A Crime Against Dogs

An open letter to the public

December 31st, 2003 at approximately 10:00am Westfield Dog Control was called out on yet another hit and run incident, making it the second one this year. You may recall a similar incident back in July of 2003 with a Chocolate Lab by the name of "Lacie." As it turned out, after a couple of days at Dr. Whittington's with some medical treatment and subsequent weeks in foster care, Lacie made a full recovery.

Unfortunately, in this hit and run case, the outcome did not result in a second chance for this young dog. Some unknown motorist hit her and then left her there to die. The town workers, however, spotted the dog dragging herself across Parker Road where she then collapsed in a ditch.

Dale Abbey, Town supervisor, called in Westfield Dog Control Officer, Dana Baker. Upon her arrival to the scene, Dana and Dale Abbey placed the still-living dog onto a stretcher. Dana, along with a NCCR volunteer Kelly Ossman, then transported the dog to Fredonia Animal Hospital. Jann Balsano, NCCR Director, was able to trace the dog tag back to the original owners and find out that the dog's name was Orphan Annie and she had just turned a year-old. Dr. Redfield of Fredonia Animal Hospital checked little Annie over and came to the conclusion that she had multiple injuries to her back and neck area. Fredonia Animal Hospital then contacted the owners and gave them the bad news. Orphan Annie would not recover from the injuries sustained. She had to be euthanized.

This letter is being written to make the public aware of this crime. It is, in fact, a crime to hit someone's pet and then just drive away, leaving it laying on the road to suffer and, in some cases, to die. Had the person that hit little Annie made an attempt to get immediate medical treatment, it may have saved her life or saved her from suffering as long as she did. It would not only have been the humane thing to do, but it is also the law.

Vehicle and Traffic Law

Section 601. Leaving scene of injury to certain animals without reporting.

Any person operating a motor vehicle which shall strike and injure any horse dog, cat or animal classified as cattle shall stop and endeavor to locate the owner or custodian of such animal or judicial officer of the vicinity, and take any other reasonable and appropriate action so that the animal may have necessary attention, and shall also promptly report the matter to such owner, custodian or officer (or if no one of such has been located, then to a police officer of some other nearby community), exhibiting his or her license and insurance identification card for such vehicle, when such card is required pursuant to articles six and eight of this chapter, giving his or her name and residence, including street and street number, insurance carrier and insurance identification information and license number.

Violation of this section shall be punishable by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars for the first offense, and by a fine of not less than fifty dollars nor more than $150.00 dollars for a second offense and each subsequent offense.