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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Sad reminder to keep dogs on leads near main roads

12 replies

HollyBollyBooBoo · 14/04/2011 22:28

The most heartbreaking sight today, a lady with 2 Alsatians off their leads came out of a field onto the pavement of a really busy 'A' road, 1 Alsatian saw a Boxer being walked on the other side of the road and just ran straight out into the path of a car, looked like he was killed outright.

A sad reminder for us all to keep dogs on leads near roads, it's just not worth the risk.

OP posts:

Vallhala · 14/04/2011 22:32

So, so sad. Particularly poignant for me as they are "my" breed.

I pray to god he made it through, miraculously, or if indeed he didn't, that he went without suffering.

Poor soul. :(

kid · 15/04/2011 08:00

My dh saw the body of a dog laying in the road. He said it's eyes were open and it was staring at him. It was clearly dead and he couldn't get the sad image out of his head. I didn't even see it but also got stuck with the sad thought.

Like vall said, if the dog did die, I hope it was instant and without suffering. The poor owner, she must have been very shocked

Reality · 15/04/2011 08:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

nobodyimportant · 15/04/2011 08:07

The poor driver too :(. I saw a dog run over (turned out it had escaped from a garden) it ran in front of the car, the lady driving had no chance of stopping. She was so shaken up I felt terrible for her, as well as upset for the dog of course (it didn't make it even though it jumped up and ran to the side of the road). She had kids in the car too. Horrible thing to see. It took months for me to be able to drive along that road again.

Vallhala · 15/04/2011 08:31

I recall stopping on the A10 just on the edge of London, abandoning the car and running back up the road to reach a collis cross which had been hit by the car in front of me. The number of those who just drove past or who came out of nearby houses to stand and stare disgusted me.

When I reached him the dog's gums were pale and his breathing shallow. I shouted for someone to bring me a blanket to move him in so I could get him to the vet, held his little head and felt his last breath leave him. Nothing I could do and the bastard who hit him didn't even stop.

That was over 20 years ago and it still haunts me now, still I'm crying for that dog.

RubberDuck · 15/04/2011 08:38

I would add keep on lead near even minor roads - you're relying so much on the driver to be careful.

A month or so ago, I was driving along residential road on an estate at around 20mph (slower, I should add, than most drive along that bit, but visibility is poor and I know kids play in that area) and nearly ran over a dog that had bombed in front of me out of nowhere.

A series of footpaths around the estate (not by roads so 'safe') had an opening to the road at that point. Dog walker had dog off lead, but it saw a cat and made chase down the side joining path, straight across the road in front of me.

I was so shaken when I stopped. I'd never have forgiven myself if I'd hit it.

RubberDuck · 15/04/2011 08:39

Not even sure the dog owner was even aware what had happened, dog happily bounded back up the entrance path once said cat climbed a fence, leaving me a shaking mess.

Ephiny · 15/04/2011 09:04

Poor dog, what an awful thing to happen :( A similar thing happened to a neighbour's dog - they'd actually had him on lead for his walk, but just let him off to go into the house, he saw another dog across the road and just ran.

I agree about keeping on lead on or near any roads. I feel I'm being a bit over-cautious sometimes, but you just never know and accidents like this remind me that it really isn't worth the risk.

minimu1 · 15/04/2011 10:17

Also be careful with dogs on flexi leads - a client of mine walked her dog on a flexi lead and the dog pulled forward to see a cat on the other side of the road and the flexi lead broke and went onto the extended lead length and the dog was killed outright by a passing car.

WoodRose · 15/04/2011 13:15

Ephiny - I don't think you can ever be too cautious. The lady who runs our dog training classes has collies who are obedience champions. She ALWAYS has them on lead when near a road. If someone as experienced as her feels it is necessary to keep her very well trained dogs on lead near a road, then there is no way I would risk letting mine off lead!

pinkfluffyprincess · 15/04/2011 13:21

Bloody hell

Scuttlebutter · 15/04/2011 23:26

This reinforces why I always bang on about sighthound recall - or more precisely the lack of it. If you've got a greyhound, lurcher or similar, once they are in the zone they WILL forget all about training, classes and so on and just run, regardless of roads. I know a beautiful lurcher who was rescued from the most appalling life on a traveller site, recovered and was rehomed, and was sadly killed shortly afterwards by slipping through a very small gap in the hedge, straight on to a busy road.

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