Ringtail update

Sadly, the ringtail died sometime this afternoon.

We've been checking on him through the day, and when Donna went down to check on him about half an hour ago he was dead.

This is something that'll happen to us often as carers, and something we went into it prepared for. I must admit, I wasn't really surprised that he didn't make it. The first twenty-four hours are usually the test when animals come into care and this one was really looking sorry for himself right from the start. He didn't attempt to bite or scratch anyone, didn't hiss, he just took everything that was done to him.

I think you'll always question yourself when an animal in your care dies; was he too hot, did he have enough to drink, did we stress him too much, etc?

When it comes down to it though, not all animals in care survive, in fact eighty percent of animals that come into care are birds and forty percent of them don't survive.

The fact that we've at least given them a chance makes it all worthwile though. It gives you a feeling that you've made a difference, and that's a good feeling.

I couldn't help treating the ringtail as gently as possible while I wrapped his body up, kind of out of respect.