Notes On Accidentally Running Over Pets

I was slowly sipping a steaming cup of java at the local coffee house. Taking a day off is a hard thing for me to do, but I was attempting it. Suddenly there was a commotion outside. Soon I discovered that a woman had run over a dog. It had had dashed out in front of the car with a small pack of three other animals. The driver had attempted to miss it, but the car grabbed the dog at the hip area, and it was pummeled under the car tires.

On the way to work, this compassionate person stopped at once. Other drivers pulled over and assisted in moving the animal out of the roadway. The other animals were still lose and running about; one animal in particular was in danger and creating more traffic hazard.

It wasn’t until someone came into the coffee house that I became aware of the problem. First, I called the animal control number, it was before office hours. Fortunately, I knew the emergency number and called that. After fifteen minutes I was still waiting!

At this time it was clear that the animal was in shock, but nobody had any items to assist it. I usually had leashes and other beneficial items in my truck, so I went out to grab an emergency blanket and something to tie the loose dog up with. When I approached, the small group of people, they were grieving. The dog had expired during the time it took me to cross the intersection.

The other dog was wary of being caught, but after talking to him and not attempting to grab him, he trusted me enough to allow me to scratch his head and neck. Gently grabbing his collar, I slipped the tie-out onto it. It was then that I walked back to the coffee house to continue calls for assistance.

During this whole time the coffee house employees waiting on the phone line for an answer from the emergency number, it had been over a half an hour without a response. Since it was now office hours, I called into the main line and was forced to wait an additional fifteen minutes –to no avail. In the meantime, the distraught woman entered into the coffee house to call her work and explain why she was being delayed.

At this point she called an emergency dispatch for assistance. The local law enforcement agencies always have a direct line into the animal control dispatch, and in some cases can assist. It is always best to call the main line and not to use the popular 911 service.

First, dead animal removal would come out to pick up the dead dog. The person on the line directed her to take this strange animal in her car to her home!! I suggested she take the animal directly to animal control, which was closer. Someone was under the belief that the animal would be better off taken to a shelter.

Contrary to popular belief you cannot legally take these animals to private shelters or other related humane agencies. They must be taken into the municipal agency for health and safety reasons. In addition, the owner will first contact the animal control or animal services shelter for the animal. Normally those animals are held for a minimum required time period before they can be put up for adoption or euthanized.

I am not sure what the final outcome of this matter was, but the very same day an unrelated article appeared in the liberal paper blaming animal control for not doing their job. The article cited incidents of dog attacks and other cases that were not handled in a timely manner, or that the local law enforcement had to assist with! Animal control to blame? WRONG! Irresponsible pet owners are the ones to blame.

Here are a few things you should be aware of:
Remember that every state and city or county may have variations on their laws on these matters. To have accurate information, you should make inquires in your area at your local animal control agencies or law enforcement groups.

There are leash laws regarding dogs. Cats are covered under trespassing laws and in some areas under similar licensing requirements as their canine counterparts. The pet owner is legally responsible for the animal and the damage they cause or do. If you see a loose animal it would be advantageous to confine it and have animal control come to pick it up.

Confining an animal can be done by securing the animal in a yard, kennel, or by a tie-out. Otherwise, please report the animal to animal control with a good description of the color, size, sex and special markings or collar. These actions may save the animal from a cruel death on the street. (Don’t compromise your safety in the process.)

Reporting these animals or turning them in, forces the owner to pay fines for the impound, storage, licensing. In many cases it will also require deposits for spaying or neutering. More importantly it puts the owners into the database of irresponsible pet owners. Their fines can then be increased with repeat offenses.

Remember, these pet owners are legally responsible for any property damage, medical bills, and any veterinary medical bills. Unfortunately, there are no additional fines for those animal owners that have created hazards or that have caused more havoc.

Contrary to popular belief, the person who has run over the animal is not required to pay for veterinary care. It is required that they report the incident to the proper agencies. You may want to assist in stabilizing the animal or related actions, however do not compromise your safety or that of others.

Reporting the incident results in the animal getting treatment because the agencies deliver the animals to the veterinarian. (There are county or city veterinarians that are contracted with animal control agencies to provide these services) If you are so inclined you can transport the animal there. Remember, the owner of the animal is responsible for paying for the related treatment not you.

Here are a few tips of actions you may want to consider taking:
1. Carry an emergency kit & emergency first aid kit in your vehicle. The first aid kit can be used for humans or animals and the emergency kit can be used to alert other drivers.
2. Take an animal first aid course and/or a human first aid course.
3. Be alert to activity on the sides of any road way within a block ahead of your driving location, and slow down if you see kids or animals.
4. Keep a list of emergency numbers for your area in your vehicle with your registration or in your glovebox. (I have a magnetic card with those numbers on the inside of the drivers door.) Include: Local law enforcement, fire, ambulance, regular and emergency numbers for your animal control agencies within the county, and the city or county number for dead animal removal. (In California, Cal Trans is the proper contact for highway or freeway animal incidents. )
5. Report the event to animal control or the local law enforcement agency. If there is still a hazard endangering humans then make sure you state this fact when reporting the incident. If your vehicle is damaged report it to your insurance company and ask animal control notify you of the owner information in relation to the damage.
6. Under the vehicle code there are laws that apply to this situation. Most are under the section on property damage. (California: Cal.Veh.Code #20002.) You are required to stop, and attempt to locate the property owner. (See your local state codes or ask about these responsibilities. Be sure to look for tags to locate the owner. Note collar color and jot down brief description of dog. Call in and request notification of owner information upon the animal’s pick up.)

What else can you do?
A. Report strays or assist you local animal control agencies by confining or restraining those stray animals, if it can be done safely. They can usually pick them up within the same day.
B. Encourage your local elected officials to provide new tougher fines or regulations on irresponsible pet owners.
C. Encourage your local elected officials to come up with ideas that could assist local animal agencies since they are often short handed. Some ideas are the establishment of volunteer patrols, much like the ones many law enforcement agencies have. Requiring more stringent fine policies for those animal owners whose critters have been involved in traffic accidents. And implementing stricter adoption policies for new pet owners, mandatory orientation to pet ownership for new adopters, and mandatory instruction on animal basic needs and training for new pet owners.
If your vehicle hits an animal, take caution when approaching it. Use common sense in handling or attempting to handle any strange animal. (Remember, injured animals may react protectively or aggressively from pain.) Take care of yourself too, you may need to take some time to gather yourself up. Running over an animal is traumatic and if you are shook up, call a friend or relative for assistance.