EquiSoul

05/31/2024

05/28/2024

It’s not about the beach and barbecue.

Memorial Day, often marked by parties and barbecues, holds a deeper and solemn significance that should not be overlooked. It is a day dedicated to honoring the brave men and women who have sacrificed their lives in military service to the United States. While enjoying time with family and friends is part of American culture, it's crucial to remember the origins of this day as a time for reflection and gratitude. Memorial Day is a solemn reminder of the cost of freedom and the ultimate sacrifice made by countless service members. Taking a moment to pay respects, visiting memorials, or participating in ceremonies can bring the true meaning of this day into focus, ensuring that we honor the legacy and bravery of those who gave everything for their country.

05/28/2024

Showcasing this amazing portrayal from USA Military Families of the courageous men and women who have served and are deserving of our love, support, and gratitude… 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 🇺🇸🇺🇸💪🏼💪🏼

04/11/2024

04/04/2024

😹😹😹

03/07/2024

Click the link now and participate in this event.

10/03/2023

Bret sage

😹😹😹

10/03/2023

Bret Sage

10/03/2023

Mariah Gibson

“I never saw a wild thing sorry for itself.” - D. H. Lawrence

My heart sank... Within 24 hours of removing the illegal leg hold trap from this young fox’s leg, it became obvious his foot could not be saved.

Despite no bones being broken, the blood flow did not return to the foot. The tissue was beginning to die…

The decision of what to do next was not made lightly. We sought advice from many experienced parties. The better part of yesterday was spent on the phone, writing emails and getting as much information as possible to make a decision about what to do and to get the proper permissions to do it.

I know he would likely not tolerate permanent placement, as he is old enough to know he is supposed to be free and fears people. He either needed to be humanely euthanized to end his suffering or go into emergency surgery for an amputation.

But would this be fair to him? Could he live a good life despite being down a leg? We know that domestic animals often do just fine, despite amputations, but how do wild animals fair?

It’s not a simple answer. It depends largely on the animal and which leg it is. There are articles that suggest that quadrupeds (four legged animals), frequently adapt well to three legs, in the wild.

“The natural world is filled with examples of three-legged deer, lions, tigers, and other animals that thrive in the wild, even without human intervention.” - National Geographic

We ended up deciding on the surgery and it was determined that the entire leg would need to be removed, as leaving a stump would not benefit him in any way and was more likely to cause him problems in the future.

We are very fortunate to work with dedicated wildlife rehabilitator and veterinarian, Dr. Leef. She has experience doing amputations and was comfortable taking on the task of the emergency surgery he would need. He was rushed in for surgery yesterday and the team at Heal Veterinary Clinic did an incredible job. We are so grateful for them. 🙏❤️🙏

He came back to the rescue for close observation through the night. We kept him in an incubator to keep him warm and comfortable. At 3 am, he made it clear he wanted to get out. I opened the door to the incubator and stepped back. I gave him run of the rehab room to observe him. I wanted to see how mobile he was.

I was blown away by how well he is already moving around. He has quickly, and seemingly effortlessly, found a way to balance himself. I read that long tails are very helpful as a counter balance for three legged animals. Maybe a fox’s tail makes the transition that much easier.

He didn’t appear sad. He didn’t even look tired. He was wide awake and clearly on a mission. He didn’t seem to even notice the missing leg. He paced the room and sniffed around. Turns out he was very hungry.

No one told him he is supposed to be upset about this. No one explained to him that this situation wasn’t fair. No one informed him that his life was supposed to be easier than this.

Watching him this morning, I am very optimistic about a successful rehabilitation. I don’t get the feeling he really cares about how things were supposed to be. He seems focused on moving on with today and what lies ahead.

I feel like we could all learn a lot from him. He’s inspired me already.

05/17/2022

Work in progress. A very very long progress.