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Letters: It could have been a child

Child instead of dog could have been stuck on Townsend Road

A few minutes ago, my neighbour’s six-month-old puppy Pablo was struck by a car on Townsend Road. I was in my house, but I still heard the loud thump followed by his yelping. The driver did not stop, nor by witness accounts did he/she even slow down.

Pablo’s owners are very responsible owners, he has a very good life, but in this case he got away from them as he was being loaded into their car. There are two people who say the white sedan, possibly a Pontiac Sunfire, was speeding northbound, well above the posted 30 kph limit. We can’t say for sure what the car or the driver looked like, because the driver continued on.

Now, to the driver, it is impossible for you to not have known you struck Pablo because as I said, the sound of the impact was loud enough to hear inside my home. Also, Pablo could just as easily have been a small child running away from his parents thinking it was fun. Driver, I am sure you are aware that Townsend Road is narrow, with family homes all along it as well as a major social services facility, including child care. Also, Townsend Road is used all day by young families as a way to walk into Sooke’s shopping area.

Driver, consider the consequences of your actions. You saved a few seconds travel time by speeding, but you have devastated a retired couple to whom Pablo gave great joy. On top of that, you have traumatized a neighbourhood.  Don’t worry driver, I washed away the blood and urine, so my good neighbours won’t be traumatized again. As I type this, Pablo is receiving emergency care and we don’t know the full extent of his injuries.

Mark Poppe

Sooke