If I could go back …
Last night I was driving my son to a rehearsal. We were just about on time. On a busy street near downtown I nearly had to stop short when a small dog looked as if he were going to walk into the street. He was a chihuahua mix, about 20 pounds, mostly white but with brown and black markings over his body, including over one eye.
As I drove off I thought about what I could have done. I could have stopped, but traffic goes at 40 mph on the road, there’s no breakdown lane, and other cars were coming up behind me. Even if I’d stopped, I didn’t know if he belonged to anyone. I didn’t see a collar, but I didn’t have a long time to look for one. And even if he didn’t have one, we have three dogs at home – what would I have done with him? Having taken responsibility, I couldn’t turn him over to a shelter.
All that went through my head in a flash, as I rationalized driving away.
Tonight I was driving home from another rehearsal. Two cars were stopped in the right lane with their flashers going. Between them on the street was the dog from last night, twisted in an unnatural position on the ground, not moving.
My heart dropped. I continued driving, but my conscience kicked in. I feel partly responsible. Should I have done something different? Having had this experience, in a similar situation, would I do something different next time?
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Saturday, March 24, 2007 9:17 pm
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