I am quite possibly as tired as I’ve ever been at the moment. This week has been just as chaotic as I feared it would be.
After spending what felt like 72 hours moving yesterday, Chris and I were on our last trip to the new place with a very full car of boxes around 11:45 p.m. when all of the sudden we watched a little black lab dart across the street and get hit by a car. I immediately freaked out and screamed “Pull over! We have to help him!” Before Chris had even stopped the car I was already jumping out of it running across the street in front of traffic (not smart, I know) trying to get to the dog.
Before I got to the dog I saw the owner and she was hysterical. I told her to grab her dog and get in my car because we had to get to the emergency room. The black lab was able to walk a bit, but he was bleeding and breathing heavily.
As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not the type of person to process thoughts clearly in intense situations. I react first, think second. So when we got back to the car Chris politely reminded me that it was filled to the brim with boxes and therefore it was going to be pretty difficult to fit a black lab and a hysterical owner inside. Luckily, Chris is a little more logical than me (and calm) so he immediately suggested that I take the woman and her pup to the ER and he would just walk home because we were only a few blocks from our house.
And so two minutes later I found myself driving to Chicago’s 24 hour animal hospital with a stranger sitting beside me and her bleeding dog on her lap. I felt like I was an ambulance driver and had an excuse to drive 30 over the speed limit because I was determined to get her there as fast as possible. When we got to the hospital her dog was still awake and seemed to be doing okay, but he was bleeding from his head and his leg. The poor woman was apologizing profusely because her pup was getting blood all over my car but that was the least of my worries. I couldn’t have cared less about my stupid car- fabric can be fixed, a dog who’s been hit by a car isn’t always so lucky. I just wanted them both to get inside and make sure he was going to be okay.
Long story short, it’s now 2:00 a.m. and I’m running on about 10 hours of sleep from the last two days combined and all I can think about is the black lab. I’m sure he’s going to be fine, when I dropped him off he was able to walk inside. But if you’re an animal person send some thoughts his way, it couldn’t hurt. The owner told me she adopted him a few years ago from a shelter after he was dumped by his family on the side of the road, so the little guy hasn’t had the easiest life.
And now I’m officially exhausted.
Hopefully the new place is decorated soon and I can post some pics. I hate leaving on such a downer note so instead I’ll leave you with this photo of Russian Grandma Harlow just because it always makes me giggle. Give your pups an extra hug today.
OMG this is the saddest story ever! Maybe it's just because I'm still up at 2:00am right now for no reason and extremely tried, but this made me tear up a bit. Puppies are so precious and helpless…I care more about them than I do people a lot of the time. Sending prayers and good thoughts their way! I'm sure she is so so extremely grateful for you and your kindness and the puppy is getting lots of a lot of extra treats and attention as we speak.
That really is my worst nightmare. Not only do I worry about my OWN dogs but I worry about other peoples' dogs when I see them off-leash near a busy street. I understand people want to let their dogs feel the freedom or whatever, but for goodness sake that's why they invented dog parks! I hope you get to find out if the lab was ok. I know if I had been rescued like that I would want to thank my "ambulance driver".
Taylor, I'm gonna get real with you and I don't care if I sound ridiculous: this is exactly why there needs to be more people like you in the world. People who care about animals are the best kind of people in the world.
Thank you for helping save that dog's life. Thank you so much. I know thanks aren't necessary .. But they really are.
Awwe ive hugged mine his so old now i dont know how long we have left. This post made me tearup too, Im so pleased the litte fella is going to be ok. Plus I hope if I ever need help with my boy there will be a kind stranger to help. Goodluck with your move too.
Oh this is my worst nightmare. Good thing you were there to help quickly get them to the vet. I hope the little black lab is okay!
Ugh that is so sad 🙁 Makes me feel bad for yelling at my dogs all day… poor helpless little guy. Hope he is okay and bless your heart for helping.. I would have done the same thing.
There is no worse feeling in the world than when an animal is hurting–it is just so upsetting, because they can't speak for themselves and you don't know what's wrong or how bad it is…speaking from experience! I am so glad that you were there to help that lady and her dog. I have three Labs (yellow, chocolate, and black), and I love them like they are my children!
