Bad night
 

Last night I killed a dog.

I was driving slowly, about 30 in a 35 residential zone, when a cat bounded across the street. I braked just in time. Then I heard a "THUD!" and a scraping noise (I later learned this was a car-part.) I pulled over.

A medium sized dog was laying in the street, still breathing. He had apparently been chasing the cat.

I immediately ran to the nearest house and asked them to call 911. I wasn't sure what anyone could do, but it was something. As he was still alive, I had backed my car up behind him (he was in the middle of the lane) to block other cars from running over him, too. I stayed with him and petted him and talked to him for about 15 minutes until the police came. He died before they got there.

I would omit this, but I won't: as I sat petting him, the blood started dripping from his nose. It kept dripping until the police got there, by which time it had formed a stream running downhill about four feet long.

The whole incident reminds me of when my mom and I (in Brisbane) were on some errands, walking. A child broke loose from his mum and ran out in front of a car. Killed instantly. My mom didn't know what to say to the lady--no one seems to know in those moments.

That is really so sad, poor dog! I love dogs and hate hearing stories like that, but it was just a horrible accident. ANd frankly, the owners of that dog are to blame, not you. That's what can happen when you let your dog run around without a leash. That must be terrible to have to deal with but it really wasn't your fault, it was simply an accident and these things happen.

Thank you, Wabbit...

I thought the same thing, that he should have been restrained. Then again, maybe he got out somehow.

People were so nice about it. Vaughn, the Stone Mountain policeman who arrived on the scene, gave me a ride home to pick up some keys after I locked my keys in the car while inspecting the loose car part that dragged the ground. Good guy.

Tough luck, Pete, but you did all you could.

I know you probably feel terrible about it, but Wabbit is right, it was and accident that was unavoidable for you.

I'm glad you had help at the scene, and everyone was so kind.

Dave.

:( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :(

I love dogs too Pete. I'm sorry this happened to you. I ran over a cat once. I still feel bad about it.

If you see the dog's owner, kick him/her really hard.

I HATE people who let dogs run without restraint.

It's certainly not the dog's fault...

Nor yours, Pete.

Pete, i feel for you, particularly as our beautiful 2 and a half year old Vizsla, Bosley (see my avatar) was killed by a car on 31 October. he was startled by a firework (we think) and left the field he was in with my wife and all of his canine friends and their owners. he had never been on the bridge and never ever left Sandra's sight before.

Somehow or other he got onto the bridge near us and was hit.

The terrible thing is, that the person never stopped. Thankfully a vet stopped and confirmed that poor Bos wouldn't have suffered as death would have been instant.

You did the honourable thing, Pete and stopped to comfort the animal. I'm sure your presence was of some comfort to the dog. It was a very humane thing to do at a stressful time.

I know you'll feel dreadful about it Pete, but the accident wasn't your fault. You can imagine how my wife feels about being with Bos when he left her sight (first time ever in several thousand visits to that field), but dogs sometimes do unexpected things.

Take care.

John.

Pete -- You were driving legally and responsibly. You stopped, notified authorities, and rendered whatever aid was possible under the circumstances. If there is any blame in this case, it falls squarely on the shoulders of the dog's owner. When I was in high school, my mother killed a dog under similar circumstances and was terribly upset for several weeks thereafter.

Good on you for stopping and comforting the dog. Sadly there are people out there who wouldn't do that if they knocked a person down. Shows that you are a caring person. Not to make light of it, but at least the dog died enjoying itself (i.e. Chasing a cat!)

:) Good Job Pete, I feel your pain..

Listen, some people don't even stop for people! We all know of plenty of cyclists (including myself) who were hit by cars whose drivers just take off or don't even stop! WHy should they stop for a dog? I would, simply because I love dogs.

Chewa that is so sad about the dog. A friend of ours lost her dog the same way- he got startled by a noise and took off, and was hit by a car. Otherwise, she never let him off his leash, it was just a horrible freaky accident. She was just devastated and so was I because I really loved that dog. We used to look after him and walk him for her when she was out of town or whatever, so he was like our dog!

Waaa... this is so sad! I get mushy about animals!

I told my 7 year-old daughter about it. BIG MIstake.

She started crying, but not the loud kind. Her eyes just got red and a few little tears just started dripping.

Dads can be so dense.

OH, geez, not a good idea! I agree, that was dense. Poor kid!

I have an airedale terrier who I believe is an escape artist.
I have a fenced yard and I had him stike (4 foot stike and a 15 ft cable) when I went to bring him in he was gone found him up the block dragging the cable and stike. they find a way to get lose.
and its sad when something like that happens. sorry it happened to you. I beleive the dog forgives you and thanks you for caring.

A human,

Escape artist, :lol: That's the God's truth!

That dog's owner should not be let out without a leash around his/her neck. The owner should be fined for letting the dog run loose, thankfully I have never hit an anoimal yet, and I hope I never do. :(

Before you get too upset at the owner, you need to know the circumstances.

My dog King got out one night years ago when I forgot to close the garage door. He was hit by a car and was missing in the morning. I went out on my bicycle to find him, and did. When I called out, he (an 85 pound German Shephard) struggled to his feet and "smiled" as best he could, with a left, hind leg dangling and obviously broken, and cuts on his face.

I put the bike down, picked him up and carried him back to the house, crying on the way. I got him into the pickup truck, and drove him to the vet. The vet kept him over the weekend (this happened on a Friday), and set the leg on Monday (broken femur).

King did recover, but never fully. He had a bone infection basically for the rest of his life (a number of years). He was a wonderful dog, one that ran with my wife on her runs before the accident, but he really couldn't keep up after the accident. My boys loved him too, and he was a part of their lives during their childhood. Luckily, he survived the accident.

I still kick myself for leaving that garage door open, and allowing him out. Who knows, it may be the same for this owner.

John

John ratliff
I feel for your lost. and I know how easy it is for you to put some
out and not know the your pet found a way out..(My dog is an escape artist also).
But some times there are people who put there dogs out at nite
let them run lose. they are the ones we need to catch...

do you ever get another dog?
K

ahuman asks:

No, Kingsey died after being with us many years in 1997. In 1998, I got a new job that I had to commute to weekly, it was so far away. I rented an apartment, and stayed away from the family for over 3 years. There simply wasn't time to invest in a new pet, and I don't think any dog could replace him either. He had a unique personality, and we loved him very much.

John

I love dogs too and I've killed two of them. There was just nothing I could do in either case without compromising the lives of people. Don't ever do a panic swerve to miss an animal.