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This Speakout has not been edited

By Jen Olbricht, Lakewood

Today I was driving along I-25 in the fast lane, going about 3 miles per hour during rush hour. All of sudden on the left hand shoulder right next to me, I saw a tiny terrified bunny hopping along getting ready to dart into traffic. Being that traffic was going so slow, I had a good view of where he went and of course, he chose to hop right underneath my car. I stopped so as not to run over him, but noticed he didn't come back out. So I started creeping along and realized he was staying underneath my car. I gradually pulled over onto the left hand shoulder next to the fast lane and bunny stayed with me, obviously looking for shelter and safety. Eventually, I was all the way over on the shoulder and was about 1 foot from the concrete wall and bunny alternated between staying under my car to hopping in between my tire and the wall. I have no idea how this bunny got onto the highway in the first place because it was just north of Co Blvd., where there are basically 2 concrete walls and 4 lanes of crazy traffic. What I do know is that this bunny was absolutely terrified and his only solace was to stay right by my car for protection. I wasn't sure if he was wild or not and would allow me to get out and grab him but when I opened the door he skittered away so I knew I better stay inside or risk scaring him back out into oncoming traffic.

I had absolutely no idea what to do. I guess I could have just driven off like I am sure thousands of other heartless people would have done, but he was under my car and if I had driven away, that would surely have been an automatic death sentence. Instead, I naively thought perhaps Denver Animal control would deign to get involved to help an innocent creature. Couldn't have been more wrong. The first time I called them was around 4:15 pm. The woman was pretty decent and told me that she didn't know if they could help but she would have an officer at least come out to see. The only real way to help this poor fellow would have been to stop traffic for 5 minutes (which since it was hardly moving would have been no problem really) and try and catch the rabbit or scare it across and onto the exit to escape. Since I work for a stray cat group, I already had the necessary nets, gloves, carriers, etc in my car, it was just a matter of getting traffic to stop for 5 measely minutes so he wouldn't dart out and get squashed. Anyway, the woman told me to wait and she would see about getting someone outthere. By 5:15 nobody was there so I called back. This time, I was put on hold for literally 30 minutes. When I finally got to talk to someone, it was Officer Martinez. Now this guy is clearly in it for the animals. I recall an episode with Officer Martinez about a year ago on a cold night when we had a volunteer discover a litter of abandoned and crying newborn kittens trapped in a small hole. When we tried to get his help on this he told us to just leave the kittens and forget about them. Huh??? (We got the kittens eventually and they survived). I figured he would be no help with the bunny but I explained my situation anyway. Of course he says "oh there's no way we are gonna send an officer for JUST a rabbit". " Why don't you just drive away?" I explained that the bunny was under my car and if I drove away I could drive right over it or scare it right back into traffic. He snorted and said that I should just use a broom to push the rabbit out from under my car and then drive away. I tried to explain that the only direction to push the rabbit was into oncoming traffic and I asked him if that is what he would do (not to mention, who drives around with a broom in their car???). He said absolutely that's what he'd do. I explained again that I would literally have to push the rabbit out into traffic and he said "well we are not sending out someone for JUST a rabbit so you may as well just do it." I then said "look, am I going to have to get out and risk getting hit and just stop traffic myself? I am 8 months pregnant (which is true) and not sure if that is such a good idea but I do not know what other choice I have and if I get hit by a car, it will be on your head" His response: "well good luck with that" Click.

How is a sicko like this working for Denver's Animal Control? Are we that backwards? Shouldn't all of these officers possess at least a tiny shred of respect for the animals and people they are dealing with every day?

Next I called Denver police. They were no help either b/c they don't go out on animal related calls. But at least the woman was extremely nice and sympathetic and told me to be really careful and wished me good luck and said she felt so bad for the bunny etc.

By this time it was now 6:00, so I had been sitting there for 2 hours. I was pretty much out of options. The bunny hopped right up next to my door and there was a lull in traffic so I knew I had to take a chance. I grabbed my net and rolled down the window. Buuny just barely missed my net and out into traffic he went. He was immediately slammed into by a car and flew up in the air. He fell down, still alive but with an obvious broken back and tried to pull himself along with his front legs. He was then run over again and it was all over. I can't even begin to describe what it felt like to watch this. All I can say is AT LEAST I TRIED. While the people who are hired to protect Denver's animals sat by and told me to push him into traffic on purpose. I have no idea if this was someone's pet or a wild bunny. But I can guarantee you, if it was someone's pet or not, he did not recieve one single ounce of respect from Officer Martinez. I sure hope he gets his pension soon and moves on to something more fitting, like drinking beer and farting in front of the tv where he belongs. Shouldn't we help the process along???

READER COMMENTS

Next time something like that happens, call them and tell them that someone is lying in the median passed out with a sign that says "the end is near". They will be right over.

Animal Control is a joke! They never do a thing. See a dog loose in the park, call animal control, and they'll tell you that it's not their problem. God forbid they come out and try to, you know, "control" an "animal." Instead you have to wait for the dog to actually bite someone- and even then, if the dangerous animal isn't in plain sight when the van arrives, they'll simply drive away without doing anything. Probably off to go grab some burgers on company time.

Every time I see those clowns at "work," I feel cheated in the wallet. Our tax dollars at work!

I wonder if Jen would show the same compassion and try to help the next homeless person she passes?

Why didn't she catch the rabbit herself, she obviously had all the right equipment? Her failure to act in a timely manner caused this rabbit to be squished, don't blame the police officers who were busy doing real work.

You tried to do the right thing, I am horrified that there are people that would respond to your story in such ugly ways. Remember, alas this is a world where animals are not valued, bull fights, dog fights, people who hunt and kill wild and beautiful animals for sport. You are a higher thinking type of person, God sees, and God knows, you my dear do not NOT need counseling, you need to know you are a special and unique human being.

caroline and t
she called an ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER first, what could he have been doing that was so life threatening at the time? As far as risking a life, I havent heard of any cop dying for saving a rabbit lately."a man without compassion for the most helpless I would wonder of his compassion for mankind."

You hadn't asked the officer to risk his life, you only wanted someone to help you save a life. I admire you for spending all that time trying to help an innocent, helpless animal. I think T is the one who needs counseling because he has no heart.

I think it's great that someone like this good woman values ALL innocent creatures. Good for her! If only we could all be as kind and wonderful as she...

Cops are funny creatures, they just prioritize
different. They see a lot of stuff we are lucky
not to see.
Wonder what his reaction to a human crisis is?
I might have tried to save the rabbit, but
I would not bother the police. If you want to
bother the police next time say you are wondering the animal has rabies. Many wil critters do.

You wanted the Officer to risk his life for the rabbit (but you wouldn't). Animals die, and only a anthropomorphic fool would risk human life for animal. Lady get counseling before you raise a child. You will need to get rid of your 20+ cats.

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