I think they are similar as far as the decision making process. Its only a matter of degree. There is no real good outcome that awaits you should you decide to go back. At best, you have to watch someone get upset and maybe mumble a thank you; at worst, you get cursed at, attacked, sued, etc. The only reason you would go back is if you felt a moral obligation to do so; after all, whatever or whoever it is is already dead.
I swear, I never realized pulling to the side of the road or finding a place to turn around was comparable to landing a fighter jet on an aircraft carrier. Ignorance fought, I suppose.
A major city in Australia, where there are generally no payphones in the suburbs.
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That’s uncalled for. There’s nothing “Lazy” or “Thoughtless” about it, as has been explained already. You disagree. Fine. I think you’re wrong, but we live in different places with different social attitudes towards this sort of thing and we’re never going to agree, but I’ll thank you to knock off the insults and name-calling.
Like I said, I’ve been in the situation where a beloved family pet has been run over. The driver moved our pet to the side of the road and continued on their way- which is exactly what I think is reasonable and exactly what I would have done if I was in their position too.
It’s great that you live in Pleasantville where everyone is nice to each other and decent folks go to church on Sundays and don’t listen to that Elvis Parsley man who is on the picture-box some evenings, but I live in a large modern city and there reality is that stopping to tell someone their pet has been run over is… impractical most of the time.
That’s bullshit. There aren’t any payphones in residential areas here either, but if the animal has tags you have an obligation. Coward.
You have stated that you are treating people just as you would wish to be treated. Just for the sake of the argument, let’s say you knew (maybe from a poll) that an overwhelming majority of pet owners would prefer it if the person who ran over their pet stopped and informed them. Would that impact your decision at all?
That is inappropriate and well out of order, and I think a retraction and an apology is in order.
It might have an influence, but it would still depend on a myriad of other factors including what sort of animal it was, what time it was, what part of town it was in, and the circumstances of the event.
I’m also curious how many actual cases you know of people who stop to tell the owners about their pet and are subsequently physically assaulted or sued. This strikes me as very unlikely.
Like I’ve said, the expectation here is that you won’t tell a pet owner that their pet has been involved in an accident (unless you know the owner personally or you live in a fairly cohesive community). It’s obviously different where you guys are, but the fact is that it’s no longer possible to have a civilised discussion about this topic and so I’m bowing out.
I would stop for that, people are a whole different story.
When I was younger, my grandfather’s black lab was hit by a car and managed to drag itself back home. That dog was one of the quietest, most passive, sociable and friendly animals I’ve known. When my grandfather tried to lift her up to take her to the car so he could take her to the vet, she bit right through his thumb. So yes, injured animals can be dangerous and my memory of that event would likely give me pause to try to help a larger animal that I’d hit.
That being said, I don’t know how I would react if I hit a domesticated animal. If it was a wild animal like a raccoon I wouldn’t give it a second thought.
Its not a matter of fear, its apathy, I don’t see dogs/cats running out into the street as something I need to take responsibility for. It sucks, but animals do this, and sometimes they cross paths with a couple tons of rubber and steel. I don’t see much point.
I’m sure this varies by location, but in my town there are leash laws and ordinances about pet cats (must be indoors or on owners’ property etc.) and ordinances that all animals must be in the owners’ control at all times. I know (trust me I know! ;)) that cats sometimes run out of the house and are hard to catch, and dogs too, so it’s not always an owner’s fault but, that’s the law.
Given this, again in my town, it would be more likely that a person who hit the animal could sue the owner (for damages to the vehicle) than the other way around.
I’ve never seen or heard of it happening but I could see a case being made…the animal was not supposed to be (by law) in the street, thus it was the owner’s negligence that caused the accident.
Yeah, I could definitely see the OWNER being sued. That seems much more likely.
[Moderator Note]This type of response is entirely inappropriate for IMHO, as you well know. Dial it back a notch or three.[/Moderator Note]
[Moderator Note]See post #75-this means you, too.[/Moderator Note]
I apologize for calling you a coward, but I do think not stopping to inform somebody that you have killed their beloved pet is a reprehensible and cowardly act.
I only go back if I need to confirm the kill for my count. 35 road kills and counting!