coat
well, hell it was free and I don't wear it anyway!
wrap him up, lug him into the bed of my truck
drive to the nearest vet clinic (I mean they can at least pop in an IV, right? until the deer-people arrive?)
Sunday. Closed.
i sort of want to cry
happened to see a fire truck man, flag him down, we spend 30minutes calling around
finally the friggin wildlife rescue call back (first people i called), they can't find a game warden to meet me, say they'll keep calling around, I wait an HOUR
deer's just hangin out in the bed,lookin around, bleeding
ya know, usual
finally they call and ask if I can drive 45 minutes to Kendalia where the rescue is
at first I say ok (just whatever, want the deer out of my truck)
then my last caffeinated neuron fires: stupid idea, no sleep, driving, very bad
dammit, stupid damn deer
I need a nap
I drive home, with Bambi and his huge ears, just taking in the view
I know he's a deer, real out-doorsy type, but I felt bad leaving him in the hot sun
so I parked my truck sideways in the front yard, with the bed under a tree
"I'm real sorry and I hope you don't die, but I have to take a nap"
4 comments:
you make me laugh. i miss you.
what happened to him?
when I woke up (6hours later?), he was still there, just chillin' in my front yard, undead. So I drove him, I-10, 1604, to Kendalia where the wildlife rescue is. I wonder what the folks behind me at red lights thought:)...and, on the dirt road leading onto the rescue property, there was a sign that said, "Please watch for rabbits, snakes, lizards, and caterpillars. Please do not run over them." ...caterpillars??
you're such a good person i would have never thought of doing that.
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