Mary Cummins Wildlife Rehabilitation Animal Advocates News Los Angeles California: animal advocates

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Sunday, May 25, 2025

Mary Cummins Animal Advocates Resume Curriculum Vitae

Curriculum Vitae

Cummins is a bilingual Latina who grew up in a wildlife area of Los Angeles, California rescuing baby bunnies, squirrels and even a fawn by the age of six. She continued to rescue all types of animals on her own, with other organizations and for local animal shelters.

Cummins founded Animal Advocates an IRS recognized 501 3c non-profit organization in 2002. Animal Advocates is a registered California Corporation and legal charity with the California Attorney General. Cummins is a licensed wildlife rehabilitator specializing in small mammals including but not limited to coyotes, bobcats, foxes, skunks, raccoons, opossums, squirrels and bats.

Animal Advocates is the only wildlife rehabilitation facility in the city of Los Angeles which is home to over 5,000,000 people spread over 500 square miles. To date (2021) we have rescued and rehabilitated 8,368 wild animals and 1,254 domestic for a grand total of 9,622 animals. We provide wildlife education in English and Spanish in the community and through our work with the local, state and federal government. 2022 was our 20 year anniversary.

Education

• 1982 Beverly Hills High School, Dean's list, Swim team, Water Polo

• 1984 University of Southern California, Dean's list, Swim Team, Marks International Hall, Scholarship

Professional Education

• 1982 Emergency Medical Technician I

• 2001 Wildlife Paramedic I Basic training for wildlife emergency response

• 2003 IWRC Basic rehabilitation skills seminar, two day course, 13 hours

• 2004 Opossum Society, Opossum rehabilitation

• 2004 HSUS Animal Care two day seminar in Reno, Nevada

• 2005 Rio Hondo Police Academy PAC 43.76 PC 832 Arrest - Modules 1 & III

• 2005 Rio Hondo Police Academy PAC 43.77 PC 832 Firearms - Module II

• 2005 Animal Law Enforcement Academy, San Diego Humane Society and SPCA. 80 hours of approved credit by CVMA, sponsored by the State Humane Association of California to become a Humane Officer

• 2005 American Humane Association, Euthanasia by Injection Certificate, Pasadena Shelter

• 2005 American Humane Association - TV & Film, “No animals were harmed” one week training program. Employed in 2005.

• 2006 Pasadena Police Department Certificate of training Tazer X26

• 2005 LA Animal Services, Mitigating animal related injuries in the shelter environment

• 2005 LA Animal Services, Reptile care and handling

• 2005 LA Animal Services, Horse care and handling

• 2005 LA Animal Services, Wildlife care and handling

• 2010 Desert Studies Center, Southwestern bats, research techniques, Dr. Patricia Brown-Berry, 42 years of experience with bats

• 2011 Humane Society University, Animal First Aid for Disaster Responders, 8 hours live

• 2017 Animal Legal Defense Fund's Animal Law Summer School - Ag-Gag, Professor Alan Chen, University of Denver Sturm College of Law

• 2017 Animal Legal Defense Fund's Animal Law Summer School - Captive Wildlife, Matthew Liebman, Director of Litigation for the Animal Legal Defense Fund

• 2018 Big Cats in the City: Ecology, Behavior and Conservation of Mountain Lions around Los Angeles. Seth Riley.

• 2018 Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Animal Law School “Case Study: Elephants at the LA Zoo" presented by lawyer David Casselman.

• 2018 Wild Futures “Living with Mountain Lions in the Bay Area & Greater California.”

• 2019 Animal Legal Defense Fund’s “The Link between Violence against Humans and Animals.”

