I ran over a dog last night...
Discussion
I was driving home from the supermarket about 8pm last night, along an unlit section of road. It was a dark night and I was doing probably 35-40kmh (50 limit).
A big black dog appeared the road and looked to be trying to lie down. There was a car coming the other way, I had nowhere to go and seen it too late... so I went over the top of it. It felt horrible (the dog probably felt slightly worse though) as I went over it.... looking in the rear view mirror I could see it on its back with its 4 legs in the air and I thought I've killed that for sure. I had thought it went under the wheels but it obviously couldn't have as I was in the Cayenne and would have burst it I suppose. I stopped and got out (other driver didn't stop, yet no way he couldn't have seen what happened).
I walked up to the dog and realised it was alive, but it was shaking one leg weirdly and crying. I now thought okay its alive, and broken leg - better than I originally thought. I rung someones doorbell and asked them to phone the police for me. It took them about 20 mins to arrive and by this time the dog was up and wandering around in the road but it looked drunk/groggy. So not a broken leg but could be injured. Other cars are swerving around it, I'm waving my jumper trying to slow them down.
The cops arrived but they didnt want to touch the dog - it was bloody massive (rottweiler type thing) and growling at them. I waited about an hour while they apparently got someone to come deal with the dog. I didn't have any choice as they needed an accident report but had to deal with the dog first.
After 90mins they finally let me go, after taking my details and a quick written report on what happened.
The dog didn't have a collar, but speaking to the police today it was chipped so they're trying to find its owner. Here (portugal) there are loads of strays so I'm betting on the chip corresponding to an old owner, and nobody going to take responsibility for it causing an accident
Dog is in the local vets... dunno how it is but I'll pop in tomorrow and have a look.
A big black dog appeared the road and looked to be trying to lie down. There was a car coming the other way, I had nowhere to go and seen it too late... so I went over the top of it. It felt horrible (the dog probably felt slightly worse though) as I went over it.... looking in the rear view mirror I could see it on its back with its 4 legs in the air and I thought I've killed that for sure. I had thought it went under the wheels but it obviously couldn't have as I was in the Cayenne and would have burst it I suppose. I stopped and got out (other driver didn't stop, yet no way he couldn't have seen what happened).
I walked up to the dog and realised it was alive, but it was shaking one leg weirdly and crying. I now thought okay its alive, and broken leg - better than I originally thought. I rung someones doorbell and asked them to phone the police for me. It took them about 20 mins to arrive and by this time the dog was up and wandering around in the road but it looked drunk/groggy. So not a broken leg but could be injured. Other cars are swerving around it, I'm waving my jumper trying to slow them down.
The cops arrived but they didnt want to touch the dog - it was bloody massive (rottweiler type thing) and growling at them. I waited about an hour while they apparently got someone to come deal with the dog. I didn't have any choice as they needed an accident report but had to deal with the dog first.
After 90mins they finally let me go, after taking my details and a quick written report on what happened.
The dog didn't have a collar, but speaking to the police today it was chipped so they're trying to find its owner. Here (portugal) there are loads of strays so I'm betting on the chip corresponding to an old owner, and nobody going to take responsibility for it causing an accident
Dog is in the local vets... dunno how it is but I'll pop in tomorrow and have a look.
Edited by KFC on Tuesday 25th February 14:47
You would need to be pretty heartless to just leave it where it was, even if you hated dogs - it was on a main road and a serious risk of causing a 'real' accident. A black dog, dark unlit road, and not far around a bend = a recipe for disaster really. If me or that other driver had panicked we could have ended up crashing into each other or into one of the houses on the road.
KFC said:
You would need to be pretty heartless to just leave it where it was, even if you hated dogs - it was on a main road and a serious risk of causing a 'real' accident. A black dog, dark unlit road, and not far around a bend = a recipe for disaster really. If me or that other driver had panicked we could have ended up crashing into each other or into one of the houses on the road.
God for you KFC. Now about that damage to your Porsche? 
On iPad so short reply
The dog was a Rottweiler type dog. No collar so assumed it was a stray. Scanned at vets today and chipped... I had assumed it was going to be an old owner as so many abandoned dogs here.
