I saw something heartbreaking tonight.

[Floogeldy]

I was headed home from working late a few hours ago and I saw flashing emergency vehicle lights up ahead. A cop car was stopped in a four-lane busy street. I couldn't figure out why, as it was in the outside lane and no vehicle was pulled over.

As I got closer, I realized there were two people kneeling down in front of the cop car. I slowed down and drove by real slow.

There was a big dog; I don't know what breed. But it was big, short-haired, and golden brown. The dog was lying on it's side, motionless, and there was a pool of blood that had come out of it's mouth. A lady (she must have hit him, I thnk) was stroking the dog and the cop was talking to (comforting?) the lady.

I'm pretty sure the dog was dead. I can't stand to see animals suffer.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. oh no

:cry:

[AirmensMom]

2. Oh, that's sad.

:cry: :cry: :cry:

[Floogeldy]

3. The dog's eyes were closed.

I don't think he/she was suffering any more.

[AirmensMom]

5. I hope not. *sniff*

:cry: :cry: :cry:

[In_The_Wind]

4. I'm sorry Floogeldy.

:hug:

[Floogeldy]

7. Thanks, Joan

My eyes teared up after I drove past.

[In_The_Wind]

9. I always have a difficult time when I see something like that.

The woman obviously feels bad. The owner of the dog will be devastated.

Life is so short. I hope that it was over quickly for the dog.

[NNadir]

6. I actually saw something like this with a person.

There was this human being lying dead in the street.

It was terrible.

[Floogeldy]

8. I don't mean to sound cruel . . .

. . . but I can, to a point, hold humans responsible for some things that happen to them.

I might feel more sorry for a helpless animal.

I'm just sayin'.

[NNadir]

10. I'm sorry but I disagree.

I love animals - I don't eat them - but the person I saw was somebody's family member. Someone loved that person; at one time that was someone's baby, someone's child.

I have been in accidents that almost killed me, and I don't think any of them could be dismissed in quite so callous a way.

I almost lost my six year old son two weeks ago on the street, except that his brother pulled him out of the street. The fuck who almost hit him was doing 60 on a 25 mile an hour street. In fact there was no injury whatsoever, but for a few millimeters and a slick spot I could have been in grief that would never end.

I am sorry the dog got killed, but I really don't know how people can elevate a dog above a person.

[Floogeldy]

12. I hear you, man.

And I respect your opinion.

[Dangerously Amused]

31. "I really don't know how people can elevate a dog above a person." Well...

Some people, for example, don't or can't have children, and for whatever reason don't have other close (both meanings) family members, or any social network. Or they are elderly and lonely. So they get a pet. That pet becomes - to them - the closest thing to a child, family member or best friend that they have, or will ever have. That pet may very well be the only source of unconditional love the person will ever know, the only being to welcome them home at the end of the day, every day. And so they form a bond with their pet that is stronger than any bond they've ever had with another human being. Then when the pet dies, it is the equivalent loss to them as the death of a human may be to another human.

The empathy you described for someone else's loss of a child is based upon your own experience of having close personal relationships with other humans. But it is the exact same empathy that an animal lover, based upon his or her bonding with animals, has for the loss of another's pet. I don't think that latter empathy necessarily translates into "elevating dogs above people," by which I presume you mean taking the position that all dogs as a whole are naturally more deserving of respect and compassion than are humans.

However, even if a person were to take the position that animals by virtue of their inherent innocence are more worthy of respect and compassion than humans, that position is as valid for that person - based on his or her life experience - as a countervailing position is for the person who holds it based upon his or her life experience.

So when you say you don't understand how someone can elevate a dog above a person, I simply have no choice but to accept that your opinion is valid for you, based upon your life experience. In other words, I have no basis from which to argue that your opinion is "wrong", because your opinion is based upon your perception and interpretation of the events that have made up your life. However, I would submit that perhaps you were never meant to understand or accept the opposing concept in your lifetime. Which is in no way a criticism, but simply to say that different people have different purposes in life. Consequently though, I would argue that along that same principle, the opinion of a person who holds animals in higher regard than humans, also based upon life experience, is equally valid for them.