This hit me right in the gut. I couldn't imagine seeing this or going through it! Your amazing for helping this lady out!!
Now I want to snuggle my pibbles!
This is amazing. Not everyone would be willing to drop everything and help. I hope if I'm ever in that woman's position I'm lucky enough to be around someone as nice as you!!
(And I kind of chuckled picturing Chris' face when you ran over offering a ride and he was like.. uh…remember all this stuff?? lol)
I love how much of an animal lover you are. I'm horrible in situations like that, I wouldn't have even thought to offer the woman a ride to the vet but I'm glad you were there to help that poor dog quickly.
You were such a blessing to that woman. She would have been way too hysterical to get him to the hospital as quickly as you did.
So awful! Last week, my brother's dog (he is a hound and boxer mix) got hit by a car in their neighborhood and they had to amputate one of his back legs. I'm sure that woman will remember you for long time for helping her the way you did. Get some rest!
What a heart you have…I can only imagine how grateful that owner must have been for you to take them to the hospital. And a complete stranger at that! If only we had more selfless people in the world, to think of others first when something happens!
I cried just reading this story, so I can't even imagine how you felt in this situation. What a blessing you are to that sweet pup and his/her owner!
as a fellow animal lover, this is my worst nightmare. thank you for being such a good person and helping this lady and her dog. im sending good thoughts their way and hope the dog is okay. Im not sure if you got her number but i would love an update if you get one (and im sure others would too!)
Oh my goodness, I hope that poor pup is okay. You're so sweet to rush to it's aide and drive them to the hospital.
You're a hero. I'm not exaggerating. This is a beautiful story, I have a feeling that pup has a long long life ahead of him.
That is really really nice of you to do that for the owner. Not many people would do that. I am going to hug my dog extra hard tonight.
Seriously. You are amazing. Thank you for helping her out, even if it seems so small, I'm sure it made all the difference.
that is my worst nightmare. incredible that you took them to the er. we need more people in the world to do things like this.
This is how I know we would be friends! I would have done the exact same thing! #dogpeoplearethebest
You're a good seed, Tay Tay. A damn good seed.
Oh how sad!! I'll definitely be sending positive vibes their way. I will give my pups extras hugs today! They were so very lucky to have you there at right place and right time!
I love Russian Grandma Harlow!! Does he stay covered up like that for awhile?
omg that is horrible and one of my biggest fears is seeing that happen to my dog! crazy story but easter sunday i was walking to starbucks with my roommate and a dog she was dogsitting for a dog who is very afraid of people when all of a sudden he got spooked and sprinted into the street at belmont and sheffield and proceeded to get hit by a car (who was thankfully going approximately 2.4 mph) and he was so scared he ran away and we were sprinting after him for 10 minutes through lakeview. thankfully so many people were trying to help and one awesome man sped his car down the street past the dog and got out to cut him off and he finally stopped running. im sure that lady is SO thankful for you and your help! there are good people out there (unfortunately the driver isnt one of them as he didnt even stop or roll down his window or anything)
oh no! That's terrible. Sending healing thoughts her way.
I hit a deer once and I was balling by the the time my friend go to me. The first thing I asked was if the deer was dead. He informed me it was very dead and that the impact had blown my headlights. All I could think about for days was that I was a deer murderer and that I was never driving at night ever again.
so so sad. Thankfully you were there to help them!
Hoping he is okay!! You were so kind to help them – lucky for her and the dog you were there!!
You rock!!! Happy tears! Need more people just like ya!
🙁 this is so sad and scary! hope the pup is ok and heels fast. good thing you were close by to help!
I would have done the same thing!! I have a black lab and this story just pulls at my heartstrings. Please update us if you can and of course get some sleep and prayers and thoughts are going to both of you. You're a great person!!
Oh my goodness, thank God the pup is ok. You are an angel!! Hugging my baby tonight.
So sad 🙁 But so kind of you to help. One of my babies, Wrex, was hit and killed by a car on Tuesday, so I know exactly the panic that woman was feeling. MAJOR kudos to you for stopping to help her and the sweet pup!
I'm so sorry for your loss. 🙁 <3
Very sweet of you, thanks!