I got a surprising call this afternoon - the dog owner wanted to meet me to discuss repairs to the car. Turns it it was a dog that escaped a garden, and actually had pet insurance from Axa. Nobody bothers with insurance here, they just dump them or put them down so I was shocked with that.
Top work from police dealing with it yesterday and then getting owner in touch.
The dog is fine - very minor injuries which is a miracle given the weight and size of the car which went over him. I think there is more damage to the car than the dog
Not a nice thing to happen but realistically had as happy an ending as possible - he's happy I stopped and dealt with the dog. I'm happy he was suitably insured and on the ball with dealing with it. Dog happy as no lasting injuries
For anyone without insurance take this As a warning - it's not just about vet bills.... Your dog could cause serious bills elsewhere that you're going to be on the hook for !!
The dog was a Rottweiler type dog. No collar so assumed it was a stray. Scanned at vets today and chipped... I had assumed it was going to be an old owner as so many abandoned dogs here.
I got a surprising call this afternoon - the dog owner wanted to meet me to discuss repairs to the car. Turns it it was a dog that escaped a garden, and actually had pet insurance from Axa. Nobody bothers with insurance here, they just dump them or put them down so I was shocked with that.
Top work from police dealing with it yesterday and then getting owner in touch.
The dog is fine - very minor injuries which is a miracle given the weight and size of the car which went over him. I think there is more damage to the car than the dog
Not a nice thing to happen but realistically had as happy an ending as possible - he's happy I stopped and dealt with the dog. I'm happy he was suitably insured and on the ball with dealing with it. Dog happy as no lasting injuries
For anyone without insurance take this As a warning - it's not just about vet bills.... Your dog could cause serious bills elsewhere that you're going to be on the hook for !!
Up till now I've thought f
k it... if my dog gets injured I'll just pay it. I can afford the vet bills in a worst case scenario and the insurance when you travel as much as I do is a major ball ache so I figured it wasn't worth it.
I wasn't really considering the dog running away and causing a car crash or something. It wouldn't have been that far a stretch to see a scenario where relatively minor damage to my Porsche last night could have been a complete write off of my car. Clip the dog then a wall, or roll it, or even take out another car with you trying to avoid it and you could be looking at ruinous bills.
My dogs have escaped before - in fact I posted a video of one of the dogs opening the windows and letting the others out. I could very easily have been on the receiving end of some nasty bills just like this other bloke was. Think I'll be looking into dog insurance tomorrow!!!
k it... if my dog gets injured I'll just pay it. I can afford the vet bills in a worst case scenario and the insurance when you travel as much as I do is a major ball ache so I figured it wasn't worth it. I wasn't really considering the dog running away and causing a car crash or something. It wouldn't have been that far a stretch to see a scenario where relatively minor damage to my Porsche last night could have been a complete write off of my car. Clip the dog then a wall, or roll it, or even take out another car with you trying to avoid it and you could be looking at ruinous bills.
My dogs have escaped before - in fact I posted a video of one of the dogs opening the windows and letting the others out. I could very easily have been on the receiving end of some nasty bills just like this other bloke was. Think I'll be looking into dog insurance tomorrow!!!
KFC said:
On iPad so short reply
The dog was a Rottweiler type dog. No collar so assumed it was a stray. Scanned at vets today and chipped... I had assumed it was going to be an old owner as so many abandoned dogs here.
I got a surprising call this afternoon - the dog owner wanted to meet me to discuss repairs to the car. Turns it it was a dog that escaped a garden, and actually had pet insurance from Axa. Nobody bothers with insurance here, they just dump them or put them down so I was shocked with that.
Top work from police dealing with it yesterday and then getting owner in touch.
The dog is fine - very minor injuries which is a miracle given the weight and size of the car which went over him. I think there is more damage to the car than the dog
Not a nice thing to happen but realistically had as happy an ending as possible - he's happy I stopped and dealt with the dog. I'm happy he was suitably insured and on the ball with dealing with it. Dog happy as no lasting injuries
For anyone without insurance take this As a warning - it's not just about vet bills.... Your dog could cause serious bills elsewhere that you're going to be on the hook for !!