[NNadir]

32. Whoops. I am sorry to have demeaned misanthropes.

I once had a deep personal relationship with a cow, based on mutual love and respect. We had deep feelings for one another, and understood each other on the same level. One day, after I neglected my responsibilities as a comrade and a friend, I went to visit the cow, only to learn that the cow had sadly ended up as a can of Alpo. I can't get over my grief and guilt. I should have done more.

You're right. Everything is relative. The notion of elevating children over dogs is totally one of perspective.

[Dangerously Amused]

33. Misanthropes?

I am pleased that you appreciate the importance of being respectful, polite and non-judgmental of others' personal beliefs. It is encouraging to see you offer the same level of respect for others' values based on their life experience as you expect them to offer you. And it is always pleasant to discuss such matters with a courteous and thoughtful opponent who would never think to engage in insults and ridicule. It is this type of tolerance which, when applied to areas such as religious differences, account for our great advances toward peace and justice in this world. Thank you for your integrity and compassion. I know it will bring you great success in life.

I do agree, the role that animals play in the lives of both society and individuals is a matter of relative perspective. For example:

As cats were sacred to (Egyptian Goddess) Bast, the practice of mummification was extended to them, and the respect that cats received after death mirrored the respect they were treated with in everyday life. The Greek historian Herodotus wrote that ... when a cat died, the household would go into mourning as if for a human relative, and would often shave their eyebrows to signify their loss.

Such was the strength of feeling towards cats that killing one, even acidentially, incurred the death penalty. Another Greek historian, Diodorus Siculus, describes an interesting example of swift justice imposed upon the killer of a cat: about 60 BCE, he witnessed the chariot of a Roman soldier accidentally run over an Egyptian cat. An outraged mob gathered and, despite pleas from pharaoh Ptolemy XII, killed the soldier.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Role_of_Cats_in_Ancient_Egypt

And:

The cow is considered sacred and its protection is a recurrent theme in Hinduism where she is symbolic of abundance, of the sanctity of all life, and also of the earth that gives much while asking nothing in return. ... While most Hindus do not worship the cow, it holds an honoured place in society and most will not eat beef even at risk of death through starvation.

...

Today, in heavily Hindu nations like India and Nepal, bovine milk continues to hold a central place in religious rituals. In honor of their exalted status, cows often roam free. ... In holy places where there is a ban on cow slaughter, a citizen can be sent to jail for killing or injuring a cow.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_cow

___

What fascinating information, don’t you agree? While I personally do not worship cats or cows, it is certainly not my place to judge those who do.

By the way, your sig line quote from Eleanor Roosevelt is one of my all-time favorites. I keep a copy of it on my bulletin board at work, and have drawn much inspiration from it through the years. Seeing it again reminded me of how much I love it. Thanks for sharing it.



Edited for concision.

[WCGreen]

11. Dude, I hate seeing cat dead in the street...

You know someone is waiting for the cat to come home.....

I always call the city hall and tell them there is a dead animal....

[mokawanis]

13. I had a terrible experience too

I was driving on a highway a few years ago when a large dog ran in front of my car. Nothing I could do. Hit it solid and killed it instantly. My teenage daughter was in the car with me and absolutley fell apart. I felt so sad about the dog and my heart was just broken watching my daughter cry so hard. A terrible day.
I'm sorry you had to see that.

[Floogeldy]

24. That's incredible.

I had the exact same experience, on a remote two-lane highway in Oklahoma, in the middle of the night in the early 1980's. The dog was running and shot out in front of me, leaving me absolutely no reaction time to avoid. My girlfriend and I just gasped and cried. We didn't even go back because it was so obvious that he/she was crushed.

It was terrible.

[LeftyMom]

14. I'm sorry

I'm still tore up about seeing a 2" lizard get run over a few years ago, so I get it.

