We get a lot of lost pet reports but this one made me think that if someone had done something then the dog might still be alive. A woman stopped in to see if her dog was here and brought us a photo in case we got him in and she went out searching her neighborhood. She called the next day and reported that her dog was found on a local city street dead on the side of the road, hit by a car. Obviously she was very upset and so was the LHS staff and I got to thinking about it, do people even know what to do if they hit a pet with their car. I wondered how many people drive off because they are afraid of being shouldered with the expense or don't know the basics of how to handle the injured pet.
The first thing is to STOP your car and see how bad the injuries are on the pet. First and foremost, use caution, injured animals may bite out of pain or shock so always approach slowly and carefully until you can asses the behavior. If you are able to, wrap the injured animal in a towel and take him/her to the closest vet. If you are unable to handle the pet or it is running away call animal control or the police department immediately and if possible do not leave the animal. Animal control or the police will make sure the animal gets the veterinary care it needs. If you are traveling out of state on a state highway, call the state police and they will assist you or direct you to the proper authorities.
This is all very basic information and there are websites dedicated to pet first aid that you can check out for more detailed information but the basics can save lives. If nothing else, call the authorities but don't ignore the animal that you or someone else hit.
The picture is of a cat that was hit by a car that was brought to us this past summer. She is now happy in a new home after getting the treatment she needed from Peaks View Animal Hospital.
Sadly, so many people that hit animals do not care or cannot stop.
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