Injured Animal Syndrome in Action

Here's a page right out of my thesis--the part about the injured animal syndrome being the tipping point that attracts humans to the plight of the animal, regardless of whether or not they were a big fan of the species before the injury. Think whale who swam the wrong way and ended up in the Thames River. Or, of course, Barbaro, the injured horse who attracted thousands of followers who did not know a thing about race horses until they watched one break down live, on national television.

Courtesy of the Philadelphia Inquirer (on the front page, no less), the latest injured animal to attract a legion of fans, is a wounded guinea hen, named Tildy. It seems that Tildy and her mate decided to take up residence in a townhouse development near Chadds Ford--Andrew Wyeth country. The neighbors of this development were friendly to each other--waved in passing, etc., but not many knew each other by their first names. Typical suburbia--private and self-contained.

All of that changed when the birds came to town. Suddenly people were talking to each other--usually to ask questions about the birds. They discovered that they had literally flown the coop from an established fowl farmer a few blocks away and had no intention of going back. Many people gave them different names and everyone enjoyed watching them and reporting on their antics.

And then one day in early Spring, the male disappeared. He left behind a pile of feathers and the general consensus was that he had become a predator's lunch or dinner. His widow, known as Tildy, suddenly became very gregarious--as if she was trying to seek him out. She jumped on porches and chased cars and earned a fan club of regulars who became very attached to her.

And then in June, another pile of feathers. Most feared the worst but she was soon discovered, badly wounded, but still alive. Two residents threw a towel around her and transported her to a vet who offered to perform surgery for the fee of $1000.00. A group of homeowners, now all on a first name basis, agreed to go along with it and sent out an email to their neighbors asking for contributions.

Thus far, $950 has been raised toward Tildy's vet bills of $1600. And Tildy? Well she is recuperating on one of the resident's porches in a large dog cage. She will require crate rest for another few weeks and then will be placed with a family who raises guinea fowl on a farm a few blocks away.

And all those neighbors who banded together to save her life? Well, they admit they will miss her, but they now have each other. As one said, "It takes a village to help a bird." Indeed, but especially if the bird is injured.