Comment

Comment by Anna Morelli on November 6, 2013 at 10:46pm

I'm sorry you witnessed that, it is gut wrenching to see an animal being hit by a car....There are many obvious reasons to keep a dog on leash for his safety  and the safety of others.  There's a less obvious reason, that many people overlook.  Even if your loose dog does not get hit but simply causes someone to swerve and looses control of the car to avoid hitting it, the dog's owner is liable for all damages and consequences of the accident.  The owner is also liable for any and all damage caused by the dog while loose!

Comment by Marissa, Bandit, and Bacon on November 6, 2013 at 12:21pm

Melissa - That poor chihuahua! Just another reason why retractable leashes are poopy. I would have thought the owner of the pit that I almost hit would have had the leash "locked" while next to such a busy road! I will stick to my 4 foot and 6 foot leashes.

Comment by Melissa and Franklin! on November 5, 2013 at 6:41pm

Working at a vet I can tell you first hand that chihuahuas actually tend to fare better than other dogs when hit by  a car. I asked one of my vets why that was and she said because they tend to bounce rather than get pulled under like a big dog would. Crossing my fingers for the little one. Its so sad that the dogs have to suffer when they have irresponsible owners. 

I have to agree with Marissa on retractable leashes! I think they are the WORST. My brother was walking his chihuahua on one of them one time and it slipped out of his hand and snapped up and started "chasing' his pup. She was absolutely terrified and ran straight down a San Francisco street full speed. We are lucky she stayed on the sidewalk the whole time and a good sam grabbed her as she went by. She was so scared she pooped and peed all over herself. It was so sad :-( Needless to say he threw the leash away immediately and got a regular leash like I had been telling him to forever!

Comment by Linda on November 5, 2013 at 3:49pm

I hope the little guy will be ok, how upsetting for you to witness it. 

Comment by Bev Levy on November 5, 2013 at 1:54pm

Oh how tragic! I am always surprised that people are so careless with their dogs. It must have been horrible to witness. I have had trouble with unfriendly dogs getting loose and coming after us. Just this past weekend it happened and the neighbor was able to catch his dog before it attacked us nut it was scary. I gave him info. on a local trainer that may be able to help him with his dogs issues before someone is hurt. His dog was hit by a car two years ago because he lunged after someone and raced into the street. My Doberman seems to draw dogs to attack and it is sad because she is such a chicken.

Comment by Marissa, Bandit, and Bacon on November 5, 2013 at 12:41pm

Oh no! Poor little baby. I can't stand when I see people with their dogs off leash or on a retractable leash near busy roads. The other day right as I was about to turn into my apartment complex I had seen a woman running with a pit mix. Luckily I was paying attention to the dog, because it was on a retractable leash and when it saw my car coming it got really excited and ran into the road right in front of me. Luckily I was able to swerve just in time.... Then the owner got mad at me! Lady, don't have your dog on a retractable leash on a sidewalk that is only about 2 feet from a very busy road.....

I'm so sorry you had to see that, and I do hope that more people will be responsible and keep a leash on their dog.