Why do people stay up all night to feed tiny birds from eyedroppers?
Why do volunteers spend hours washing the oil off of ducks in the hopes they will survive?
Why do folks care so deeply about saving the tiniest creatures in our urban world?
We’ve often pondered this question over the years as we’ve covered stories at the Wildlife Rescue Association based in Burnaby.
From saving ungrateful skunks to not-very-attractive snakes, the people who devote their time to rescuing injured and abandoned wild things are nothing if not dedicated.
There are a lot of good causes asking for help nowadays. From food banks here in B.C. to feeding people in faraway lands, we hear the call to help others on TV, in papers and from our community leaders on a daily basis.
Heart-wrenching videos of starving children fight for space next to heart-wrenching videos of starving dogs freezing in small kennels.
And, of course, there will be pundits who ask why we should help critters when humans need help.
To that we say – one does not negate the other. If your heart leads you to help critters, this doesn’t mean you don’t or won’t help humans. If your heart leads you to help humans, this doesn’t mean you don’t or won’t help critters.
All we hope for is that people help anything or anybody they choose. Kindness should not be judged and weighed. Kindness should be appreciated whenever, however, and to whatever or whomever it is shown.
The folks at WRA are looking for help to care for their wildlife charges.
It may seem like a small thing to help a small bird fly again – but in a world that often seems too big to make a difference in, that one act of healing a bird is precious.
Please take a moment to consider helping those who help our urban wildlife.
