#Middlebury #Cat
DEAR PAW’S CORNER: My cat Dorito was hit by a car last year and left injured by the side of the road. A neighbor called me when he saw Dorito’s orange fur in the ditch, and I found him and rushed him to the vet. His treatment cost thousands of dollars, and he’ll never be the same healthy cat again. I’m angry that the person who hit him just drove on and never notified me, and I’m stuck with the bill. The police took a report, but nothing came of it. Why do people get away with running down animals with no repercussions? – Angry in New Hampshire
DEAR ANGRY: I’m really sorry to hear about your cat, and I understand the anguish that you’ve suffered from watching him suffer so much.
While laws vary by state, in New Hampshire there actually are repercussions for drivers who strike a dog and leave the scene without reporting the incident to police. A bill in the state legislature is being considered that will add cats to the current law.
If the driver had stopped to try and aid Dorito or at least try to find his owner, that driver would likely have not faced any repercussions or even be held liable for striking your cat. That’s usually the case when a pet running loose – off leash or off the property – is hit by a car. However, it would have been the decent thing to do for that driver to have stopped.
I wish I had more to offer than words of sympathy. It’s difficult to see a pet in pain. Take good care of Dorito and help him to recover as much as he can.
Send your tips, questions or comments to ask@pawscorner.com.
© 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.
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