Dear Editor:
Tuesday August 12 a little before 6 p.m. – this will be a day I will never forget, for I lost my beautiful beagle mix to a speeding car, a driver going above the speed limit on my street of 77th street North Bergen NJ. I’d like to make it clear that I know very well that dogs running out of the house without a leash and getting hurt or killed is the “owners fault” (even when these accidents simply just happen) and by no means in this case was it a case of negligence on my part, I just opened my front door and my dog came out running and crossed the street!! Unexplainable and something she never ever done before!!! It will remain a mystery why she did this. But I am disappointment and in disbelief that this man didn’t stop to help me! Killed her and kept going! And even though a police officer happen to be driving by right behind the car that killed my beloved Heidi and saw what happened and followed the car and stopped him somewhere up my block he still got out of this scot free. The driver never stopped, he left the scene of the accident!
I later heard this officer tell another officer that came by to make the report that this human garbage was driving so fast because he was late for work. Well I was beside myself when I went to pick up the police report and found that he was never even given a ticket!?! No.1 for speeding and admitting he was late for work or No. 2 for leaving the scene of the accident! We animal owners are responsible for our pets and I understand accidents happen however had he not been driving so fast maybe my dog would be alive today.
Why in god’s name wasn’t this person given a ticket??? Why?????? There’s no justice for animals? What if it was a child? Would he then had gone to jail or been in trouble for leaving the scene? Animals should have rights and be given respect just like humans. They are considered family members and we grieve and cry for them. Our family is devastated and I am disgusted with what happened to my beloved Heidi without this piece of garbage having any repercussions! I hope you publish this letter because I want everyone to know how this system works.
Maria Bellizzi