If you hit a dog in the road, would you stop

[ruffdog]

I treat my dogs like they are my children. I also train them to NEVER be near the road and to not chase ANY vehicles. If one were to get hit on the road it would be 100% my fault. If my dog would disappear and get hit, I would appreciate knowing where she was so I would know as I would be hunting for her. I definitely understand why people would not do that for reasons listed above.
Many people let their dogs, cats, and kids run wild and expect other people to take responsibility for them when disaster strikes. It's the world we live in now.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

As much as I love the South, we seem to have a real problem here with dogs running loose. Thank God I haven't hit one yet; have stopped and blown the horn in front of a house when their dog was running loose though. I most likely wouldn't stop.

 

[Richard]

Couple years ago, I went to town to get some diesel. On way home, down country road, I noticed two dogs standing in middle of road.....there was a third dog laying in the road (dead)

The two dogs were wimpering & howling. Whatever happened had happened fairly recent prior to my arrival. Not knowing the dogs nor "neighbors" (about 3 miles from my home) I went to door of nearest home to let them know.

There was no answer. Were they hiding behind the door wondering who this stranger was? Were they gone? I don't know. There WAS a vehicle there but that doesn't mean anything.

I walked back to my car, the dog was clearly 'gone' so there was nothing I could do for it. Now I'm realizing that it APPEARS as though "I" might have been the one to hit the car and I got suddenly very self conscious because if the owners came outside or drove home, I'm going to likely be the subject of their (incorrect) ire..... so I got in my car and drove home.

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

I hit a dog a few years ago. Stopped and it was obvious that it was not going to make it. It had a collar on, naturally I tried to pet the poor dog while I got the number off the tag... He did not appreciate that and I got a pretty hard bite, luckily only superficial no real damage done to my arm. I did get the phone number and called. Turns out the dog belonged to my daughter's boyfriend. I felt really bad.

That being said, if the dog has a collar with contact information on it I will absolutely call. If it runs off and I cant get to it I would probably move on. If there is no collar on or no contact information and it didn't make it, I would make sure to get it off the road, pet it, and move on. Then feel really bad...

 

[East30]

I hit a dog probably 35 years ago. Late evening, pretty dark out. Came around a curve on a road doing 45-50, and there was a dog standing in the lane. Hit the brakes, and hit the dog. Pulled over as I saw it drag itself under a pine tree. There was a lone house, so I walked back to it and knocked on the door. Guy answered and I asked if he had a black lab. Said he did, and I told him I probably just hit his dog, and we walked over to the pine tree. It was his dog. He was very apologetic to me, and asked if it created any damage to my truck. He thanked me for stopping and carried his dog back to the house. Saw it a week later, in a cast, in the yard. Glad I stopped.

 

[zzvyb6]

In Michigan, it's illegal to flee the scene if you hit a pet while you're operating a vehicle. If you hit a pet, you must stop your car and remain at the scene. You must either make contact with the pet's owner and exchange information or call the police.

That being said, there are now people around here (mostly young drivers) who are deliberately hitting animals, joggers, bikers, and walkers. A few have posted their 'success' with glee on Facebook, which eventually gets them into trouble. Forget the justice system, even murderers are just getting probation now. So, guess what ?

 

[JasperFrank]

Too many meth cooks and tweekers in my area to go around knocking on doors.
Found an older dog, laying in the middle of a well traveled two lane near my home. Checked it out, and the dog seemed physically fine but a little confused. Dog had a collar but no tags. I figured the owner must live nearby, so I knocked on doors in a circular sweep, after getting the dog in the car. Most people seemed very pleasant, but some appeared genuinely dangerous, like something you'd see in the movie "deliverance." I could tell I was getting closer, to the owner, as some people started to recognized the dog, accompanied by some sort of complaint about the dog. A couple openly said I should have left the "damn" dog in the road. Eventually did find the owner. Who at first, was very reluctant to admit it was his dog till I told him I didn't hit it, and that I had just found it in the road and wanted to see it safely at home. He was clearly intoxicated, and became belligerent telling me to "Mine My Own Business." Saw no need to escalate, so I just dropped the dog off, "Have a Good Day," and headed home. Being a dog loving person, I assume the owners to also be dog loving people. I don't go looking for the owners anymore if I find one injured or abandoned. I'll put up a flyer, or other community social post, wait a few days, feed the dog in the garage, and if no one responds, the dog goes to the pound. Lots of close calls, but as of yet, I've never hit a dog. If I ever did, locally, I'd stop, check it out and pay for a vet bill if needed. Then try to find the owner in a less direct way then knocking on doors. Driving cross country, or some other area distant from home, I'm not sure what I would do. It would depend on the situation.

 

[oosik]

Never hit a dog but sure as heck left tire marks on the asphalt. I wonder - a dog running loose - does the owner know about this, do they really care. Do you want to interact with a person like this. As I sit here and think about this - I really don't think I would want to.

It's a hard call ........

 

[Larry Caldwell]

In my state, you are legally required to stop and attempt to locate the owner of the dog.

 

[hube2]

Like I said, in my state I am legally required to stop and contact the owners or the police. If no one came running out of a house I would probably just skip to calling the cops and let them deal with it. Even if the owners came out I'd still call the cops there just to CMOA.

 

[lman]

Too many meth cooks and tweekers in my area to go around knocking on doors.

Where is that? I will avoid it. They stopped cooking here several years ago as Mexican Meth was cheaper.