• 2020 IWRC, Coffee & Tea discussion on Cultivating anti-racism in wildlife rehabilitation

• 2021 New York City AAZK, Compassion Fatigue, Burnout, and the Zoological Field

• 2021 Beneath the Surface: Examining Triggers of Harmful Algal Blooms, Marine Mammal Care

• 2021 Prairie Dogs in Peril Zoom, James Trever of Prairie Dog Pals

• 2022 Groundbreaking of Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing

• 2022 Post Human Infrastructure, Lauren Bon, Metabolic Studios

• 2022 Wildlife 2 Watts Educational Event

• 2022 Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing Open House

• 2023 Latino Conservation Week programs

• 2023 Celebration of Life Event P22

• 2023 Natural History Museum P22 Museum Educational Visit

• 2023 IWRC Pinniped Control-Meeting Community Needs in a Time of Crisis

• 2023 Cougar Conservancy National Wildlife Federation Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing Tour

• 2024 IWRC Wildlife Rehabilitation & Conservation in Rwanda

• 2024 IWRC Connections U Networking in Latin America, Spanish/English

• 2024 Animal Tracks Wildlife Sanctuary Educational Visit

• 2024 Recognizing and Understanding Bias for the Animal Welfare Professional

• 2024 IWRC International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council Coffee & Tea: A big problem with little animals: how insect declines may affect wildlife

Professional licenses, permits past and present

• 2001 Los Angeles City Gun Permit

• 2003 Los Angeles City Wildlife Permit

• 2003 USDA Class C Exhibitor Permit for Sanctuary animals

• 2004 CA Department of Fish and Wildlife trapping permit

• 2004 CA Department of Fish and Wildlife, Wildlife Rehabilitation permit, Educational Animals and later exhibit permit

Awards and acknowledgments

• 2003 EARS, Certificate of appreciation for assisting in the wildfires

• 2003 City of Los Angeles, Certificate of appreciation

• 2009 LA Animal Services, Certificate of appreciation

• 2010 Classy, Nonprofit Award

• 2013 Great Nonprofits, Top-Rated Nonprofit Award 3

• 2013 Los Angeles Business Journal, Corporate Citizen and Nonprofit

Selected media, publications, articles

• 2002 "What to do when you find a baby squirrel"

• 2002 "What to do when you find an injured squirrel"

• 2003 "How to reunite squirrels babies with their mothers"

• 2003 "How to trim trees with wildlife in mind"

• 2003 "How to properly care for un-releasable squirrels"

• 2003 "How to build proper caging for wildlife"

• 2003 Cat Fancy Magazine, "Mama Mia"

• 2003 "How to humanely deal with coyotes"

• 2004 "Rehabilitation of tree squirrels" manual.

• 2004 "Rehabilitation of ground squirrels" manual.

• 2004 "Rehabilitation of skunks" manual.

• 2004 "Treatment of Malocclusion in Squirrels," Co-author Dr. Bill Ridgeway

• 2004 "How to trim rodent teeth"

• 2004 "How to make pet squirrels wild again"

• 2004 "How to set up a wildlife referral system in animal shelters"

• 2005 IWRC, "Journal of Wildlife Rehabilitation," "Raising baby tree squirrels from weaning to release"

• 2000-2024 Over 500 wildlife, animal articles written for blogs, newspapers, online media and others Selected media

• 2003 Animal Planet "Beverly Hills Vet, Squirrel Rehabilitation"

• 2003 CADFG "Scrawl of the Wild"

• 2003 LA Times "Rodent poisoning project angers animal activists"

• 2004 Cable television show "Wildlife Rescue," six episodes, Doggy TV

• 2004 Gardena Valley News "Helping furry friends survive urban jungle"

• 2004 KROQ radio interview with Scott Mason

• 2005 Discovery Channel "The Undetectables, Squirrel Care"

• 2005 LA Weekly "A Billionaire's Bark"

• 2005 KROQ radio interview with Scott Mason

• 2005 Thousand Oaks Acorn “Public outcry over slain tiger loud—but not universal”

• 2005 LA Times "Urban remedies: Dealing with new arrivals"

• 2005 Thousand Oaks Acorn "Public outcry over slain tiger loud-but not universal"

• 2005 LA City Beat "Welcome to the jungle"

• 2006 Daily News "Stuckey stays on as $50,000 City consultant"

• 2006 Book "Squirrels: The Animal Answer Guide"