Oh my goodness, I hope that he is alright and is going to be good as new soon! I would have done the same thing. I just gave my pup extra squeezes after reading this!
You are that pups guardian angel! If you somehow get an update (maybe the animal hospital would tell you?!) let us know.
This really just made me tear up! I hate to see animals in pain and i can only imagine what the owner was going through! 🙁 You're an amazing woman for stopping to help her!!
Aaaand I'm crying now. I bet that woman and her dog are beyond thankful for your help and compassion. Last year I was walking my dog at night when I saw an unleashed dog run away from his owner into busy traffic. I was trying to help grab him but was limited with my dog (who doesn't like other dogs) and he clearly thought it was a game. The dog nearly got hit by cars so many times before he took off and the owner lost track. For several days all I could hear in my head was the owner desperately calling his dog's name. I came home and started sobbing because I felt so terrible that I couldn't do more to help. I think last night was your good deed for the year!
If that happened to me, I'd hope someone like you would be there to help. You are really a good person. Please keep us posted on the dog if you find out.
Totally got goosebumps reading this. I'll be saying a prayer for that pup and it's owner! I can't even imagine if something like this happened to my dog…I would be a mess. And thank you for being such a good person and helping them!!!
No, no, no, no that is so terrible! I hope he's heavily medicated and in a dreamy state of treats and fetch and all things happy right now. I think there was some kind of cool predestined thing going on where you were at the right place at the right time to help them, because not everyone would've done that!
That is awful! I'm so glad that a caring dog-lover (aka: you) were there to help though. I would not have been able to drive myself to an animal hospital if that happened to any of my fur babes, so that's really good that you were there to help.
-Chelsea
chelsandthecity.blogspot.com
How sad for the pup and how sweet of you to do that. So many would feel sad but not do anything about it. Also kudos to your man for walking so this lady could get her pup some help!
Oh, and this too. Kudos to the level-headed men in our lives.
Oh no! That's terrible! You are so sweet to help that woman and that poor little pup. I hope he's ok. Hope you can get some sleep and enjoy your new place:)
So praying for that little pup. I'm sure you helped saved that dog's life and you were probably an angel to that lady. Our dog got loose about two weeks ago and it terrified us. People actually steal dogs around here to use them in dog fighting. I was so worried. Thankfully, he was just pestering the neighbor's dog. I can't imagine how hysterical I'd be if I actually saw Marco get hit by a car.
Judy is sitting here crying with me. We are a puddle of tears. Hugging her so tightly and sending love to her little black cousin in Chicago. <–that sounds racist. I'm sorry. Love to you and Har, of course 🙂
I am in tears reading and am so grateful for people like you that stop for animals and help. My dog got hit by a car while I was on a Thanksgiving cruise. I had adopted him from the shelter when I was a freshman in college in 07. He had been abused as a puppy too and a rough start in life.
It killed me that someone hit him and left him in the road (my brother-in-law found him with my sister-in-law). Anyways, what I am trying to say is – thank you for stopping and being a good person.
And I will send up a prayer for the little lab and it's mom!
I am so, so sorry for your loss. <3
Hope the doggy is ok! I'm going to my parents this weekend, and I will definitely give my dog an extra long hug….
oh no! I hope the lab is ok, you're such a good person for stopping to help! I will go home and hug my dogs extra tight tonight
oh no! I hope the lab is ok, you're such a good person for stopping to help! I will go home and hug my dogs extra tight tonight
You are an amazing human! Get some sleep!!
Oh my gosh. The poor dog. I am definitely thinking about him. It was so kind of you to go out of your way to help. We need more people like you in the world.
The poor dog!!!! When I read this title, I thought something had happened to Harlow! I'm sure glad it didn't but my thoughts are with that black lab. That's my biggest fear with my dogs. Our friend's Vizsla jumped it's fence and got hit by a car (and didn't make it). When we were searching for houses, we either wanted a house with 6 foot tall privacy fence or no fence so we could install our own. Vino has a 6 foot vertical jump (she was a WNBA player in her previous life) so a short fence wouldn't cut it and I'm just so afraid if she jumps a fence, she'll be hit by a car!