The most likely injury to an animal that you will encounter is a hit-by-car. Any other injury can be handled pretty much the same way- move the animal and get it to a vet! ,p> First, give the animal a quick visual examination to determine its injuries. If the animal is standing, the injuries may still be serious, but you can probably move the animal safely. If the animal is lying down, you may not want to move it for fear of causing greater damage. However, if the animal has been hit by a car and is lying in the road and in danger of being hit again, you may HAVE to move it.
To move an injured animal that is standing and mobile, approach the animal. Most animals that have been hit by a car are shocky and scared and may bite.
Speak gently and calmly. Stop a foot or so from the animal and try to get her come to you. If she responds to you in any way that shows friendliness, approach her and offer your hand below the level of her head for her to sniff.
If she's a dog, you will want to muzzle her, because when you move her you will probably hurt her and she may bite.
If you are wearing high-top socks, you can take one off and use it as a muzzle, or if you have a bandana, scarf or rag you can use that. Tie a loop in it, slip it over the dog's muzzle and gently tighten it.
If you have nothing and the dog is small enough for you to lift with one arm, gently wrap one hand around the dog's muzzle but be prepared to tighten your grip. Slide your other hand under the dog's chest and lift her. Place her in your car and get her to a vet immediately!
If you have no muzzle and the dog is too large for you to lift one handed but you could lift her with both arms, stand beside her and stroke her gently.
Very loosely encircle her with your arms in the way you would to pick her up (one arm under her chest, one behind her hind legs, or for a very large dog, one arm under her chest and one under her belly, just before the hind legs). Lay your head on her back with your face turned away from her head. Tighten your grip and gently but firmly pull her against your chest. Lift her and place her in your car. Get her to a vet immediately!
If the dog is too large for you to lift at all, try to lead her into your car. Take her by the collar or scruff and gently urge her to climb in.
If the animal is a cat, not a dog, you'll need a towel, jacket or sweatshirt, something to pick him up with.
If you don't have something, borrow something from another driver.
Lay the towel or jacket over the cat, scoop him up and place him in your car. Get him to a vet immediately!
For an injured animal that is lying down and unable to get up:
Don't try to move the animal unless you absolutely have to. If you don't have to move the animal, enlist the help of another driver. Have them call police or animal control while you stay with the animal and prevent it from being hit again.
When officials show up, they will know how to move the animal safely. If you'd like, you can tell them that you will take the animal to a vet if they'll put it in your car. Otherwise they will probably decide to have it put down.
Tell them you will take responsibility for it, and when you get to the vet, explain to them how you came by the animal. They are likely then to give you a true picture of it's injuries and prognosis.
If you must move the animal, follow the advice above for moving a standing animal, but be warned, an animal that is lying down and unable to get up is probably severely injured and is very likely to bite.
If you proceed, you do so at your own risk.
If the animal you are trying to rescue has been shot, or if it's injuries have been caused by being attacked by another animal, handle it the same way- evaluate its injuries, move it if you can, and take it to a vet immediately.