• 2006 Daily News "County relaxes restrictions on llamas, animal rehab"

• 2006 Daily News "Council hears Stuckey critics"

• 2006 LA Times "Fired City Official's appeal in limbo"

• 2007 LA Times "Opossums: your garden's evening clean-up crew"

• 2009 LA Times "Your morning adorable, baby skunks and the handstand dance"

• 2010 Martha Stewart "A gopher named Charlie"

• 2010 Martha Stewart "A second chance for Charlie"

• 2010 LA Times "Your morning adorable: rescued rabbit enjoys a meal"

• 2010 LA Times "Your morning adorable: rub a dub dub, raccoons in a tub"

• 2010 Top YouTube pets video channel in March

• 2011 Ventura County Star “City says bats remain at Moorpark home”

• 2011 CBS Los Angeles “Moorpark Says Homeowners Not Doing Enough To Fight Bats”

• 2011 NBC “WeHo one step closer to fur ban”

• 2012 Santa Monica Patch “Wild Animal in Town? Call on Us, Vet Says”

• 2012 Santa Monica Daily Press “Groups want policy change after mountain lion death”

• 2012 ABC “IDA Rally held in Santa Monica in protest of fatal shooting of mountain lion”

• 2012 NBC “Animal-Rights Group Protests Santa Monica Mountain Lion Shooting”

• 2012 Member of Santa Monica City after incident report in regard to mountain lion shooting

Social Media

• Over 78,000 Facebook fans

• Over 8,000 YouTube subscribers

• Over 12,000,000 YouTube video views

• Over 99,000 YouTube watch hours

• Approved Member Facebook/Meta Nonprofit Growth Program

Experience

• 2001- Present Wildlife rehabilitation. Rescued over 8,000 wild animals with a release rate over 90%

• 2001- Present Wildlife education, presentations to Oasis, Crossroads school, LA Animal Services, Best Friends super adoption, Temple Beth El private school and many others

• 2001- 2006 LA Animal Services, animal shelter volunteer

• 2003 Dept of Fish & Wildlife cleanup of Tiger Rescue, Chuck Traisi, volunteer

• 2003 City of Buena Ventura no-feed plan for wildlife

• 2004 New wildlife policy approved in Los Angeles City

• 2005 American Humane Association - TV & Film, “No animals were harmed” team

• 2006 Amendment to LA County zoning which allows wildlife rehabilitation

• 2006 Redid the LA Animal Services website, added "Adopt a Pet" feature

• 2006 Birth control program for squirrels in Santa Monica

• 2006 Assistant to Director of Found Animals Foundation

• 2010 HSUS NDART team cockfight raid Nipomo, CA

• 2011 HSUS NDART team 150 dog rescue Lucerne Valley, CA

• 2012 City of Santa Monica Mountain Lion Task Force with IDA

• 2013 Expert Opossum Witness for PETA for opossum lawsuit

• 2013 Expert Animal Cruelty Presentation for Animal Defense League Animal Law School

• 2013 Presentation for California Attorney General “We Love Wildlife!” Campaign

• 2020 A Critical Evaluation of Legal and Illegal Killing of Native Predators, Dr. Adrian Treves

• 2024 Bat Roost Count Natural History Museum of Los Angeles

• 2024 International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council IWRC Connections and Networking in Latin America and the Caribbean

• 2024 72nd Annual Wildlife Disease Association conference by WDA Australia

• 2025 Howliday Clinic for Pets Experiencing Homelessness with K9 Connection, Pets Laneding, Street Dog Coalition

• 2025 Rescued and Sheltered Animals Displaced by Los Angeles Fires

• 2025 Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve

• 2025 Blessing of the Animals Los Angeles

Committees/Task forces

• 2004 LA Animal Services Spanish language Committee, Spay and Neuter Committee, Wildlife Committee, Adopt-a-thon Committee, New Hope Partner

