Philosophy of Handling

Philosophy of Handling

by Jean Yim

The constant hum of the machines kept me awake during those long days. I shouted for my captors to release me but their mad rantings were unintelligible. The worst part was the waiting. Even now, the memory of those enormous hands clamping down on my throat and prying my mouth open makes my blood turn to ice. If only I had never hit that window and met that orange tabby...

Excerpted from Memoirs of a House Finch 

Each interaction we have with the animals we treat is usually a reward. It's what makes us return each time to the monotonous tasks we endure to keep our patients alive. Unfortunately, most of their experiences would send many war veterans to seek therapy for post traumatic stress disorder.

Our goal is to reduce their stress as much as possible with proper handling techniques. Many of the animals are injured, unstable and easily stressed. Unnecessary physical exertion can tip the balance toward delayed healing or even death.

Intoning two mantras before trying to capture an animal for treatment can improve the experience for both you and the animal.

Firstly, "Visualize the capture". Have a plan and go over each step in your mind. What are your alternate strategies? Use the mental resources of more experienced handlers for ideas, advice or help.

Secondly, "Be confident, not cocky". The animals sense your hesitation and will be quick to take advantage of the situation. They don't have anything more important in their lives to think about at that moment. If you don't feel confident, go ahead and pretend. The animal might notice but perhaps you will forget. On the flip side, over-confidence can result in injury to you or the animal.

Keep an eye on how the animal is behaving. Is it calm, bouncing around or near comatose? Watch what it does as you approach. Try to anticipate its actions. Knowing the general personalities of a species can help, but noting the actual personality of your patient is even more valuable.

Set yourself up for success. Don't chase the animal back and forth wildly. Since many birds tend to remain still when it is dark, go ahead and turn off the lights. Think about which way your arm will bend most comfortably when reaching into an enclosure. Watch the bird for a few seconds and notice where it is landing. Only plan to catch it in one or two of the most accessible places that you see it landing.

Once you have a strategy and a mindset cemented, act quickly and decisively. The animal being chased will be moving as quickly as it can. Quick, controlled movements will improve your success.

During the capture, watch the animal for signs that may cause you to stop. Is the animal getting too stressed? Is it open-mouthed breathing? Is it injuring itself? Is the chase taking too long? Are you getting frustrated and perhaps no longer thinking clearly? If so, do the animal a favor and take a break or get some help. Step back from the situation and reevaluate the needs of the patient. These compromised creatures need every advantage you can give them

After each capture, take a few moments for self-evaluation. What did you do that worked? What would you do differently next time? 

Remember, capturing an animal for a procedure may be just one of a dozen tasks that you have planned for the next few hours. For the animal, it is a struggle for its life.

A little introspection can vastly improve your handling. And that will improve the stress levels of the animals you are handling and maybe reduce some of the stress in your own lives. Perhaps we've discovered the Lindsay Grail. Working with animals successfully is cheaper than paying for a therapist. I know a House Finch that would agree.