It was bound to happen. Little children will not, no matter how many times you tell them, remember to close the door tightly behind them on their way out. So it was just a matter of time before the inevitable would occur.
Today was the day his luck ran out. Countless times, he made it across the busy road, and countless times, I thanked God he was spared. Countless more times, G and I argued about taking the necessary steps to ensure his safety, but G wouldn't budge on the issue. He wanted to believe that training him would be enough and I should be taking him out as he did, escorting him to the woods, not letting him wander. The dog should come when he is called. But if he is let out of the house when I am unaware of it, how can he be beckoned to stay in the yard, a yard bordered by woods and the trail and of course, an unforgiving road where the cars disregard the speed limit?
This time, it was broad daylight, the middle of a beautiful summer afternoon. He attempted to dart across the road, but was no match to the pick up truck, no doubt exceeding the limit. The driver did stop, but before another neighbor and I got back to the scene, the driver had left. Koda lay still on the side of the road, having been moved by the driver I can only assume.
A cruiser was driving by, and I flagged it down. Not that he could do anything, as the driver was long gone. We do have a leash law, so I figured he wasn't at fault anyway, but apparently it is a crime to leave the scene, as the man had done. I suppose I couldn't blame him, although it wasn't something I would have done. He could have at least stuck around to express his apology for the accident. But he probably felt guilty because he was probably speeding. A lot of people do on this awful road on which we live.
I went back home to get my van, called G with the sad news, and made sure the kids were set. In my absence, the officer and my neighbor had taken care of Koda. Those cruisers come well equipped these days with whatever is needed for such emergencies. The officer donned the purple non-latex gloves and had Koda in a large plastic garbage bag. They got him into the back of my van, and I drove to the Emergency Clinic, whose personnel were expecting me since I had also phoned them to verify they were still at the same location.
Anyway, what else can I say? Standard paperwork, requests met, and I spent some time in a room with him before I finally headed back home, crying all the way.
I can only hope he is having fun playing with his cousin Mousse up there on Rainbow Bridge.