:cry:

[Jamastiene]

30. That happened to me recently.

I saw him on the windshield after getting on a busy highway (74) and before I could find a place to pull over, he started panicking. I tried rolling the window down and he jumped inside. Before I could get the window rolled up, he jumped back out and fell onto the highway. I was heartbroken. I actually cried all the way home.

[Ptah]

15. Oww.

:cry:
......:cry:
.-.-.-.-:cry:
:cry:
:cry:
:cry:

[CatBoreal]

16. I was driving along the 400 (big 3 lane highway in Southern Ontario)

to visit my boyfriend when this idiot in a pickup starts weaving between lanes. Bad enough, but he had a beautiful golden retriever loose in the truck bed.

You can guess what happened. He didn't even stop for his dog.

I don't think I've ever been so angry at another human being as I was that day.

[mokawanis]

17. I wish a cop had seen that

and thrown the bastard in jail

[CatBoreal]

19. Personally, I was wishing for a...

...grenade launcher mounted on my front bumper.

[Canuckistanian]

21. Where on the 400? I know that highway well

And the dog fell out? God, how ghastly. I'll bet he was sorry afterwards.

[CatBoreal]

22. Between Coldwater and Hwy 9.

Bounce out because the idiot was driving 130 kph easy and hit a bump.

Bastard.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

18. That is just heartbreaking, my dear Floog......

How horrifying for you.......I too hope that the dog didn't suffer long....

I just always cringe whenever I see a dead animal in the road...

I try to not run over it......

I love your tender heart, my dear Floog....



:loveya: :hug:

[Floogeldy]

20. Thank you, CPeg.

Your thoughts are comforting.

:hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

23. .........

:hug:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

25. Poor pup...

Poor lady...
Poor Floogeldy...
:hug: for all...

[nini]

26. wahhhhhh so sad

poor doggie and owners :cry:

[Heidi]

27. Oh, man.

I'm sending you good vibes that that experience doesn't make its way into your dreams tonight, my friend.

:hug: Floog. :loveya: , my friend.

[haele]

28. It's heartbreaking to find an animal like that...

A couple months ago I was driving to work and saw a cat trying to drag herself across the centerline from where she had been hit in the early morning dark. One of the local ferals; I had seen her as a kitten almost a year before.

She was badly hurt,looked to have been thrown more than run over, but I still tried to save her. Others had just driven past her. I had an old blanket and a sturdy box, and the 24 hr emergency vet clinic was only 15 minutes away.

She didn't make it, she had a quick, short seizure, made a hoarse, yowling gasp, and died just as I was making the turnoff to the emergency clinic. I still took her in, and the vet tech on duty took her from me.

I sat in the van for an hour and cried. Just about as hard and grief-stricken as I had back when I was training to be a paramedic almost 30 years ago and had to stand by and watch a passenger die in a car wreck while the fire department was trying to extract him. (an event that made me realize I couldn't be a paramedic - I couldn't stand not being able to do anything.) I thought about my own two boy cats and my girl dog, and what it would be like if it happened to them. I'm still giving them extra hugs and treats when I think about it.

She may not have been someone's beloved pet or a human being, but she was still a vital life force that someone just didn't see - or didn't care about when they hit her. One that could no longer be watched with the other ferals in the vacant lot between the local grocery store and the elementary school, playing around with the rest of siblings, shyly approaching food left by the children who kept wanting to see the kitties, keeping down the local rodent population.

Haele

[AtomicKitten]

29. At least they stopped.

I hate it when people allow animals to run free or aren't responsible enough to contain them properly. Truly sad. I know where my guys are at all times, in my house or fenced yard. I couldn't bear not knowing where they are and imagining a fate like this poor creature's.

[Beausoir]

34. I don't understand

how people can just let their dogs wander around like that.

My dog is precious to me. I watch her like a hawk and try to keep her safe at all times. Just like with my kids.

How can people just not care about their dogs?

Heartbreaking.