This weekend, my dog Molly was hit by a car in McLean, Virginia. Molly (shown here after teaching one of my classes) is still in intensive care but is expected to survive. However, it will take a while for me to get over my anger toward the driver who left my son on the side of the road after hitting our dog.
Molly got off the leash while being walked by Benjamin down Westermoreland Avenue in McLean. She was hit by a large SUV and collapsed in the street. The man driving the SUV stopped and expressed concern to Benjamin and then left my son with his dog. Fortunately, a nurse with an animal welfare hospital was driving by and stopped to assist Ben as I rushed to the scene. I could not be more thankful to the nurse. (A second man who just also happened to work at an animal hospital lived in the house next to the accident and also came out and was wonderful). However, when I arrived on the scene (dragging my own broken foot from an accident the day before), the driver had long ago left the scene. A shocked witness said he checked his car for damage and expressed concern before taking off. He gave no explanation and just left the accident scene without leaving his name or number.
There was never any question in our minds of suing. Our dog got off her leash. It was our fault. However, I cannot imagine any man leaving a boy on the side of the road with a dog that he hit, even if another man had come to assist. It was a disgraceful act, particularly since the driver did not know if the other man would stay with Benjamin. He just got in his jumbo SUV and carried on with his day. This is someone who desperately needs to look at his priorities and consider the lack of humanity shown in leaving a terrified 13-year-old boy cradling his seriously injured dog on the side of the road. Since I arrived within minutes, he could not have lingered long at the scene. His departure also prevented us from knowing the speed of the accident or any other details — information that the hospital wanted to have.
My faith in humanity however was restored by the two men who stayed with Benjamin. We put Molly in my car and rushed to the hospital. She was in shock and her breathing was beginning to fail. Sean, the nurse from McLean Animal Hospital, caught up to me in his truck and told me to follow him to the hospital to be sure that I did not get lost. I would have gotten lost without him. The other man from the house was equally kind and helpful. They both helped carry Molly to my car. I am in their debt.
We have been visiting Molly in the Hope Animal Hospital, which has 24-hour care. She is now standing for short periods. She has serious bruising and some bleeding internally as well as a torn up side. She also has four fractured ribs. She still is unable to breath on her own without the help of an oxygen tank. However, she is showing improvement and was able to stand and walk this morning. She is one tough dog. She did not cry once through this whole ordeal. We hope to have her home in a couple of days once she is breathing on her own.
“public or private surveillance cameras”
Jesus Christ. This nation has become brainwashed.
At some point people are going to start destroying public cameras and rightfully so.
I have no qualms with private cameras
Thanks Gene… A measure of humanity should be taught to all…
The first thing to check is for any public or private surveillance cameras in the area. The video experts w/ Target often offer their enhancement services gratis in cases like this.
People either have a heart and empathy or they don’t. It can’t be teached. Having suffered merely bruised ribs playing football my heart goes out to Molly. “When it rains it pours.” You need a PI to track down this b@stard if no other reason than to vent your anger @ him.
My best wishes to you and your family. I hope Molly makes a full recovery.
It is sad that our society in many regards, has decayed to this level of selfishness. While we can point out the good in the people who stopped to help, one has to wonder how many would have reacted the same as the person who hit the dog if it had been them.
It is time to drop Political Correctness and instead just teach plain old compassion
Hope indeed that all will go well with Molly. How upsetting an event. It is my hope that the driver will have second thoughts and will seek to contact you. Sometimes people don’t do the right thing right away and think better of it later. Considering that as a possibility–also that the man in question may have had other pressing issues that interfered with his doing the right thing–will, if nothing else, possibly make it easier for you to temper your understandable anger.
Prof.,
I’m glad Molly is going to be okay. Please do keep us posted. At least good Samaritans were there for her and Benjamin until Molly could get to care.
AY,
Sorry about your cat. Cats are good people.
What an horrific situation for Molly and your son to experience. I can only hope the kindness and compassion of those who aided them both can supersede the accident and the driver leaving the scene in their memories. Perhaps the goodness of these strangers can be used as a lesson about what is important. And,no, we don’t know why the driver left so maybe there could be a lesson in that too about not making assumptions and converting that understandable anger into even greater attention to Molly. I’m thrilled to hear that Molly is making progress. Even my cats are crossing their paws for her full and rapid recovery. I hope your son can focus on her survival rather than on the accident. That’s a hard lesson at his age.
Pretty apparent this was a hit and run. Hopefully someone was able to get a license plate. I would file a criminal charge against the person who did this. It is obvious the dog was owned by a particular person so it had, sorry to sound calous, property value so there would be standing to file a cimrinal or civil action just based on the action of the driver to avoid a cost of caring for the dog or its lost value.
In our state, the fleeing party in a hit and run can be per se judged to be at fault even if the dog had wandered into traffic.
It is something to be said of a dog owner who attends to the care of a pet needing this much medial attention. I’m sorry your our professor’s family had to go through this.
Lee,
Thanks..
In L.A. they hit mostly pedistrians and leave them by the side of the road due to their lack of car insurance. Let’s hope for a complete recovery, A pet is one of the family.
AY I am so sorry.
That guy’s a pig.
(Years ago I was hit by a car, threw me up in the air but thankfully it was winter and I had on a very heavy coat and only got bruising and soreness in my hip. The person who hit me stopped, came over to me, as I lay in the street, asked “are you OK?. I said, angrily I admit, “YOu hit me!” And she walked away got back in her car and left. I got up and started to walk when a stranger stopped her car and asked if I was okay. The kindness of strangers, the piggery of those who should be better then that.
As someone who grew up in Mclean and had our dog treated at the Hope Center, all of this hits so close to home. Mclean used to be a sleepy southern town populated mostly by government workers and their families. Now, it’s power-broker central…thousands of lobbyists running around like they’re the only ones who matter in this world…and driving accordingly.
It was a very independent cat…. He let you who’s boss…
AY:
sorry to hear that, is it a cat or is it a cat-dog?
I had a male orange cat once, that was the best cat I ever head. He was better than a dog if that is possible. He got hit by some redneck jack*ss running his car up and down our street.
I think the little p*ssant killed him on purpose. The look on the cats face was shear terror, we buried him next to our golden retriever, Abbey.
What a relief that Molly is recovering.
I was about Ben’s age when my dog got loose and was hit by a car right in front of me. The car didn’t stop. The dog died immediately. So many years later I can still see the scene – and the tail lights of the car as it drove away.
Cat Bron….
AY:
cat or dog? both my cat and dog are old-80 to 90 in human years.
I know I am going to cry like a baby when the dog goes.
I’m so sorry…. Glad people stayed with your son….and that Molly is in good hands…..
I just had a pet die this morning….
Bill H makes a good point. Perhaps the driver feared a lawsuit.
We should also be concerned with Ben. He may feel he’s to blame because Molly slipped off her leash/collar. Molly’s a big dog and may be difficult to control. Some Dog Whisperer videos and a choke chain collar may be helpful.