10 seconds and then gone

To the editor:

I haven’t been able to write this until now. Maybe it’s that I received her ashes from our vet today. The nightmare is real. Our beautiful, 7 yr. old border collie, Maggie, was hit and killed by a truck last Wednesday doing what she love to do: play. Maggie, whose tail only stopped wagging when she slept or was frightened. Maggie, whose body would streak, leap, jump and shake until she was exhausted. Exhaustion didn’t last long. Maggie, whose eyes were bright, intelligent, playful and beautiful. She talked through her eyes. “I love you!” “Can we play now?” “Road trip? you bet.” “Walk? Anytime. I have investigations to do.” “Throw my Frisbee, stick, ball, rock, scrap of wood please.” Do it over and over again. Maggie was a 15+ on the scale of 1 to 10. In 10 seconds she was chasing her Frisbee and then she lay dying on the side of our street, below our house. “I never saw her,” cried the driver. Too focused on comforting my dog, I couldn’t even yell at her.

The truck was speeding in our neighborhood. Why didn’t she see her? I have driven that stretch over and over since we lived here. She would have been in plain view for 100 feet. The driver could have stopped/avoided her going slower. Why go that fast on a neighborhood street? Where was her head? There are kids everywhere playing, riding bikes, or just walking home. Kids who are loved and cared for and should not be in danger. The are pets that are walking, running and playing with and yes w/o their owners that are loved, cared for and bring so much joy to their families.

To the driver: did you feel the truck jump as you hit my dog… twice? Did you hear the sound of the tires hitting my dog? I do, every day and night. Do you see my dog dying on the street? I do every day and night. Do your realize the tragedy you have caused? You cannot even imagine what your speeding and lack of driving decency has done to this family! You created a hole in this house. You broke hearts. You created sadness.

To all drivers, you have precious lives in neighborhoods that need protecting. Please slow down, stay alert, and help prevent tragedies like the one we are living. We miss her terribly.

Bruce and Kathy Jordan

Palmer