Had A TRULY Sick Feeling Today

Golfgar4 · May 18, 2004

I had one of those experiences today that nobody wants to have. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I was heading out to pick up a consultant that we had hired to assist with a recruitment for a new Police Chief. I was driving one of our City cars, and as I came around a curve going about 25 mph (it was a 30 mph zone), a big German Shepard ran right out in front of the car. I hit the brakes, but I couldn't stop in time and hit him with the right front corner of the car. Luckily, he was knocked off to the right, otherwise I probably would have run over him.

I quickly pulled over and looked in the rear view mirror. I saw him laying in the gutter just kind of flopping around on his side. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I backed up around the corner and parked. As I jumped out of the car to go see how he was doing, I saw that he had stood up but that his left rear leg was all twisted around. He was hobbling around and whining, and he was looking at me like he was saying "Can you help me?" God, I wanted to curl up and die!!

Just as I was getting to him, a lady came running up and was calling his name. I can't remember what name she was calling him, but she said that she was getting ready to bring some clothes out to hang on the line when he ran out the door and down the street. She chased after him calling him home, and he had just turned around and was running back when he ran into the street.

By this time, she had picked him up and he had stopped whining. I told the lady to get in the car and I would take them to the vet immediately. Luckily, I knew that there was a vet about 4 blocks away. We got there and they took the dog into the back room. While we waited to hear from the vet, the lady kept re-assuring me that it was not my fault. I knew that in my heart, but it sure didn't make the hurt feel any better. A few minutes later the vet came out and told us that all the dog had was a broken leg, otherwise he would be fine.

Whew!! Even though I felt bad about the broken leg, I was sure happy to hear that there was nothing worse.

After wishing the owner well I left to continue on my errand. Luckily for me I have the habit of always getting to appointments early, so I had had just enough extra time to have all of this happen and only arrived 2 minutes late (by my watch) for picking up the consultant. At least it was close enough that he didn't even ask why I was late.

I did call over to the vets a short time ago to check again. They'll be keeping Bouncer (remembered to ask about his name this time! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif) for the night just to watch him, but they don't believe there will be any problem.

About the only thing worse that I can think of would be hitting a person. I sure don't want to have to go through this again. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

_RaT_ · May 18, 2004

All I can say Garry is Thanks for doing the right thing. I don't handle stories like these well.

Boondox · May 18, 2004

Garry, a lesser man would have kept on going! Hang in there, buddy! You did the right thing.

Pete and Tamara (and Molson, Tetley, Harley, Glenfiddich, Tuppence, Oliver, Fudge, Bunni, Guinness, Marmalade, Weasley, Espresso and Hamish McBean)

Golfgar4 · May 18, 2004

( Idon't handle stories like these well. )

Neither do I! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif Especially when they happen to me. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

( a lesser man would have kept on going! Hang in there, buddy! )

Thanks Pete. That means a lot coming from you. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Egon · May 18, 2004

Golfgar:

Hitting anything is very disturbing.
You went far beyond the call of duty.
Tommorrow is another day.

Egon

Cliff_Johns · May 18, 2004

Wierd thing is, when I read the title of your post I thought, "I bet he hit a dog."

I hesitated to read it because of this, but went on. I am so glad to hear everything is going OK. As others have said, many people just drive on and leave the dog in the ditch, and you didn't. You are to be commended, especially since you could have made yourself late for an appointment.

Cliff

shvl73 · May 18, 2004

It could've been a lot worse if not for your cool head & caring attitude.
Hitting a person can be scary; my girlfriend & I were headed to the store, turned up a fairly steep cross street for a couple hundred yards & a child (11-13 yrs old) comes out of a side street, on a bike, across our path IMMEDIATELY in front of the car. She gets on the brakes & steers hard left away but he comes up on the hood & into the windshield. A woman comes out of her house with a phone & I yell at her to call an ambulance. The kid starts screaming that hes not injured & the woman just stares at me. I again yell at her to call an ambulance & the kid starts to get hysterical about having it called & repeats that he's ok. My girlfriend was talking to him & looking him over & he seemed uninjured & the car wasn't dented, the windshield wasn't broken so it seemed possible. The woman with the phone calls his grandfather who lived a couple of hundred yards up the street. He comes down, asks the kid if he's ok, he says yes & walks the kid home.
I feel VERY uneasy with this & call the police to report the accident. The police ask about his injuries & I tell them none are apparrent & that he left with his grandfather. The officer tells me that in that case NO report is needed! Can you imagine hitting a child with your car & being told no report is needed!
We went to the station & it was repeated to us that no report in neccessary. I still was not comfortable with that & insisted that a report be made.
To this day, nothing came of it but, I'll never forget it either.

B7500 · May 18, 2004

Garry,
My worst nightmare!
I've seen dogs hit (my own Bulldog, Mona) and felt so bad for the drivers. How you reacted speaks volumes as to what kind of person you are. I'm so happy it turned out "relatively" ok.
-Terry

r0GuE · May 18, 2004

It's amazing more dogs aren't hit. I was just thinking this AM that there is absolute carnage on the roads of western PA. Deer, possums, racoons, etc etc... EVERYWHERE! Ich!

Good job on handling the situation.

DocHeb · May 18, 2004

( I was just thinking this AM that there is absolute carnage on the roads of western PA. Deer, possums, racoons, etc etc.. )

That's because cars & trucks have taken the place of cougars, wolves and coyotes in the food chain. There is also nothing in animals instinctive behavior evolution that prepares them for several tons of metal moving at 45 mph.