not to potentially anthropomorphize any animals but it makes me cry that on some level sometimes the wild little guys kinda recognize that someone is helping. maybe just because the pain dulls, or it's warm, or they have a full belly, or they just feel slightly less yucky, or whatever it could possibly be. whether they end up passing or not thank you so much for giving them that comfort and safety.
I think they are far more intelligent than people think.
Im never going to sit there and put some The Dodo (i hate the dodo) type of shit here and start projecting human emotions in animal behaviors because these are wild prey animals they have no reason to magically trust me. But they do recognize when they are in safer hands and act accordingly
I firmly believe they understand patterns of intent.
They seem to know the hands that help versus hands that harm. Ive had to sit and painstakingly dig dirt out of torn tissue and suture wounds which i can imagine feels absolutely horrible. If it was off feeling alone (pain vs no pain) id expect them to fight me. But they dont. They sit patiently as i work. Some ask me how i restrain so well but i tell them its not all me. They let me. They chose to let me. Even for uncomfortable procedures like stretching skin back in place or setting a bone. Some do freeze because freeze is a fright response but most of the time they do choose to fight to flee. But when they let you, the limb goes slack, they position their body so the wound is accessible. Its both bizzare and phenomenal
as soon as the bandages are on and I check their vitals, I often get them suddenly leaning into my hand and or licking my hands. They dont just do that. Not even domestic rabbits just do that. Theres absolutely some sort of recognition of intent. It means everything to me to be recognized as friend not foe and I often cry when I get the little hand licks
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