While investigating the reason my pup Lupini Martino was barking like a madman out the front door, I noticed a tiny bird sitting on the sidewalk. One of his skinny pale legs was askew; he was obviously struggling. I stepped outside to offer assistance, but when I tried to scoop him up gently, he wiggled away in fear. Obviously, he couldn't fly or he would have skedaddled from this tall human trying to manhandle him, who looks like she has a bird's nest atop her head herself.
I looked online to read suggestions about helping a wild bird. Google said to place it into a small cardboard box with something soft on the bottom ... that the distress and shock of injury could kill the bird, and it might feel safer and less vulnerable nestled inside of a box. It also suggested to feed and water the bird.
On it! OPERATION SAVE A BIRDIE!!
When I returned outside later, I saw the little bird again, still sitting. Poor dear. I so wanted to help it. Once again, I reached down slowly to scoop it, but he wouldn't let me. Clearly still in distress, he crookedly hopped underneath the bushes and I lost sight of him, couldn't find him. (Lupini, on the other hand, was still wildly barking through the front door - oh how he wanted that birdie! Yet I think he would have just eaten him - and that's not very helpful at all.)
Snippeteers, sometimes we see someone in distress and offer a helping hand, yet are refused. We may step aside for a bit then step in once again with our offer, and are rejected still. Even if they are obviously struggling.
What can we do then?
The person needing help may run away, may hide, say no thanks, or may not even recognize our action as helpful. They may want to fly solo - without our help.
A few weeks ago on the beach boardwalk, a young girl passed by me, openly weeping, wiping away tears. "Awwww, are you okay, hon?" I tried consolation. Yet of course, she kept walking. She didn't want or need my help. (Anyhow, it would have been odd for her to stop walking and admit her painful guts to a stranger.)
And let's take stock of our help: Are we being too pushy? ... Making it about us? ... Being gentle? Nosy? And - newsflash! Are we really the best person to help that person?
Ultimately, it's their decision. There is no forcing our help on someone. That will be only met most likely with resentment or anger or silence. When we are ready to perform an OPERATION! SAVE A HUMAN! ... I suppose the best we can do is show the person we truly care and communicate to them we are there should they need us. We can continue to be supportive from afar. And that's helpful - and hopefully comforting - in itself.
I am still wondering, though, what happened to that little birdie. :-(
Did he make it?