• 2005 LA City, Councilman Zine Coyote Task Force

• 2005 Approved by Mayor to be a commissioner for LA Animal Services

• 2006 LA City Proposition F Committee

• 2008 Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) National Disaster Animal Response Team (NDART)
• 2012 Santa Monica Police, Animal Control, Fish & Wildlife After Mountain Lion Killing Incident Task Force

Professional memberships

• California Council for Wildlife Rehabilitators

• National Wildlife Rehabilitation Association

• International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AnimalAdvocatesUSA

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/animal-advocates

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@MaryCummins

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/animaladvocatesusa/

Blog https://animaladvocatesmarycummins.blogspot.com/

#marycummins #animaladvocates #curriculumvitae #resume #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #wildliferescue #squirrels #skunks #opossums #raccoons #bats #bobcats #coyotes #gophers #chipmunks #losangeles #california #animaladvocatesus

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.

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Mary Cummins

Mary Cummins of Cummins Real Estate Services has been in real estate since 1983, over 35 years. She is licensed by the Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers. Mary Cummins was an agent and broker licensed with the California Department of Real Estate selling residential income, commercial buildings, raw land and homes for Merrill Lynch Realty in Beverly Hills and Westside Properties in Los Angeles before concentrating on appraisals. Mary Cummins currently provides real estate appraisals, expert witness testimony, historical research, legal real estate research for mortgage brokers, banks, lawyers, factors, insurance companies, financial consultants and private individuals. Mary Cummins was born and raised in Southern California. Cummins attended Beverly Hills Good Shepherd Catholic School and Beverly Hills High School. Besides being on the Dean's list, Mary Cummins was a top ten national swimmer and competed on the men's water polo team. Mary Cummins began college at the age of 15 attending the University of Southern California on scholarship, majoring in Psychology/Sociology. http://www.animaladvocates.us http://www.facebook.com/AnimalAdvocatesUSA

Saturday, May 17, 2025

California Ground Squirrels in Santa Monica by Mary Cummins Animal Advocates

Every year the California ground squirrels at Ocean Park on Ocean Park Blvd at Broadway in Santa Monica give birth to a litter of pups. By mid May the babies are outside of the burrow hole. By June the city starts killing them because they feel there are "too many." The issue is the city's fear of bubonic plague affecting tourism. The plague is carried by the fleas on some ground squirrels generally at higher elevation. FTR there has never been bubonic plague at this park. The city should be trapping and monitoring the squirrel fleas for the plague if that is really their concern.

Years ago in 2006 we offered to help humanely reduce the population and treat the ground squirrels and park for fleas. City said yes. We were successful reducing the population in 90% of the park but not right at Broadway. The problem is they sell food there which the tourists feed to the animals. This causes the population to explode. They will have more babies and more babies will survive to adulthood. There are no feed signs but people ignore them or destroy them. We lost all our of signs in just the first week. These were thick metal signs tightly screwed to posts. The homeless and locals also feed the ground squirrels. Even if people didn't feed them, there are plants and grass for them to eat. Before the food vendors they used to feed the homeless there who fed the squirrels. The squirrels have probably been there thousands of years.

We also tried to treat the park for fleas. The city and groundskeeper would only allow us to use an herbal spray which was almost as effective as salad dressing. They wouldn't allow us to set up hidden tubes with flea meds to treat the squirrels directly either for same reason. Their excuse was they didn't want anything that could be toxic to pets or humans. Obviously it would not have been toxic to ground squirrels, pets or humans. We use regular dog, cat flea meds on squirrels. They are proven safe.

We were using humane traps to trap, examine the squirrels and test the fleas of the ground squirrels. Homeless people destroyed our traps even though they were well hidden in the cactus. I was almost attacked a few times trying to get the homeless to stop feeding them. Some homeless are mentally ill or on substances which make them unpredictable. One tried to throw me off the bluff. Needless to say we didn't work with the city again because our hands were tied. We couldn't be effective without using our proven tools.

