Letter to the Editor
Hit and run
Published Friday, March 21, 2008
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Stumble It!March 14, 2008
To the editor:
On Friday afternoon, March 14, I was walking my two Labradors down Parham-McCormick Road, off Plack Road, in North Pole. My dogs are both young and I use training collars on both of them instead of leashes, allowing them to run around while at the same time allowing me to have control over them.
During our walk I didn’t notice that an older model pickup truck was quickly approaching behind us (though I usually keep a keen eye out for vehicles). By the time I realized how close the driver was to us I didn’t have time to command my dogs to “come.” I walked into the middle of the road waving my arms at him yelling, “Stop, stop, let me get my dogs!” The driver didn’t slow down for my dogs or me.
I got out of his way, but the older of my two dogs (she’s still only a year and a half) didn’t and he hit her — again without slowing down. She is a lucky dog — being thrown from the truck rather than being pulled under the front tire. It’s also lucky that my 11-month old puppy stayed where he was when the driver hit the gas harder and took off, only after giving me a dirty look. Again, I was pleading with him to “Stop, stop! You hit my dog!”
I hope that this man had somewhere really important to be and I hope he made it there in time. More than that, I want to thank all the people who slow down when passing dog owners with their pets, often giving a friendly nod or wave. You have no idea how much I (and my pups) appreciate your kindness.
Hope Bickmeier, North Pole
Community Discussion
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I live not far from this area, and I am also getting frightened at the lack of consideration drivers are showing for pedestrians on the roadways. We are not talking paved thoroughfares...these are gravel roads, in subdivisions where kids ride bikes, families own pets, and "gasp"...people sometimes have the NERVE to enjoy a walk. I need to walk about 4 blocks to get to an actual "walking path" (that is often traversed by speeders on ATV's) but just walking down my road is sometimes an incredible risk. I hate that I feel like I am surrounded by bad people. What ever happened to slowing down when you are passing people on the road? What ever happened to consideration for your neighbors?
I hope your dog will be okay, Ms. Bickmeier. And rest assured, if you are walking your dogs and I drive past, I will slow down, smile, and wave...like a decent neighbor should.
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My reaction is varied.
I'm sorry that your pup got hit. Dogs are better friends to some of us than most other people are, and I've often had more trust in them than most persons, too.
That said, leashes serve a great purpose. Unleashed training is often best done in one's own yard, as opposed to community turf.
Lastly, lots of folks drive like they're immune to the consequences of their actions, and as though their needs are the only ones that matter. Theyseem to fail to acknowledge that there's a difference between levels or degrees of personal discretion within one's own property, vs. public or community property, such as a road-way.
I admit that I drive 'to get where I'm going' when I'm on the highway or freeway. I think that's fairly common.
However, when I get into a residential area, and there's an increased likelihood of less shoulder on the road surface, loose gravel, kids, dogs, etc., it's my responsibility to drive in such a way as to be doubly prepared for anything present there that might cause me to abruptly maneuver.
It's much more difficult to stop abruptly on gravel or on slick ice; especially at the transition/Spring temps that we're having lately.
None-the-less, and despite warnings, many persons near here still drive like butt-heads with six times the horse-power as they apparently possess IQ points. And many of them have been informed, either directly or indirectly, as to what fate awaits should they ever be caught behaving irresponsibly, and even come close to hitting one of my kids.
Some lessons in life are learned with greater difficulty than others.
Sorry your dog was hurt, hope she'll be OK. Too bad you couldn't get a license plate number.
Bottom line is, there's a leash law in the borough. There's no excuse for the moronic behavior of the driver, both in refusing to slow down and failing to stop, but the whole incident could've been avoided if your dogs had been on one.
Being a prevous owner of two dogs, sorry one of yours got hit.
There must be a "leash law" in your area. Check it out and see.
Look into areas that are safe for training your dogs, there must be someplace that you can safely do it.
Before the door was open at my house the leashes were on my dogs collars and the other end of the leash in my hand. guess I am "old fashion". Even though well trained, I didn't want to TAKE A CHANCE. Neigher one of them were ever hit by any vehicles or close to it. They lived to be 13 and 15 years old, and taken on daily walks up to four miles a day.
Hope your dog is OK.
A lot of cell phones have cameras in them now days. I also carry a camera a lot of the time (separate from my cell phone). Of course, having one doesn't mean I'd always have the presence of mind to use it...
Glad to hear that your dog was lucky.
I am grateful that it wasn't a toddler or small child walking along with you. Children can be unpredictable, too, and can break away from a parent's clenched hand at a moment's notice.
Shock collars are considered inhumane when applied to small humans...but perhaps not so inhumane when applied to inconsiderate, dangerous, drivers? Wait. No, no, no. That's vigilantism; that won't work.
Being from the area I am surprised the driver didn't stop and back up too.
What a butthead. But like photodude said, the leash law could have prevented it. Sorry for your dog. i would have been so mad.
sorry for your dog. I live on a street in North Pole, and in front of my house there is a sign that says Children at Play 20MPH. Most people that drive by are ok, but once or twice a day I see a speed demon zooming by. The sign that says Children at Play is there because there are LOTS OF CHILDREN in this neighborhood, not to mention famly dogs and cats, leash or no leash is not the issue. Slow down people!!! With the price of gas, there is no reason to be in a rush!
A friend told me once that if everyone greeted each other like my dog does when I come home the world would be at peace. Sorry about your dog, at least you werent holding onto the leash when it got hit.
I once read that dogs have the learning capacity and judgements of a 4 year old. This age was chosen because of the number of words understood, ability to learn consequences of actions. They act compulsively and impulsively, have selective hearing, easily distracted.
That is why there is a leash law, to protect the innocent-our pets. As far as I know, there isn't a "voice command law".
I truly feel bad for the dog and glad the accident wasn't more severe.
I feel that the driver was only half the problem (although very rude). You can't control his actions, but you could have controlled your dog's actions. A person with too much confidence in their dog's training is just as much at fault.
Animal control laws are Borough wide.
FNSB Title 6 requires that animals be restrained at all times. It specifically defines "under restraint" as:
(1)physically confined by a leash, cable, fence or building;
(2)under competent voice control when participating in a recognized animal activity or training requiring that it not be physically restrained as defined in the prior condition; or
(3)under competent voice control of a person who is phisically present with an animal when that animal is on the property of the owner.
Did you not read that the dogs were under their owner's control with a training collar? That is within the above quoted Title 6, section 2.
Section 3. You folks are so quick to place the blame on the known entity.
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