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R.I.P., Dunkin Shaw
Mar. 12th, 2003 01:05 amFour months ago, Luis Shaw of Manassas, VA, got a collie. Dunkin (like the donuts, eh) was about 21 months old, and had been through at least three adoptive homes before Luis and his brother adopted him. They adored Dunkin, and intended that they be his final owners. Not a small dog, nor particularly well-behaved yet, but loved.
This past evening, Dunkin got away from Luis and his brother at their residence, and ran off. They gave chase, as the dog ran across dangerous streets, until he was close to the Petsmart I work at.. where he was hit by a car. Luis and his brother arrived on the scene shortly thereafter, and in tears brought their badly-injured dog into our store. (The driver was apparently more concerned about his car than the dog, and fled the scene. Sorry f*cking excuse for a human. No, seriously--if I hit an animal, particularly a pet, with my truck, I'd be horrified--I don't think I'd be able to leave the scene, except to carry the animal to a hospital if necessary.)
This was sometime around 8:15, as best I can figure. Over the next 20 minutes, Shelley (one of the managers) called Susan (store director) for information on the nearest emergency vet clinic. Unfortunately, there are none in Manassas that are open that late, so the nearest was in Vienna. I was asked if I could drive Luis and his dog to the clinic, as I was the only one available with a suitable vehicle, and I was scheduled to be off at 8 anyway. (This was around 8:30.)
You're damn right I did. Shelley called the clinic to let them know we were coming, I pulled my truck up, righted the rear seats, loaded in Luis and Dunkin, and I hauled ass east on 66--did 85+ most of the way there, fortunately avoiding the attention of any cops. (The brother went home to get their car, called Petsmart (or vice versa), and headed to the clinic a while after us.)
Arrived at the clinic, ran to the door as Luis exited the truck, explained to the receptionist, and directed Luis to the 3rd door. They took his dog inside, directed him back to the lobby, and he broke down. I told him he'd done everything he could, and joined him inside.
Shortly thereafter, a vet tech or two came out to the lobby... Dunkin was DOA. It hurt just to be there. It hurts now.
Luis went into the back to see his dog again and talk with the techs; I had two cups of coffee, talked with the receptionist, and called Shelley back to update her. Luis returned to the lobby, where the receptionist explained the options facing him: a) group burial, b) individual cremation, c) private burial in a pet cemetery in MD, d) take the animal home and handle it directly, e) have the clinic hold the animal for a few days while the owner decides what to do. (The cost of the "hold" option would be credited towards the final choice.) He asked me what he should do.. I tried to think of what I would do in his place.. neither of us liked the cremation option, but would have to investigate c) the availability and costs of more local pet cemeteries, or d) the regulations regarding non-cemetery private pet burial. So, they're holding Dunkin for a while.
I waited until Luis's brother arrived and was filled in before I left; Luis wanted to know when I'd be in to work next so he could drop by and update me (with their decision, I'd assume.) Called Shelley to let her know I was returning; called home to let them know why I wasn't home around 8. On the way home, stopped by Steph and Matt's to let Tika and Rushka out and revel in their life, and headed home. Called Shelley to let her know when I'd gotten back to Manassas and my mileage--they insisted; I'd have done it entirely uncompensated.
*sigh*
This past evening, Dunkin got away from Luis and his brother at their residence, and ran off. They gave chase, as the dog ran across dangerous streets, until he was close to the Petsmart I work at.. where he was hit by a car. Luis and his brother arrived on the scene shortly thereafter, and in tears brought their badly-injured dog into our store. (The driver was apparently more concerned about his car than the dog, and fled the scene. Sorry f*cking excuse for a human. No, seriously--if I hit an animal, particularly a pet, with my truck, I'd be horrified--I don't think I'd be able to leave the scene, except to carry the animal to a hospital if necessary.)
This was sometime around 8:15, as best I can figure. Over the next 20 minutes, Shelley (one of the managers) called Susan (store director) for information on the nearest emergency vet clinic. Unfortunately, there are none in Manassas that are open that late, so the nearest was in Vienna. I was asked if I could drive Luis and his dog to the clinic, as I was the only one available with a suitable vehicle, and I was scheduled to be off at 8 anyway. (This was around 8:30.)
You're damn right I did. Shelley called the clinic to let them know we were coming, I pulled my truck up, righted the rear seats, loaded in Luis and Dunkin, and I hauled ass east on 66--did 85+ most of the way there, fortunately avoiding the attention of any cops. (The brother went home to get their car, called Petsmart (or vice versa), and headed to the clinic a while after us.)
Arrived at the clinic, ran to the door as Luis exited the truck, explained to the receptionist, and directed Luis to the 3rd door. They took his dog inside, directed him back to the lobby, and he broke down. I told him he'd done everything he could, and joined him inside.
Shortly thereafter, a vet tech or two came out to the lobby... Dunkin was DOA. It hurt just to be there. It hurts now.
Luis went into the back to see his dog again and talk with the techs; I had two cups of coffee, talked with the receptionist, and called Shelley back to update her. Luis returned to the lobby, where the receptionist explained the options facing him: a) group burial, b) individual cremation, c) private burial in a pet cemetery in MD, d) take the animal home and handle it directly, e) have the clinic hold the animal for a few days while the owner decides what to do. (The cost of the "hold" option would be credited towards the final choice.) He asked me what he should do.. I tried to think of what I would do in his place.. neither of us liked the cremation option, but would have to investigate c) the availability and costs of more local pet cemeteries, or d) the regulations regarding non-cemetery private pet burial. So, they're holding Dunkin for a while.
I waited until Luis's brother arrived and was filled in before I left; Luis wanted to know when I'd be in to work next so he could drop by and update me (with their decision, I'd assume.) Called Shelley to let her know I was returning; called home to let them know why I wasn't home around 8. On the way home, stopped by Steph and Matt's to let Tika and Rushka out and revel in their life, and headed home. Called Shelley to let her know when I'd gotten back to Manassas and my mileage--they insisted; I'd have done it entirely uncompensated.
*sigh*
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