The first hour decides most of it
Found a kitten and not sure what to do? Most mistakes happen in the first hour, and almost all of them come from feeding the animal too early or moving it too late.
Emergency animal helpline calls follow a pattern: the animal is found in the afternoon, the person spends four hours asking friends what to do, and by evening the case is harder and more expensive. Send the photograph first and ask questions while you wait for the answer.
First hour, in order
Do these in this order. Photographs before anything else, because they decide how quickly we can help.
- Photograph the animal and its surroundings, and note the exact location.
- Check for danger to yourself first: traffic, dogs guarding the animal, unstable structures.
- Warmth before food. A cold animal cannot digest anything, and food can kill an animal with internal injuries.
- No water by syringe into the mouth of an unconscious animal, and no milk to kittens.
- Contain it: a ventilated box for small animals, a lead and a coat over the head for a frightened dog.
- Send the photograph and location to us or the nearest clinic before you drive anywhere.
By situation
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Found a kitten
If it is warm, clean and quiet, the mother is probably nearby: watch from a distance for two hours. If it is cold, dirty, thin and crying, it needs help now, and it needs warmth before milk replacer.
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Found a stray dog
Check for a collar and a tag, photograph the dog, post in the local group and contact us. Do not chase a frightened dog: it runs into traffic. Sit down, look away and let it approach.
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Injured bird help
Ventilated cardboard box, kept dark and warm, no food, no water in the beak. Fledglings on the ground with feathers are usually fine and should be left alone.
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Hedgehog out in daylight
A hedgehog walking in daylight is almost always ill or injured. Gloves, a box with newspaper, a warm room and a call the same day.
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Road accident
Move the animal only if you can do it safely. Support the spine on a flat surface, cover the eyes, and call ahead so the clinic is ready.
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Report an injured animal you cannot reach
Send the location, the time you saw it and a photograph. We will pass it to the nearest partner rather than telling you to try yourself.
Questions people ask in the first hour
Should I feed the animal I found?
Not before it is warm and not at all if it is unconscious, bleeding heavily or has a suspected internal injury. Water in a bowl is fine for an alert animal.
Can I keep the animal I found?
Often yes, after a check for a chip and an attempt to find the owner. We will tell you what that involves in your country.
Who pays for the treatment?
If the case is taken on by the foundation, we pay the partner clinic directly. Tell us before treatment starts, because we cannot reimburse invoices we did not agree to.
How to help stray animals in my area long term?
Sterilisation first, then vaccination, then feeding at a fixed place and time. Tell us the district and we will connect you with the nearest sterilisation programme.
Send it now
A photograph, a location and a phone number. That is all we need to start.