I wrote this article just so current people understand the situation. The city will either poison or gas them. Once they used humane traps to trap them. Then they were more humanely gassed and bodies fed to wildlife. We weren't involved in that program. If they really wanted to get rid of the ground squirrels there, they'd have to cement off the area. Ground squirrels won't stray more than 75 feet from their dirt burrow hole. They may have to cement off the area turning it into a huge deck due to erosion eventually.

The ground squirrels do not cause the erosion of the palisades bluffs. They are attracted to that type of softer soil for their burrows. The palisades have been eroding for millions of years. It happens all over the world even where they have no ground squirrels.

Some cute videos from today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeXti_a9-Ag

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D6IrMvxe3Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfpx8yK4qnU

Mary Cummins

Monday, April 28, 2025

Opossum Rescue in Beverly Hills, California by Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates

We were called to a 10,000 sf home in Beverly Hills, California with a full lower below ground level. An opossum had fallen into a basement window well and couldn't get out. A kind man called us and we got the opossum out. We instantly released within three miles of where found because opossums was healthy and large enough to be on its own. #opossum #possum #losangeles #california #marycummins @mary_cummins #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #wildliferescue #wildlife #beverlyhills #rescue #animalrescue #animaladvocates

Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.

Mary Cummins

Saturday, April 19, 2025

Blessing of the Animals Los Angeles 2025 by Mary Cummins Animal Advocates

Mary Cummins founder of Animal Advocates attended the Blessing of the Animals at Olvera Street in Los Angeles, California today April 19, 2025. Archbishop Jose Horacio Gomez gave the blessing. Deputy Mayor Jacquelin Hamilton spoke along with councilmember Ysabel Jurado. The line to have animals blessed was half a mile long. People started standing in line early around 11:00 am instead of 1:00 pm.

The event was well attended and there were no incidents except one. The Aztec dance group for some reason released a couple of doves. The doves flew for maybe ten seconds and ended up on the ground. A dog instantly tried to eat one and had the entire dove in its mouth instantly. Thankfully a man got the dove out of the dog's mouth.

Never release doves. The doves they sell at the pet store have lived their entire lives in tiny cages. They can't fly! All those birds end up dead. When the popes used to release doves they would instantly be attacked and killed by seagulls and crows. We rescue a lot of these wedding doves and white pigeons. They cannot survive in the wild. They are too tame, can't find food and don't know how to avoid predators.

Photos from the event. More photos and videos on our Facebook and YouTube accounts.

Mary Cummins

Saturday, April 12, 2025

New Executive Order Threatens Wildlife, Marine Mammals, Environment by Mary Cummins Animal Advocates

There is a new April 9 Executive Order regarding U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service which affects wildlife and the environment. They want to unwind Federal Acts if they restrict energy production. These Acts protect wildlife and the environment. They are the migratory bird treaty act, marine mammal protection act, endangered species act... Without these Federal Acts there are NO protections for wildlife, marine mammals or the environment. They'll be able to drill for oil in the ocean even if millions of marine mammals and birds die. They can mine for lithium even if thousands of bald eagles will be killed. We must act now! We'll keep you posted on what you can do to protect wildlife.

Here is the Executive Order

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/zero-based-regulatory-budgeting-to-unleash-american-energy

ZERO-BASED REGULATORY BUDGETING TO UNLEASH AMERICAN ENERGY

This order directs certain agencies to incorporate a sunset provision into their regulations governing energy production to the extent permitted by law.

(i) For the FWS, this order applies to all regulations issued pursuant to the following statutes and any amendments thereto:

(i) the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act;

(ii) the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918;

(iii) the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1934;

(iv) the Anadromous Fish Conservation Act of 1965;

(v) the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972;

(vi) the Endangered Species Act of 1973;

(vii) the Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976; and

(viii) the Coastal Barrier Resources Act of 1982.

#usfishandwildlifeservice #marycummins #AnimalAdvocates #wildlife #migratorybirds #marinemammals #endangeredspecies

Mary Cummins

Sunday, March 2, 2025

Squirrel rescues her babies that fell out of a tree, Mary Cummins, Animal Advocates

The winds blew a squirrel nest out of a tall palm tree today. Babies landed in the aloe bush. I heard the babies crying and went to see if they were okay. I looked at one up close and she just had some scratches. I put her back in the bush in a place where she couldn't fall, was safe from animals and mom could find her. Mom came and took back all her babies within minutes.

