Would you interrupt nature? If you saw an animal being attacked by another, would you step in, even if it's natural order?

I'm not sure if I did he right thing today, but it was instinctual, I didn't even think, I just acted.

I was driving in my neighborhood, and on someone's front law, quite close to the road, a falcon was pecking and on top of a white dove...the dove was struggling, and the falcon was obviously trying to kill it.

I just slammed on my breaks, got out of the car and ran over to them, the falcon flew away....the dove had blood on it and started to walk away...I looked around for someone to help me (I didn't want to pick up the dove with my hands, I have no idea if there are diseases or anything and it's bleeding), so I go to my car to get a blanket or towel and the falcon is back on the dove...I ran and chased it away again, but the dove just collapsed and died. I think it would've died even if the falcon didn't come back that split second, it had blood coming out of his mouth.

I wanted to take the dove to my DHs and see if he could somehow take care of it, but too late.

So, now that the dove died, I walked away from it, drove home to get some garbage bags and gloves, and then I drove back in the hopes that the falcon would've taken it's "food"...but no.

So now, a bird is dead, and the falcon has no food...the dove died for no reason.

This dove is banded, so it was someone's bird.

I feel so horrible, not just that the dove died, but that I don't know if I should've acted at all.
Like I said, I didn't give it much thought, I saw the dove struggling and I just acted, with the afterthought that maybe my DH could help it.



PS: I knocked on the door of the persons who's property the dove was lying dead on, but no one home...so I waited a while, drove home, gave it 15 min. again, came back, bird still there, so I put it in a garbage bag and disposed of it. I didn't want to leave this dead bird on this person's driveway.

Message edited 4/12/2005 12:20:09 PM.

Re: Would you interrupt nature?

I would have done the same thing.....you see something in pain and you want to help it - human nature....especially because you have a good heart

I'm sorry

Re: Would you interrupt nature?

I am not sure if there is a right answer. You did what your gut told you and though it may not have been right for these birds, it could have been right for someone or something else. You have a good heart and it was telling you to do something good, but it didn't work out.

I know people talk about survival of the fittest but I think the world would be a sad place if we didn't help those in need whether animal or human. Kathy, you are a good egg!

Re: Would you interrupt nature? If you saw an animal being attacked by another, would you step in, even if it's natural order?

After being on Safari and watching the "circle of life" and the natural order of things I would have to say no, I wouldn't interrupt nature ever. We all must eat, even that falcon, he wasn't doing anything wrong. I know we feel like the "poor dove" but if the falcon starves to death then we'll say "the poor falcon had no food" ...
Unfortunately that's the way life is.

Re: Would you interrupt nature? If you saw an animal being attacked by another, would you step in, even if it's natural order?

I would have done the same, right or not.

Re: Would you interrupt nature? If you saw an animal being attacked by another, would you step in, even if it's natural order?

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Posted by Kriss2c

I would have done the same, right or not.

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Message edited 4/12/2005 12:17:32 PM.

Re: Would you interrupt nature? If you saw an animal being attacked by another, would you step in, even if it's natural order?

I would say, based on your description that you did not disrupt the order of nature...

This was someones brid that got loose! THis wasn't a wild bird...If my dog got loose i would hope that someone would stop and try to bring him to safety not let him roam because it is natures way?????

It is sad though and unfortunate

Re: Would you interrupt nature? If you saw an animal being attacked by another, would you step in, even if it's natural order?

I would have done the same thing. Poor little Dove.

Re: Would you interrupt nature? If you saw an animal being attacked by another, would you step in, even if it's natural order?

I know it probably sounds like I'm making a big deal out of some birds...but I'm seriously upset...I saw this dove fall on it's side gasp for air and take it's last breath.
I'm seriously messed up today!

I've seen animals die before at my DHs practice, but this is getting to me because I feel like I made the wrong decision.

I guess it would've been d@mmed if I did, and d@mmed if I didn't.
If I did nothing, I'd wonder if I could've saved it, and I would feel horrible anyway. Why did I have to see this

UggghhhhhhhhhhHH!

Message edited 4/12/2005 12:24:21 PM.

Re: Would you interrupt nature? If you saw an animal being attacked by another, would you step in, even if it's natural order?

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Posted by Kathy116

I know it probably sounds like I'm making a big deal out of some birds...but I'm seriously upset...I saw this dove fall on it's side gasp for air and take it's last breath.
I'm seriously messed up today!

I've seen animals die before at my DHs practice, but this is getting to me because I feel like I made the wrong decision.

I guess it would've been d@mmed if I did, and d@mmed if I didn't.
If I didn't nothing, I'd wonder if I could've saved it.

UggghhhhhhhhhhHH!

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Re: Would you interrupt nature? If you saw an animal being attacked by another, would you step in, even if it's natural order?

I know I would have felt more guilt if I had driven on and did nothing.

Nature will go on whether or not one person gets out to help one animal under attack.

Another note, be grateful that you were not hurt. There was a story on the news recently about a woman stepping in to break up a dog fight and she was mauled.

Re: Would you interrupt nature? If you saw an animal being attacked by another, would you step in, even if it's natural order?

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Posted by Kriss2c

I know I would have felt more guilt if I had driven on and did nothing.

Nature will go on whether or not one person gets out to help one animal under attack.

Another note, be grateful that you were not hurt. There was a story on the news recently about a woman stepping in to break up a dog fight and she was mauled.

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Re: Would you interrupt nature? If you saw an animal being attacked by another, would you step in, even if it's natural order?

Message edited 4/12/2005 12:38:42 PM.

Re: Would you interrupt nature? If you saw an animal being attacked by another, would you step in, even if it's natural order?

A loooong time ago, my friend and I were walking home from Carvel....and we saw a small bird in the road, just laying there. I had some napkins from Carvel still, so I used them to pick the bird up, to be safe. Since the napkins were white, I was able to see taht the bird was bleeding....we went to my friend's house to get a box or something to hold the bird and to see if her parents could get us to a vet.
While I was sitting on her front step, holding the bird in my hands, it shuddered for about 20 seconds and then just died.
It was the worst feeling - to have the bird die in my hands....so i compleyely understand your needing to do something.....and feeling guilty that it wasnt' enough.
As bad as I felt having that bird die in my hands, I would have felt a lot worse if I had left it there to die instead.

Re: Would you interrupt nature? If you saw an animal being attacked by another, would you step in, even if it's natural order?

I've stopped it with my cat. He likes to get nirds and moles but most of the times I am too late and the present is at my door. But my DH encourages it and says it is his instinct. I hate that. I just hate cruelty to animals.

Re: Would you interrupt nature? If you saw an animal being attacked by another, would you step in, even if it's natural order?

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Posted by Kriss2c

I would have done the same, right or not.

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Re: Would you interrupt nature? If you saw an animal being attacked by another, would you step in, even if it's natural order?

Definitely. The other day, I saw a squirrel that had recently been run over by a car. It moved slightly so I stopped my car even though it looked like it may be too late. It was, but I was considering calling some animal service if it was viable, for lack of a better word.