That's a good result, glad to hear the dog is ok.The dog was a Rottweiler type dog. No collar so assumed it was a stray. Scanned at vets today and chipped... I had assumed it was going to be an old owner as so many abandoned dogs here.
I got a surprising call this afternoon - the dog owner wanted to meet me to discuss repairs to the car. Turns it it was a dog that escaped a garden, and actually had pet insurance from Axa. Nobody bothers with insurance here, they just dump them or put them down so I was shocked with that.
Top work from police dealing with it yesterday and then getting owner in touch.
The dog is fine - very minor injuries which is a miracle given the weight and size of the car which went over him. I think there is more damage to the car than the dog
Not a nice thing to happen but realistically had as happy an ending as possible - he's happy I stopped and dealt with the dog. I'm happy he was suitably insured and on the ball with dealing with it. Dog happy as no lasting injuries
For anyone without insurance take this As a warning - it's not just about vet bills.... Your dog could cause serious bills elsewhere that you're going to be on the hook for !!
I had a Collie/Burmese years ago that attacked a 2CV in a similar way. My dog had a bruised hip & the 2CV driver had to borrow a crowbar to get the bumper out of the front tyre
It's amazing what dogs can take without real injuries.Good on you for stopping and helping to resolve as far as you could.
Had a similar experience to you - Range Rover vs Black Labrador. No one believed me when I told them the dog went under the car and I saw it running off down an alleyway in my mirrors.. Eventually found the owner who went looking, got a call an hour later saying they had found the dog it was fine and was now sat on the sofa with them - I really hope no one else on that street had a black lab!!!
Had a similar experience to you - Range Rover vs Black Labrador. No one believed me when I told them the dog went under the car and I saw it running off down an alleyway in my mirrors.. Eventually found the owner who went looking, got a call an hour later saying they had found the dog it was fine and was now sat on the sofa with them - I really hope no one else on that street had a black lab!!!
rpgk said:
Good on you for stopping and helping to resolve as far as you could.
Had a similar experience to you - Range Rover vs Black Labrador. No one believed me when I told them the dog went under the car and I saw it running off down an alleyway in my mirrors.. Eventually found the owner who went looking, got a call an hour later saying they had found the dog it was fine and was now sat on the sofa with them - I really hope no one else on that street had a black lab!!!
With 7" clear under the diffs I doubt it got more than a bruise provided the wheels missed it.Had a similar experience to you - Range Rover vs Black Labrador. No one believed me when I told them the dog went under the car and I saw it running off down an alleyway in my mirrors.. Eventually found the owner who went looking, got a call an hour later saying they had found the dog it was fine and was now sat on the sofa with them - I really hope no one else on that street had a black lab!!!
I remember years ago driving down an unlit road and seeing a dog.
I saw it in the distance, thought someone was walking it.
Got closer and it wandered out into the middle of the road- me thinking "How irresponsible"
Got up to it, and there he was. A little mutt, wet, cold and all on his lonesome. No collar. Seemed quite friendly
Opened the boot, got a towel out, and popped him on the back seat.
A few hours of calling various authorities and waiting with him (dried him and gave him some clean water - he even started to like me and fell asleep on my lap) he was picked up by the dog warden and reunited. Followed up the next day and said no response from the owner ( i was dog proofing the house to adopt him
). Few days later, get a call saying he had been picked up- he was tied to a shop door in a town 3 miles over, and slipped his collar. They thought he had been stolen, so were very relieved when he turned up
I saw it in the distance, thought someone was walking it.
Got closer and it wandered out into the middle of the road- me thinking "How irresponsible"
Got up to it, and there he was. A little mutt, wet, cold and all on his lonesome. No collar. Seemed quite friendly
Opened the boot, got a towel out, and popped him on the back seat.
A few hours of calling various authorities and waiting with him (dried him and gave him some clean water - he even started to like me and fell asleep on my lap) he was picked up by the dog warden and reunited. Followed up the next day and said no response from the owner ( i was dog proofing the house to adopt him
). Few days later, get a call saying he had been picked up- he was tied to a shop door in a town 3 miles over, and slipped his collar. They thought he had been stolen, so were very relieved when he turned up 
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