Karma's a Killer Read Online Free

I didn’t mean to offend you.”
    Judith frowned for a moment, then she closed her eyes and sighed. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have grumped at you like that. Unless you’re involved in animal rehab, you wouldn’t know. But the distinction is important. I’m a certified wildlife rehabilitator, and I have to be careful.”
    She gestured toward Blackie’s cage. “Corvids, even tame ones like Blackie, are considered migratory birds. They can’t be kept as pets. According to the government wildlife bureaucrats, animals like Blackie have to either be fully rehabilitated and released or euthanized.” She shook her head. “There’s no middle ground. If word got out that I was keeping Blackie as a pet, they might revoke my license.”
    That sounded ridiculous to me. “You wouldn’t really lose your license over a crow, would you?”
    â€œA single crow? Probably not, but I can’t risk it. A friend of mine’s center got shut down a few months ago.”
    â€œWhat if he couldn’t survive in the wild?”
    â€œThen, according to law, I’d have to euthanize him.” She handed me a flyer titled Handling and Helping Injured Wildlife . “This answers most of your questions.”
    I scanned the page. “I had no idea the laws were so strict.”
    â€œYou don’t know the half of it, honey. Some of the rules I’m supposed to follow make me mad as a honey badger. Nobody who works in this business wants the animals they help to live in captivity. But when it’s either that or death?” She crossed her arms. “Choosing to end someone’s life should at least warrant a discussion, don’t you think?”
    I did, actually.
    â€œIn any case,” Judith continued, “that’s my soapbox, not yours. As far as Blackie, here, he’s one of the lucky ones. He’s fully recovered now, and he’ll get to go back into the wild.”
    â€œWhat happened to him?”
    â€œHe got caught by a dog here at Green Lake.” She pointed to a featherless spot near his neck. “See that bald spot there? That’s where the dog bit him. Broke his wing and everything.” She shook her head. “Makes no sense to me why they can’t keep those buggers on a leash.”
    I agreed with that, too. Bella and I were constantly dodging friendly but out-of-control dogs here at the lake, in spite of Seattle’s supposedly strict leash laws.
    â€œAt least the guy had enough decency to get Blackie some help. Most people would have left him behind to die.”
    I shuddered. The thought of letting an injured animal suffer made my stomach churn.
    Judith kept talking. “To tell you the truth, I’m still surprised Blackie made it. A sane rehabilitator would have euthanized him on the spot.” She grinned. “But as my husband says, sanity’s never been one of my weaknesses. Blackie still had so much life in his eyes. I had to help him.”
    She leaned toward the cage and nestled her face in its wires. “You’re Momma’s miracle boy, aren’t you?”
    She waited for the crow to touch his beak to her nose, then stood up and pushed a glass jar across the table. “We’re taking donations today, if you’re interested in helping. We mainly need money, but anything helps: cages, crates, towels, blankets, food … You name it, we pretty much need it.”
    I pulled a twenty-dollar bill out of my pocket and tucked it inside.
    Judith gave me a brisk nod. “Thanks.”
    Blackie made a chattering noise, as if trying to get our attention.
    â€œHe seems tame,” I said.
    â€œHe’s been that way since the beginning. I figure somebody raised him from a fledgling and released him. He probably grew up with a dog, which would explain why he didn’t have the smarts to fly away from the mutt who caught him. Hopefully he learned his lesson and will do better