Has anyone hit a dog with their car before?

Question

Earlier today around 5AM I was going to shop for black friday sales and all of that and a dog ran in front of my car and I hit him on accident. It was really dark and foggy out and I managed to slow down pretty fast to around 10-15 MPH but there wasnt really much I can do. I went back to see if he was in the road still and hopefully not dead and he wasn't so Im hoping hes fine but its killing me inside not knowing if hes okay or not since he left. My question is has anyone else hit a dog or any animal before? How long did it take to get over?

Answer 1

I hit a dog once,but the people who owned him were more upset because I had to run over their fence to get to the dog. It took me about as long as it takes to finish a six pack to get over it.

Answer 2

I have both hit a dog and had one of my dogs hit before. So I've been on both sides of the fence. Believe me it sucks either way. Although I was upset about my dog getting hurt, I was not at all upset with the driver of the truck who hit him even after it cost me $1000 to get his hind leg repaired. Someone had purposely thrown my dog's ball in the street right as the truck was coming up the street. There was no way the driver could have known before hand that my dog would dart out in front of him. Same as when I hit a dog on a mountain road one early morning while it was still dark out. I never saw him coming until it was too late. It's ok to feel upset, however don't feel guilty it's not like you did it intentionally. These things happen and we can only learn to be extra careful when driving in areas dogs or children may run in front of us.

Answer 3

Well, this is horrible but once when I was about 9 or 10 I flew in to visit with my Grandparents, and on the way back from the Airport, which was about a 40 min ride, my Grandfather hit a dog. He never stopped. I thought I was going to die. I can still see that day in my mind. My Grandfather just hit him. He tried to reassure me somehow, like its just a dog or something lame like that. I cried the entire ride to their house, "you have to turn around"
he never did. Be glad you went back and you didn't find anything, or that you had the common decency just to go. I suppose you can get over this knowing that you did do the right thing.
Even though I wasn't driving the car, and I was young, I always look back on it like, I can't believe that I didn't make him turn around. I am glad that you went back to look for that dog today.
You will sleep better for it. I am sure the puppy isokay.
Lots of animal lovers out there that saw something, he is ok. Especially since the doggie was gone when you went back!! That is positve feedback.

Answer 4

I hit a bunny once, and did the same thing, i went back to check on it, but it was gone. I probably drove by another 3 times to make sure. I felt SOO bad not knowing if it was suffering. And i hit a possum once too. And i killed him. I cried the rest of the night. I think it would be harder if it was a dog. I'm sorry that this happened to you, i know you feel guilty. But don't worry, it was just an accident. Get some sleep, and hopefully by tomarrow you will feel better. But i don't think you will ever forget about it. Just try to think that if the dog was able to walk, then he found a safe place, and someone found him and took him to the vet. People come into our vet clinic a lot with dogs they have found who were injured. I'm sorry, and i hope you feel better soon.

Answer 5

Yes i have hit a really pretty white german shephard I felt so bad for about a month cause it was in the day time and the dog was at the side of the road and wham right out in front of me she came,,,, I stopped and the owner came out and pulled her out of the middle of the road she was in such of bad shape that he knew that there was nothing that the vet could do for her so he got her out of her miserary,,, i was standing there balling,,, but at least you went back and seen if the dog was ok or if it was still there,,,it was an acciedent,, I dont blame you for not getting out of your car cause i wouldnt have either cause it is dangious out there these days plus trying to pick up a hurt dog will most likely bite you,,, I hope you dont feel bad for long,,, it will be ok,,, God bless you for going back to see if the dog was still there

Answer 6

The dog got up and walked away and you didn't try to help it to make sure it was ok? Or at least make a non-emergency call to the local authorities and let them know what happened so at least the dog could be taken to a vet?

I know you feel bad, but you left it! Just because it was walking doesn't mean it is ok. It could be laying somewhere alone bleeding to death internally right now.

I'm sorry to be so blunt but you should have pulled over and been responsible about it whether or not the dog walked away!

Answer 7

I've not hit a dog before, but I think I would feel really awful if I did. I think I would have looked for him a little more, but I wasn't in your situation, so that's not really fair to judge you. Carl, however, is a wonderful man. (Ha) Carl, don't you have a better way to take out hostility? Maybe get yourself a punching bag or something instead of bugging people who already feel bad?

Answer 8

once, and my wife was driving at the speed limit, 45 mph. around a curve a hunting dog, called a coon hound stepped in front of us and we did not even get to touch the brakes he stopped and stared at our headlights. need less to say that he died instantly..that was hard for us. but it was an accident. one time on a rainy saturday morning, i awoke to the sound of squealing tires and heard a neighbors small dog yelp, i got out of bed and found him lying in the road..the driver sped away. he was still breathing and had a small amount of blood in his mouth. I slid him onto a blanket and we rushed him to the vet..about 1/4 mile away. the vet could not find any broken bones or internal injuries, and he said the blood was coming from where he bit his tongue...they put an IV in and said he'd probably live...I had to tell my neighbor what happened as she was asleep and didn't hear anything at all. so I waited all day to hear how he was doing..my neighbor called me at about 4 that afternoon and said he died from shock....that killed me in my heart and i actually had to have some therapy...took a month to get on with my life. kudos to you for caring about the dog you spoke of. most people could get over it in an instant. but your heart is most unique, time will heal and it was an accident. God bless you and yours. Jeff

Answer 9

sure, at a minimum he needs to tell the owner that the canines became hit in the line. He ought to tell them that he hit it. As for criminal duty it is going to be counted on the locality. In maximum areas he won't except he left the canines suffering. If he left the canines suffering, then he could nicely be charged with animal cruelty for leaving it.

Answer 10

i havent run over a dog before but i say take it to a vet or see if you can find the owner and go with them to the vet. if you know in person that the dog will be ok, you should be fine.

Answer 11

yes i have and me being a person that owns a dog it hurts.. it took me a few weeks to get over it when i hit my friends dog.. so don't feel to bad it will be ok.. if you see the dog again then you know.. it will make you feel better.. so for now just cry if you need to and try not to think about it to much.. it will be ok...

thank you tara