We hit a dog

Gosh Amy, I'm so sorry this happened and I know how traumatic it can be.  We ran over a cat one morning on the way to work.  It was unavoidable but when we stopped and got out, the cat was seizing and I became completely hysterical.  I remember another man standing there and asking my DH if I was going to be ok. It was no surprise that I was upset, but the level of anguish I felt was off the charts.  It took me a long time to calm down and even now, years later, I can still recall how awful it was.  My heart goes out to you and I know that you know there's nothing you could've done to prevent it, but it still hurts like crazy [].

OH my gosh, I'm so sorry for you!  I know how you feel. You will get over this, I promise. You will stop crying! 
Believe it or not I couldn't get a bird out of my head that I hit one day..so I can't imagine how I would be with a dog.
The biggest thing is that it was not anyones fault, except for the owners of that dog.  And Glenda is right,,, your husband comforted the dog,, thats what he went out with.  I'm so sorry!
Please hang in there.

OMG!  I feel for you.  I hit a cat years ago on my way to work, someone opened their front door, the cat darted out into traffic right in front of my car.  I slammed on the brakes, but felt the thump.  The owner ran out, we picked up the cat & drove to the nearest vet where it was pronounced DOA.  I felt absolutely horrible and cried for weeks everytime I thought of it. 
 
At least you stopped and DH comforted the dog, most people would've kept driving.  Please let the tears flow if you need to, I believe it helps you heal.  I'll say an extra prayer for you and the dog.

I'm so sorry you had to go through this.  To see, hear or actually witness that is such a terrible thing for an animal lover. 

ORIGINAL: loveukaykay

Bailey wont settle down.  She is so alert and barking and growling... at nothing.  Shes really acting like someone is here or something.  Very strange.  May just be a coincidence.  She usually sleeps fine, even with all the moving and stuff weve been doing lately...   but just now in the bed she wouldnt lay.  Never done that before.  [&o]

The dog was frightened before he was hit and there could even possibly be a scent of anal glands on the car.  You picked her up and you were both upset and frightened, which she doesn't understand, then smells blood and what have you on the car and goes into alert mode.  She will be fine - just has to be sure things are okay. Once you settle down, wash the car, and go back to your normal life, she'll be her old self.  (And if you truly believe the dog's spirit is there, I'm sure he knows that DH didn't hit him on purpose).

Hugs to you, DH and Bailey!!  I saw a dog get hit one night and I had my dogs in the car with me.   I jumped out of the car picked him up from the middle of the road and brought him to the side.  We sat with him until AC could come get him (I was checking his vitals and he was stable).  When I got back into the car, my dogs were sniffing and grumbling much like Bailey.   I was charged with adrenaline and smelled like blood and anal glands (on my clothes when I picked him up) and they were picking up on it. 

I'm so sorry you had to go through that. Hitting a dog has always been fear of mine, I don't even know what I would do. by the way Bailey was acting I think the dog is with you in spirt, It could be that it was lost or that it didn;t have a good home. Don't blame yourself, it was nothing you could controll, and alot of people who hit dogs just drive off, at least you didn't do that. Since it had a collar, were there tags on it?

Wow.  Thank you all so much for the comfort.  It really helps.  I finally got to sleep around 5am.  Ive cried a little today, mostly while reading your posts. 
 
DH ran back to it, pet if for a sec, ran back to the car and was about to get in to back up and pick it up and put it in the car when he turned in time to see it get run over again by the second car. 
 
He was so angry after that second car hit it he just got back in the car and kept going.  He said while he was petting it he saw a collar and that the dog was very still in the body laying there but his head was held up and he was barking a little bit, which made him quickly decide he was going to try to get it to the evet, and so he ran back.  I doubt he looked for tags or wouldve had time to read them, it was in the middle of the road and it was pretty busy that night.  I wish we couldve got to it before that second car hit it.  I think I do anyway.  My dad kept saying it was probably best that that second car did come along to get it out of pain.  After the second car DH didnt want to go back to look he said because the second car ran over his head.  Sorry to be so graphic.  Thank god I didnt look back after he hit it.  I just held my head in my hands and leaned forward on the dash board and cried.  I didnt know what to do.
 