A few photos with video below that. Link to video if it doesn't embed properly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B2_T4gfMUA

Mary Cummins

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Anticoagulant Poison in Oceans, Lakes by Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates

mary cummins, animal advocates, anticoagulant bait, rat poison, poison, anticoagulant, los angeles, california, wildlife, death, brodifacoum, fish, water, lake, ocean, sea

A new study came out showing anticoagulant poison in trout, Brodifacoum causes coagulopathy, hemorrhages, and mortality in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) at environmentally relevant hepatic residue concentrations.

When I was accidentally poisoned by anticoagulant bait along San Buenaventura beach in 2003 it also went into the water. The pest control operator admitted to free scattering the poison in the tidal areas in the rocks to kill ground squirrels. Within a week I found dead fish and a dead pelican on the beach. I sent the pelican to the lab. It had evidence of internal bleeding. I also found many, many dead birds on the beach and beach parking lot besides a dead cat. Sent the birds to the lab. They had four different types of anticoagulant bait in them. The ecoli level was so high in the water right there that they closed the beach for two weeks. Poison gets into the water directly and indirectly.

Study Highlights

•Brodifacoum doses ≥ 75 µg/kg bw disrupt blood coagulation of rainbow trout.
•Brodifacoum doses between 100 and 200 µg/kg bw cause mortality in rainbow trout.
•Test duration is a key factor assessing the effects of brodifacoum on fish.

•The lowest mean hepatic residue associated with effects in trout is 122.6 ng/g.
•Brodifacoum causes effects at environmentally relevant hepatic concentrations.

Abstract

Widely used second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides like brodifacoum are classified as persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic. Widespread exposure of terrestrial and avian non-target species is well-known and recently hepatic anticoagulant rodenticide residues have been detected in wild fish. However, no sufficient data exist to interpret the effects of these findings on fish health. In order to assess the potential impact of rodenticide residues on fish, we exposed rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to brodifacoum-spiked feed. In a first experiment, individually kept trout (body weight ca. 200 g) were exposed to a single dose of brodifacoum and observed for 15 days. In a second experiment, fish (body weight ca. 330 g) were kept in groups and fed every 7 or 8 days with brodifacoum-spiked feed for up to 60 days. Sampling of trout every 15 days over the 60 days period allowed monitoring of brodifacoum concentrations in serum, liver, and muscle tissue, as well as occurring effects over the course of the experiment. In both experiments, brodifacoum doses of ≥ 75 µg/kg body weight caused prolonged or non-measurable blood coagulation times. Disturbed hemostasis led to hemorrhages and anemia with significantly decreased albumin levels. In the 60 days-experiment, brodifacoum doses ≥ 100 µg/kg body weight caused additionally discoloration, apathy, and anorexia, resulting in reduced weight gain, and ultimately mortality. The delay until the onset of overt symptoms (14–17 days) highlights the importance of test duration while investigating effects of anticoagulant rodenticides in fish. The lowest hepatic brodifacoum concentration associated with effects in trout was on average 122.6 ng/g liver wet weight, which is in the range of previously reported brodifacoum residues in wild fish. These findings illustrate the risks associated with the use of anticoagulant rodenticides for freshwater fish and reinforce the need to stipulate all available and appropriate risk mitigation measures to prevent emissions at source.

Link to paper

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651324017056

Mary Cummins

Sunday, February 9, 2025

Safran Male Dairy Cow Steer Dies at Farm Sanctuary Acton by Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates

Safran the male dairy "cow" bovine died at Farm Sanctuary in Acton, Los Angeles, California. He was an unwanted male dairy calf destined for veal. Instead he was rescued and became one of the main farm animal ambassadors at Farm Sanctuary Acton which used to be Animal Acres. RIP Saffy 2014-2025.

