Introduction

Have you ever seen a dog or cat in distress, and wondered what to do? I have! And it’s one of the scariest things ever. So today we’re going to talk about how to help out animals in distress—and why it’s important that animal lovers know how to do this. We’ll cover everything from how to approach a dog or cat that looks like they need help, all the way through rescuing them safely and taking them to a vet (or other appropriate facility). We’ll also talk about what not to do when dealing with an injured or dehydrated pet, so you don’t end up causing more harm than good!

Never touch a dog or cat until you’ve checked for injuries

If you see a dog or cat that’s limping, bleeding or injured, or if it seems to be in distress, don’t approach it. Instead, contact your local animal control agency or the police.

If you’re concerned about a dog’s behavior (including barking), call the police department non-emergency line and describe the situation. The officer at the other end will let you know whether there are any laws pertaining to excessive noise from dogs in your area—and if so, when they come into effect.

Always approach animals in distress with caution

When you see an animal in distress, it’s important to always approach the situation with caution. While you may want to rush over and help, it’s crucial that you don’t get too close, make sudden movements or try to grab the animal.

If the animal does not appear injured or ill and is able to move away on its own after being startled by your presence, back off immediately so as not to scare it further. If there are other people around who can assist in getting the dog/cat under control without putting themselves at risk of injury they should attempt this first before approaching yourself if possible.

If possible try moving them out of harm’s way by guiding them towards a safe location such as their home or another secure area nearby where they won’t be disturbed by other animals or vehicles etc…

Don’t forget the basics when helping a dehydrated or injured animal

• Make sure the animal is safe. Before you do anything, make sure it’s not in immediate danger. If a car is about to hit it, or if another animal is attacking it (or vice versa), get involved by using your body as a barrier between them or distracting them with something else like food or toys. Otherwise, step back and let nature take its course.
• Stay calm. Animals can sense fear and distress from their human rescuers just as easily as any other creature can—if you’re panicked about helping the animal out of danger then you’ll only make things worse for everyone involved!
• Keep your distance from cats and dogs that are unfamiliar with humans because they may bite out of fear—this also goes for wild animals such as deer, bears, foxes and raccoons that might have rabies (which cannot be cured once symptoms appear). If an injured feline approaches you but doesn’t attack at first sight then proceed cautiously: approach slowly; talk softly; avoid eye contact; don’t try feeding it unless instructed by wildlife officials first because sick animals are more likely than healthy ones to attack without warning!

Be Smart About Feeding Distressed Dogs and Cats

It’s important to be smart about feeding animals in distress. Here are some things to consider:

• Don’t feed an injured dog or cat. If a dog has been hit by a car, for example, don’t try to force food into its mouth—you could cause further damage by doing so and may not know exactly what injuries the animal has sustained. In general, if you think the animal might have some kind of medical condition (e.g., broken bones or internal bleeding), it’s best not to interfere with treatment until you’ve consulted with a veterinarian or other qualified expert.
• Hold off on feeding starving dogs and cats until they’re feeling better because this could actually make them sicker than they already are when they haven’t had enough nutrients in their systems for weeks or months at a time! Even if they eat as much as possible right away, which isn’t recommended either way since too much food can cause digestive problems later down the line when digestion is slower (this makes sense). It would be better still if someone else comes along who has more experience dealing with these situations; then again most people aren’t going around looking for starving animals so don’t feel bad about not being able leave them there – unless it seems safe enough without endangering yourself/others around you at that moment before attempting rescue efforts again another day.”

Make Sure to Keep Yourself Safe

If you see an injured animal, it’s important to keep your distance. If the animal is in pain or agitated, it might lash out at you or bite. As much as you want to help, it’s better that you don’t get hurt in the process.

If an animal does appear to be injured, always make sure to call 311 and explain the situation before approaching them. The city of Toronto has a protocol for dealing with wildlife injuries and can send an expert out immediately if needed.

If possible, try not to disturb the injured animal further by poking or prodding at them with your hands; this could cause them more pain (and even death) as they will have trouble protecting themselves from predators like cats and dogs who may come along later!

Use caution but don’t be afraid to help out an animal in distress.

• If you see an animal in distress, don’t be afraid to help out.
• A few rules of thumb: Don’t touch the animal until you’ve checked for injuries and don’t feed it if it is injured or sick.
• If a cat or dog is obviously injured, call 911 immediately and leave your number so that emergency responders can call back with further questions about how to help the animal.

Conclusion

In the end, it is important to remember that not every dog or cat you see in distress will be safe to approach. It is always a good idea to call for help from someone who knows about animal rescue or has experience handling such situations. However, if you feel confident and brave enough, then there is no reason why you shouldn’t try your hand at helping out an animal in need!