It was a large, tri-colored dog.   Not sure what kind.  DH was pretty upset, Im sorry he had to see what he saw, I dont think I couldve handled it.  It was all in a matter of 2 minutes.  Its strange how time moves when things like that happen. 
 
Bailey wants to go out the side door where the car is parked, but I dont want to let her out there.  She never tries to go out that door either, but she knows the car is right there. 
 
I like the idea of washing it before letting her near it again.  As uneasy as shes beenw ith our moving and stuff she really didnt need this stress.
 
Thanks to each of you for your support, it means a lot to me.

I am so sorry for the trauma you all experienced with this, I know first hand how anguished you are.  I ran over a cat late at night on a rural, but very, very busy two lane highway - I saw it in my headlights, saw it was a medium sized orange and white cat - staring at me and frozen as I approached at too high a speed to stop.  I saw its collar and tag and I screamed out loud as I felt it under my tires.  There was an semi in the oncoming lane, a ditch to my right and a car directly behind me.  No choice, no alternative, no ability to stop and try to help or get him to his home. I'm pretty certain I cried the rest of the two hour drive home.
 
I echo what others said - DH's hand had to offer some comfort.  And you had NO viable alternatives.  Grieve for him, but forgive yourselves.

I'm sorry this happened.  When you feel up to it, you may want to look at the lost ads in your area.  Perhaps you could give someone closure. 
 
As far as the car and Bailey, I once ran over an already dead animal and my dogs were also very interested in that side of the car.  Only suggestion I can give is to go to the carwash.

I'm so sorry for this.  I know how traumatic it can be to hit an animal.  I've killed two deer and witnessed a cat get run over.  I've also picked up a couple of dogs that had been HBC.  It's not pretty and I feel for your DH who had to see it.  These things happen and I'm sure Bailey can feel how stressed and emotional you are.

Hugs!!

Gosh Amy, I am so sorry that you and DH had to experience all this. What a tough ordeal and completely out of your control.
Sending you peaceful energy.

i feel so sorry for you and your family and the poor dog. i agree with the others sometimes these things cant be avoided. your husband did the right thing by not swerving. it would have been much more tragic if one of your family members would have been injured or worse by trying to avoid hitting the dog.

when i was still in high school i hit a dog in a similar situation. it was a 2 lane rd (no third turning lane). i was meeting several cars and there were 3 or 4 cars behind me, and no shoulder. i saw the dog cross the road and disappear behind the on coming cars. i thought it had crossed the road and was safely gone. just as the last on coming car passed me, the dog darted out into my lane. no time to react. even if there would have been where could i have gone, and if i did avoid it the other cars behind me would surely have hit it. i felt like crap for a long time after.

give bailey an extra big hug anytime you think of the unfortunate dog.

Amy I'm so sorry that this happened to you.  I know you ask why, but perhaps this dog was a messenger or you were his messenger.  That pupper knew love and caring in it's final moments.  Maybe that dog just needed you so it would know that all people weren't bad.  I'm truly sorry this happened to you.

I honestly put off reading this thread because I knew what it would contain.  It's sad to us, but this pupper is running free-no bad owners that let him run amok, no yard with nothing but cold memories.  I wish I had words that would comfort you right now, all I can send is healing vibes and peaceful thoughts your way.

-Ed

I'm so sorry this happened to you. It's not your fault. That has always been one of my fears as well....to run over an animal, especially a dog. I've even wondered what I would do because I know I would have to stop and help the dog out, at least see....but it would be so horrific for me to see something like that, I don't know if I could do it. What a hard situation. I'll be praying for you and for Bailey too. 

I'm so sorry this had to happen to you, and sorry for your husband too; sending you lots of hugs and prayers.

Amy, I'm sorry this happened.  I've never hit a dog, but I did hit a cat a few years ago.  There was nothing I could do to avoid it.  I was on a very rural winding road, and it just froze in my headlights.  There was a light bump, and I screamed.  Well, I found a place to turn around -- which wasn't easy in that area -- and went back.  The cat was not on the road, so I assumed it had gone off to die.  It was very difficult for me.