I saw him at the last possible second, in the middle of McDonough Road near McCurry Park last Saturday in Fayetteville. A box turtle was crossing the narrow two-lane road with traffic coming in both directions. I swerved and pulled onto the shoulder, put my flashers on, and rushed to grab him. But before I could reach him, another car clipped him and flipped him, severing his left rear leg.
I wrapped the little guy in a towel and, after a fortunate chance encounter with a wildlife expert at my intended destination, took the injured turtle to the Southern Crescent Animal Emergency Clinic on Highway 54 East.
I have a soft spot for anything with a hard shell, and rescuing turtles is something of an obsession with me. But animal emergencies of many kinds happen everywhere every day, to pets and wildlife alike. And like other crises, they often occur at times when assistance is hard to come by.
Fayette County is fortunate to have the after-hours vet services of Southern Crescent. It opened in 2001 after Dr. Mike Younker and “shareholder” veterinarians from more than two dozen animal hospitals bought the site and set up the clinic. Dr. Younker serves as the facility’s medical director, aided by Chief of Staff Dr. Sarah Wheat and a team of other vets and technicians ready for any situation at any hour. It isn’t free, but it’s darn convenient.
My first experience with the emergency clinic was in 2007 when our 14-year-old cat, Heather, who had cancer, took a sudden turn for the worse late one night. Not wanting her to suffer until morning, my son and I took her to the clinic, where we were received with gentle kindness. Heather was dying, but instead of enduring hours of pain, she was able to pass away peacefully in my arms following a merciful injection. It was a difficult situation that would have been much worse if the clinic had not been available.
In June our dog had to visit the clinic after accidentally ripping out her toenail one evening while we were away. Our wonderful dog sitter took her in and got her patched up; nothing life-threatening, but again, treatment that spared our dog pain that otherwise would have lasted many hours until our regular vet’s office opened.
Animals are such important parts of our lives that it’s only natural to want to help them whenever they need it. Emergency care can literally mean the difference between life and death. Having lived in areas where there are no emergency vet clinics, I can attest that it’s a huge relief to have one when you need one.
As for the stricken turtle, I called the clinic later that night and was told he had been treated and would be sent to a wildlife rehabilitator who would help him heal and adjust to life on three legs.
So on behalf of hapless turtles and priceless pets, thank you, Southern Crescent, for providing our community with the means to save lives.
