So I was driving on the highway today, and I nearly killed a dog. I mean, I almost hit it within inches. I'm glad there wasn't another car behind me, because I most defintely would have caused an accident,as I slammed on the brakes and swerved into the other lane. I pulled over onto the shoulder and the dog sat by my truck. I slowly got out and tried to catch it, to see if it had a collar with an address so I could bring it home. It ran up past the shoulder. I figured if I tried to catch it, there was a good chance he would just run into the road again, but part of my brain said since he was running in the oppsosite direction of the road, to chase it into the woods. I didn't. A couple hours later, I was heading back home and on the highway again. It was dark and I saw a small dead animal lying on the side of the road. I, of course, pulled over. It was the same dog. Lying. Dead. I feel terrible. I knew I should have done something, yet I didn't. I could have saved somebody's best friend. I looked for a collar, again to see if there was a tag, but there wasn't. I doubt the owner of the dog will ever know the fate, because there was some distance between where I saw the dog and where I found him or her dead.... Maybe I'm just ubber senstive about the subject, as my best friend in the entire world was ran over too, but I can't seem to shake the guilt. I've spent the past hour bawling like a little baby and hugging my dogs. Sad
It's ok sweetie. It's not your fault. Don't beat yourself up over it. I know its sad, horribly sad...but you cant feel guilty. You did try to help him, and who knows if by chasing him into the woods would have helped. Your a good person...dont't feel bad
thats really sad. but dont blame yourself. ive been in the same situation several times. when a dog is confused and running around on the road, its nearly impossible to catch it and theres usually not much you can do. i doubt you could have saved it.
As much as some of us would like to be able to save every dog out there, sometimes it just doesn't work out that way. Don't feel too guilty. What happened was better than say, you stopping by the side of the road to try to get the dog, and it running away from you and right in front of a car and getting hit before your very eyes. That would feel a lot worse. Dogs that are running around by roadways are the most difficult to rescue. I always stop and try, but when a dog takes one step away from me when I start going towards it, I have to back off and leave it because there's a better chance the dog will get hit from me trying to rescue it than if I just leave it be and let it sniff around OFF the road. And unfortunately, where I live dogs are more often than not the type to run away (right into the road). It just sucks, plain and simple. Don't feel bad. Let's just hope it was a quick death.
oh no well it isn't your fault, you were just doing what seemed right at the time. It's so sad about the realities of having pets and the existence of cars/roads, i've had 2 cats lost to the busy road next to our house so far, which is why I realise it's no longer fair to keep them. (which is a shame cos I love cats)
People should never let their animals run loose. I've had 2 cats, and they stayed inside all the time, and they were perfectly happy doing so. If your animal is always inside the house, or in the case of a dog, at least inside a secure fence, then you'll never have to worry about that kind of thing happening. My dog is always either inside the house with me, in the fenced back yard, or being walked on a leash. I would never have it any other way. You didn't do anything wrong-at least you wanted to help the dog. It's the owner's responsibility to make sure that their dog is not running around loose. I used to know an old guy that would pick up stray dogs off the street and take them in, even dogs that had been hit by cars, and would spend huge amounts of money having them fixed up at the vet-I wish I was able to do that kind of thing. All I can say is, if you love your animal, never let it get near the street unless it's on a leash.
Thanks everybody for the kind words. I still think about this stupid dog now and again. Oh well....I suppose life goes on.