Below is his obituary from Farm Sanctuary.

“He went down and could not get back up, his body burdened by age (11 years young) and an immensely unfair size. A dairy boy in a dinosaur body, but a puppy dog at heart and a loyal friend. While his fate was sealed as an eventual inevitability, we would never be ready for it. He took it with the most grace and humble understanding. He had many visitors and was shrouded in love. Here is Saffy watching his last sunrise.”

https://www.farmsanctuary.org/news-stories/safran-tribute-farm-animal-rescue

Mary Cummins

Friday, February 7, 2025

How to Care for Extremely Emaciated Dehydrated Injured Ill Animals, Wildlife by Mary Cummins

How to care for extremely abused, neglected, emaciated, ill, injured animals. This article is from 2007 but Facebook got rid of Notes so I'm reposting it here. It's very important.

We've all heard the story about someone who rescues an emaciated, dehydrated, abused, neglected injured dog that was tied to a stake for years, left in a kennel all alone or found roaming the street homeless. They take the animal to the vet for medical care, then to the groomers, bring it home, give it lots of food, toys, love, attention, exercise, take photos...and it dies in a couple of days if not in a day. I'm writing this article to hopefully prevent those unfortunate deaths.

I have found with very ill, injured, emaciated, dehydrated, neglected wildlife, pets or farm animals, you have to take things very slow in the beginning or you can overwhelm their system and they will die quickly. This is what we do with extremely emaciated, dehydrated, ill and injured wildlife. The same applies to all animals and humans as well. They suffer from refeeding syndrome and die. Don't proceed to the next step until you have done the previous steps. If you feed a cold, dehydrated animal, it will die. *Always talk to your veterinarian and follow his/her advice.

1. TREAT LIFE THREATENING INJURIES. Treat life threatening injuries such as blood loss, temporarily set and wrap a bad break, treat severe burns, wounds, give antibiotics for infections... During this initial period keep the animal in a quiet, safe area away from other animals, loud noise, lots of light or activity. We keep wildlife in crates of course. Sometimes we will put blind folds on animals or cover their ears to reduce stimuli which can stress them.

2. GET ANIMAL WARM/COOLED. Get the animal warm if it's cold, cool it if it is too hot. If the animal is very cold (hot), slowly and gradually warm (cool) them. If you do it too fast, they will die. We all have the desire to instantly care for all the needs of an animal as fast as we can but that will overwhelm the animal causing their death.

3. HYDRATE. Get them hydrated. If they are extremely dehydrated, do it gradually. We use warm Pedialyte or Gatorade. Don't give the full recommended amount of fluids if they are extremely dehydrated. They won't be able to absorb, process it. The most effective way to get fluids in them is orally. If they are unconscious, very weak, have difficulty breathing, swallowing we tube them. Fluids are absorbed more readily with less energy via the stomach than subq. If that is not possible, then subq with lactated ringers if the animal is small or IV with proper fluids if they are larger and you are capable of doing this.

4. EMERGENCY EXTERNAL PARASITES. Treat external parasite if you can do it easily with Advantage, Frontline when you start hydrating. Don't use harsh sprays or give them a bath if they are weak, dehydrated or extremely emaciated. Fleas and ticks must be killed so they will stop draining the animal. Maggots are generally not life threatening as they eat dead flesh but we remove them and give Capstar. Remove fly eggs so they don't hatch into maggots then into flies.

5. SLOWLY START FEEDING. After you have treated life threatening injuries, warmed/cooled, hydrated, treated some external parasites, slowly and gradually introduce small amounts of slightly watered down bland food. Do not give the suggested serving amount. If they have not eaten in a while, they won't have the energy, gut flora necessary to digest and process the food and die from refeeding syndrome. If you give them an average sized meal, they won't have the ability to process it and could die. Give smaller portions mixed with water more frequently. I suggest giving 1/3 to 1/2 a normal serving based on current weight, not ideal weight. Yes, we want them to gain weight but that comes after they are stabilized. You can safely increase size of meals later. If they get diarrhea, stop the food, hydrate only, give probiotics until diarrhea stops. You may be tempted to give Nutrical which is generally okay but it's high in fat and can give them diarrhea so be careful. It's best to add it later to increase calories.

