An awful task to undertake.
As it was quite warm today and I found myself with some free time, I decided to go for a ride on my motorbike. I went down to the local pond to stop off for a cigarette and as I passed the local houses, I saw an old Scottie dog plodding along the pavement. As an owner of two dogs myself, I wondered why a dog was out on it's own on a busy road.
I had my cigarette and got back on my bike to go home. As I returned up the same road, I saw with a sickening realization, that the dog had been hit by a car. I turned around, parked up and went to retrieve the dog, it was indeed dead. There was no doubt at all. I picked up the dog and looked around, as I walked up to the nearest house a car pulled up, I thought it was the owner, but much to my surprise, a young lad got out and confessed to me that he had just hit the dog and that there was no warning as the dog came out of the grass. I believed him, he was genuine. We both walked up to the house and knocked. Another young man came out, I had laid the dog down, I asked him if he owned a dog and he replied that he did, I then broke the news to him.
Like I said, I have two dogs of my own and as he started to cry, I almost joined him. I didn't tell him that the lad stood next to me had confessed. What good would it have done? All I was thinking was that if someone admitted to killing my dog, accidental or otherwise, I don't think I would be able to control myself and the last thing he needed at a time of grief was police involvement.
Did I do the right thing, it's playing on my mind now and every time I look at my dogs I ask myself if I did right.
My thoughts go out to the whole family, it must be devastating news to receive, I don't know that I could cope with it myself. My dogs are my family, anyone who owns a dog will understand.
Nicho...!