It is not uncommon for the


RSPCA to be called to severely injured or dying animals, that we are just unable to save. Some of these animals would be very distressed and further pain would be caused by transporting them to a vets, so we are very lucky that our skilled inspectors are able to put to sleep animals in a humane way in the field, to prevent any unnecessary suffering. However, it can be challenging to make such an important, life or death decision on an animal?


s life,


and the vet and wildlife team at Stapeley Grange are always on hand to offer advice and support to the field staff. The wildlife training gave numerous examples of animals and conditions that we would and wouldn?t be able to treat, and helped the inspectors develop their decision making skills.


One of the sad realities of


working in a wildlife hospital, is that there are a lot of animals that don?t make it. Whilst this is unfortunate for the individual animals, it does give us an unrivalled opportunity for the field staff to see, identify and handle a range of different wildlife species and practice different techniques that they wouldn?t be able to practice on live animals. We like to think that the animals haven?t died in vain, if we are able to use the opportunity train our staff to help future animals.


The inspectors all found the


session really valuable, and agreed that their newfound knowledge would be extremely useful to them in their day to day roles. In particular, they really valued the opportunity to practise and learn new skills. Carl, one of the officers on the training said: ?I found the euthanasia training very interesting and


helpful to my role. The theory side was very informative and reassuring that my decision to euthanase a suffering animal, although never to be taken lightly, is usually backed up by a veterinary surgeon's vast experience in dealing with wildlife. As for the practical side it is essential that RSPCA officers learn the anatomy and practise these vital techniques in various species in a safe environment, supervised by a vet before they have to do it alone in the field with a live animal which may be suffering."


We hope to contonue to


run these sessions to support our inspectorate, and empower them to make knowledgeable and pragmatic decisions out in the field, to prevent suffering, and to help save our British wild animals.


bev panto (Veterinary Officer)


9


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26