6. ANIMAL IS STABILIZED. It generally takes 24-72 hours to fully stabilize a very emaciated, dehydrated...animal. Time to treat other symptoms. After animal has a normal temperature, is fully hydrated, has eaten a few meals, made nice poops, nice colored urine, it's time to treat other symptoms. Treat them in order of importance. Continue to keep the animal in a quiet environment away from other animals and activity. If the animal seems stressed or gets very tired, taper back the activity.

7. GROOMING. A severely matted dog will need to have mats trimmed out. If dog is fearful of electric shears, carefully and gently use scissors. If dog needs to be sedated, wait until the dog is fully stabilized. Do not perform non-emergency surgery or sedate an animal that is not stabilized. After removing the mats bathe the animal. If it's a dog that is not stressed by being bathed in the tub, that is fine. If it's a wild animal, we just wipe it down gently. Trim the nails if they are severely overgrown and negatively affecting the animal. Do not cut the quick. Just do an emergency trim for now.

8. PARASITES. Some external parasites can be treated with grooming. You can now use stronger products if needed for ring worm, mange, mites, ticks, lice, fleas...This is when you would give baths or use dips. Treating internal parasites is a little trickier. If you suspect the animal has a huge load of internal parasites such as round worms, you have to be careful. If you kill them all at once, they could cause a blockage. Consult your veterinarian. We care for raccoons and skunks which can have massive amounts of worms which look like a cup of spaghetti when they exit. Some baby pet skunks get blocked with dead round worms. When tape worms let go of the gut wall, it causes cramping and pain. Monitor the animal to make sure they are not straining or prolapsing its rectum. Your vet may suggest a laxative to help eliminate the worms. If the animal was severely malnourished, most gut worms would have already died from starvation. If you are treating coccidia..., the treatment is not stressful.

9. TREAT NON-EMERGENCY SYMPTOMS. Wild squirrels can have overgrown teeth. I would trim the overgrown incisor teeth (which are like our finger nails with no nerves) after getting the animal stable unless a tooth is almost in their eye then quickly trim that. If they need dental surgery, I would wait until fully stabilized so they can survive the surgery. Now you can vaccinate, clean ears... I would not spay or neuter until animal is healthy. Now it is safe to give the animal anesthesia. Do no give the animal anesthesia until it is fully stabilized or you will kill it. One can do a blood test to see if the animal is healthy enough for anesthesia.

10. ANIMAL IS HEALTHY. If the animal is a wild animal, we put them in an outdoor enclosure protected from elements with proper food and water. If this is a non-wild or non-feral pet, you can now slowly interact with them more. It's now safe to spay or neuter. You can brush them, hand feed them, show them toys, slowly give them more room to walk around, eventually walking them a little on a leash in a room then in a yard. Now you can start with training with positive reinforcement. Eventually introduce them to other people, animals and maybe lower energy children. If they seem stressed, winded or tired, scale back the activity especially with older animals. You need to slowly build up play, walk time and activities with other animals and humans.

The stabilization process should take 24 to 72 hours to get them basically stabilized if they are merely emaciated, dehydrated and cold. It should then take a week to two weeks to get them fully stabilized and basically healthy. This of course depends upon other injuries and illnesses besides age.

We all love animals and want to instantly treat all their symptoms and give them lots of love, food and attention. We need to restrain ourselves for the good of the animal. I've seen so many with good hearts take neglected, malnourished animals out of the shelter, shower them with lots of treatment, love, food, treats...and the animal dies within a day or two. I'm writing this article to prevent that.

*Take the animal to a veterinarian. Follow the veterinarian's advice. I'm not a veterinarian. Every animal is different.

Mary Cummins

Mary Cummins Animal Advocates Los Angeles California Wildlife Rehabilitation Real Estate

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