 

[JasperFrank]

In my state of Oregon, Dogs are considered domesticated animals. It's all on the Owner to keep them off roads. Cats are not considered to be domesticated. Yet all other live stock type animals are the responsibility of the owners. It you hit a cat and it damages your car, or you had to swerve, it doesn't matter. Owner is off the hook. But if it is a chicken, cow, pig, dog, the owner is responsible.

 

[3 Horse Ranch]

I've hit 4 dogs and at least one cat. I always went back. I was only able to contact the owners once. Two of the dogs were in raining pitch black conditions on county roads, when I went back, I could see no sign of the dog in either case. One was a pit bull, so I didn't get out. That one actually hit me, it attacked my Jeep Cherokee as I drove by. I had seen it beside the road in my headlights and thought all was good until I heard the thump against the side of the car.

 

[LD1]

Even reading this thread you can see the confusion.

IF you hit a dog and it damages your car...the owner is absolutely responsible. Which compounds the situation alot of times....because not only are they financially responsible for your damages as well as an injured/dead pet....but many try to flip the script and think you are the responsible party and that its all your fault. A pet owner that has that attitude....it usually never ends well.

The legal obligation to stop is a hard one to enforce. Because you have to prove the driver was even aware they hit a pet....and not just another county road chuck hole, or a coon or a groundhog, etc. The driver has to KNOW they hit the pet. Lots of bigger trucks and trailers....I doubt it would be much of a bump if someone 15lb lap dog darted under your trailer tire. Yet if the owner witnessed it and they have social media (FB)...you will be called every name under the sun about what a bad and worthless human you are for not paying attention and not even having the courtesy to stop....lol

 

[Rockbadchild]

I got one dog hit by a car once, I saw it and it was totally my fault the car didn't stop and I didn't blame him... so I've looked this up in the past after some Facebook rant like mentioned above and for us in Canada you can't let a animal suffer so if its not dead the OPP should be called so the owner get located or to end the animal suffering, if not you can be charge with animal cruelty of something like it. Unless you are in a private property its the owner responsibility to have his dog under control. If the vehicle hit a dog and there is damage the dog owner is responsible for the damage and the car owner is in no way responsible for the vet bills or emotional damage from the incident unless it was done attentionally of course.

Personally I would stop to make sure the animal is not suffering and pulling it aside of the road but knowing how I felt when my dog got hit and how people are I don't know if I want a confrontation with the owner unless it has a tag then I would call … but I guess it depend on the situation.

 

[Sigarms]

I found a hit dog in the middle of the road in shock (saw the basically run over the dog). Took the dog to the vet, there was a neighbor who told me whose dog it was. Told him to tell the family where I was taking the dog. Dog had no tags or collar.

Family showed up at the vet, told the family if they pay me the vet bill, the dog is theirs. They didn't want to pay the vet bill, dog spent more than a couple of months with me, found it a good home later.

My vet named that dog Mira, short for Miracle LOL

I did hit a dog one time. Only clipped it's snout, my fault looking at the other dogs. Stopped, gave the owner my number, told him if he took the dog to the vet, I'd cover half the bill. I could tell that the guy had no right owning a dog. Never heard back from him.

For myself, a good dog is better than an average man.

 

[Topzide]

In my state you're supposed to notify LEO if you know you hit a dog. But on the other side, if it caused damage to your vehicle and animals owners were known, they'd be on the hook for damages. Leash laws say animal must be on your property or on a leash. If they really care about there dogs or other, keep them well fenced or in case of a feline, kept inside!

 

[JasperFrank]

"A good dog is better than an average man." Yup. I agree.
I've had a dog run over and killed. I have to say it was that dog's problem that it got killed. It was in the house, but it was summer, and we had screens up. Dog jumped through the screen, ran out to the road and got run over and killed by a truck, before I was even awaking up in the morning. This Dog, didn't follow rules. I never blamed the driver. This pound, adopted dog was just stupid about stuff. New dog, also a pound puppy, got an electo fence collar, Set to give a shock, before the drive way ends.

 

[4570Man]

"A good dog is better than an average man." Yup. I agree.
I've had a dog run over and killed. I have to say it was that dog's problem that it got killed. It was in the house, but it was summer, and we had screens up. Dog jumped through the screen, ran out to the road and got run over and killed by a truck, before I was even awaking up in the morning. This Dog, didn't follow rules. I never blamed the driver. This pound, adopted dog was just stupid about stuff. New dog, also a pound puppy, got an electo fence collar, Set to give a shock, before the drive way ends.

Some dogs have it coming and some owners suck. Sometimes you get both in one package. I have a distant neighbor that falls into the both category. Today their dog bit the end of my trailer as I drove by. I’m surprised that dog hasn’t already been killed. It was uninjured at least this time btw.

 

[shooterdon]

In Michigan, it's illegal to flee the scene if you hit a pet while you're operating a vehicle. If you hit a pet, you must stop your car and remain at the scene. You must either make contact with the pet's owner and exchange information or call the police.

That being said, there are now people around here (mostly young drivers) who are deliberately hitting animals, joggers, bikers, and walkers. A few have posted their 'success' with glee on Facebook, which eventually gets them into trouble. Forget the justice system, even murderers are just getting probation now. So, guess what ?

Thanks for posting that. I was unaware of the law.

If I hit a pet, I will stop and call the Sheriff if I am local....if elsewhere, I will call 911.