This afternoon I had to make a quick trip to the grocery store...

The store is only about a mile away. Takes two minutes, literally. I get about three blocks up and, out of nowhere runs this little black poodle with a blue collar. I was still well under the speed limit and I hit the brakes....but clipped the poor thing anyway.

Just as his little boy got to the sidewalk. Little boy is prolly only about 7 or 8. Mom was right behind him.

God.

They think the dog's gonna be okay. He went to the vet and they called...but the boy's still...

Oh, God.

I've been in tears half the evening.

Tonight, Bonehead needed a copy of his birth certificate for his trip tomorrow. I sent him up there to get the copy. He walked.

:hug:

I'm glad I talked to them and I'm glad the little dog's gonna be okay...I'm so worried about the little boy, though. What a horrible thing for him to have to stand there and watch.

:hug:

Mostly I'm better now. I hope he will be.

You must not blame yourself.....

But I hear you!

The same thing happened to me once, a long time ago.....

I felt horrible...and the dog was okay....

Please, don't blame yourself at all......:hug:

the only other thing I hit was a skunk on a dark stretch of highway in Nebraska. And it was more like I drove Over him.

I could barely drive back home. What the rational part of my brain is telling me and what my insides are doing aren't matching up, though.

Thank you.

:hug:

Redstone

How goes?

Redstone

Just talking about it has helped. I didn't want to say anything about it when I got home this afternoon because of my kids...but I haven't been able to get that poor little boys cries and the expression on his face out of my head. And that little yip.

Thanks.

:hug:

can't help but feel bad about it anyway.

Redstone

i helped to wrap her in a blanket and we took her to the vet. she lived, but had a limp and some broken teeth.

it didn't scar me permanently (probably because she survived for ten years after that...) so try not to worry. i'm sure all will be well. you are obviously very kind hearted, and full of regret. it really sounded unavoidable...

my dog ran out the front door -- she was ill trained, but she became a remarkable home-body after that!

It helps to hear that...I'm sorry about your dog, though. And I'm glad she was okay.

:hug:

even better thereafter - because we appreciated her, and she appreciated life!

i know how the other side feels, too. i once hit a family of raccoons (three of them, SOB) and
was sick at heart for a long time.

it was in a park. i went up a hill and saw the animals by the side of the road. as i was coming
down the hill an hour or so later, i remembered seeing them there, and slowed down. so help me, they jumped in front of my car. suicide wish, maybe. sometimes it seems as if the animal is doing it
on purpose.

We have a lot of wildlife around here, especially considering I live in town. I've learned to be very careful...foxes and raccoons and squirrels and birds and chipmunks and rabbits are Always in the road. Even the occasional coyote. Deer quite often. I've always managed to avoid 'em.

Today I couldn't.

I was late to pick up my daughter from school, and my dog was under the car. I ran over her leg and broke it, and eventually she lost the leg. I felt awful, and I could hardly drive to the vet's for sobbing. She's ok now, although too fat because I had to leave her with my in-laws when I moved overseas and they insist on overfeeding her.

These things do happen. So many of my dogs have died by being it with a car, but you just have to understand that sometimes it will happen.

The rest of me is an emotional wreck, though.

I'm gonna call them again tomorrow to check on both the dog and the boy.

Thanks.

:hug:

Our neighbor across the street has a little black dog that's a King Charles spaniel mix, and she got out of her yard and came running to her little girl who was in our front yard with my son and me. A car was coming around the corner next to her, we heard her yelp, and ran to get her, as she ran to us. Upon inspection her injury was a 3/4 inch long, shallow cut above her eye. I put neosporin on it and it healed well.
Years ago my old dog jumped out of my parked car and went sniffing around across the street. I came out of the building I had been in, saw him, he saw me as a van rounded the corner and passed between us. I cringed, heard him yelp, the van continued on and he came to me with no signs of anything wrong!
I hope the little poodle is okay, and you are, too, as well as the little boy. I am so nervous about dogs off leash near cars, even if they are trained to stay with their people.

The mom seemed to think the dog would be okay...and I'm relieved. I just hope the little boy is, too.

Kids and animals are my soft spots...and this has just...

Y'all are a HUGE help, though.

:hug:

who stopped to help and to take responsibility, and that child may even grow up a better person for having witnessed your compassion.

:hug:

I hope so.

Update: I spoke to the mother this morning and the boy and his dog both seem to be doing well. The dog has a broken leg but she said that it should heal fine, probably not even a limp. The boy is running around like nothing ever happened and thinks the 'cast' is cool. Apparently it's the same shade of blue as the collar.

Thank you.

:hug::hug:

It's too bad the poodle wasn't on a leash. All of this could have been avoided.

I think it was just a case of the dog running out unexpectedly when the door opened. I know that, at my house, during summer vacation the one sound I hear the most of is that damned door. Well, as long as you don't count:

"Mommmmm, tell her to..."

"Mommmmm, make him...."

"Mommmmm, it's My turn...."

"Mommmmm, she's Breathing again!"

Eventually, I usually have a tantrum and threaten to lock 'em all out if they don't stop with the back and forth.

I only have to actually lock it for about ten minutes, once a week or so.

:hug:

I felt so horrible, though. I couldn't get that little guy's face out of my head all night.

I'm so glad things are better today.

:hug:

:loveya: