Insignificance

[deleted-2]

This will be a rant.

I didn't know whether to post my words here or in "around the campfire".

We had a neighborhood kitty known as Vivian around here for about 4 years.
2 months ago she suddenly vanished.
We knew she was at risk being an outdoor multiple household kitty.

Five homeowners have cared for her with food and veterinary care.
The kids across the street just loved this little big eyed grey tabby.
Not to mention the schoolteacher a few doors away and many other cat people on this street.

I found out this evening that a person down from us hit and killed Vivian.
This person had previously hit and injured a Boston terrier who resides directly across from us.
The person responsible has slowed their speeds on the street at the urging of another neighbor.

I really want to approach the person who has caused so much grief and punch him in the face.
This of course is unlawful and would be disrespectful of this normally law abiding human who seems to dismiss loved animals as insignificant.

I will sit here and fume for a time then move on.

A small life that has affected so many.

We miss you Vivian we will see you again at the bridge.
God bless the good...

[USA_Traveler]

Vivian was a beautiful baby and was loved by many. The jerk who ran over her will get repaid in a worse way than a punch in the face. I am so sorry to hear that he has gotten away with this behavior more than once, but time will take care of him.

[WandaLust2]

Thats_Ok wrote:

We had a neighborhood kitty known as Vivian around here for about 4 years.
2 months ago she suddenly vanished.
We knew she was at risk being an outdoor multiple household kitty.

How very sad. He just ran her over, killed her and left her lying in the street like garbage. All too common with outdoor cats. 😞 This is why we keep our four cats indoors. We don't have to worry that someone will run them over, poison them, shoot them....

May poor little Vivian RIP. :*(

[deleted-2]

I too have killed animals behind the wheel.
Accident or not I never want to ever have this happen.
I ran over a skunk in the rain on the way to work a few years ago and couldn't concentrate the whole day.

Ok, I was afraid the focus would head toward the driver of the vehicle.

The people in this household have been repeat speeders on this street.
The residential speed limit is 25 mph hour.
This street has generous width which seems to give the impression a higher speed is not a problem.

The Boston that was hit bolted out the front door when he was hit by the driver.
There were 3 people out on the street calling out "dog on the loose" trying to make an effort to recover the dog.

This person was doing around 40 mph as usual.
The dog was knocked to the side as the speeding vehicle made a slight adjustment to avoid.
Then drove to his home and entered the house.
I've seen this person drive by our home numerous times on the phone (just this morning as it happens)

This person hit Vivian at night and kept going.
He was spotted by his next door neighbor who recovered the body and knocked on his door to point out that he just killed the cat.

This neighbor spoke with him and his wife about slowing down, if not for the animals then do it for the people with kids that share the street.
He said he would, yet still drives consistently 10 over.
Recently his wife approached our section of the street cellphone to her ear heading for another cat crossing the street.
I called out and pointed to the cat, she slowed and waved then continued on still on the cell phone.

A few of the residents along here requested a speed reminder sign be placed on the street recently.
That did help with the people that care, there are two mavericks who still seem to resist however.

My apologies to everyone.
I do understand that this is most times unavoidable.

[Code2High]

If you get down on ground level and look at what something the size of a cat sees when a car goes by, it's a very different view. It does NOT look like the solid object that we see it as. It's little wonder that they don't fare well around roads.

One of the many reasons that I stopped letting my cats outside.

[down_home]

Probably wasn't on purpose. I've seen dogs attempt suicide by car. No doubt, in my mind what they were doing.
Cat's sometimes don't pay attention. Unfortunately I've hit three dogs over the years, despite my best efforts, to avoid them and had one cat run under rear wheels.

[Code2High]

I'm not seeing how you're saying that someone who had in fact slowed their speeds down driving through the neighborhood was uncaring because they hit a(nother) loose animal running in the street? Maybe there's more to the story? Usually people who slow down after an accident are choosing to try to avoid a repeat of that kind of situation, not showing how much they don't care.

Most of the time when someone hits an animal, there is not a thing in the world they could do to prevent it. There's just no time. I hit a cat many years ago... well, no, that's not true. I had a cat run between the front and back wheels of my moving vehicle... on a residential side street going uphill (25 miles/hour or less) and there wasn't a thing I could do to prevent it. As far as whether or not I care about cats, all I can say is that if I have to choose between hitting a cat and hitting you, you should run. Fast. But I didn't have any choice or time at all. It happened too fast. Ditto the jack rabbit that messed up my grill. And the 'yote that my friend hit on a road trip. Not to mention the steer that jacknifed a semi in North Dakota when my parents were there, and the numerous people injured and killed when their vehicles strike deer each year.

Animals come from nowhere, they move too fast and humans typically react too slowly to instantly avoid an accident. If you have a kitty you value.... or any other animal... the only real solution is to keep them out of the street.

I'm sorry about Vivian but I think your anger is misplaced.

[DianneOK]

Sometimes it is impossible to avoid hitting an animal....much as one would love too. I have been in that stitation....3 times .....does that make me a bad person?


The worst one was 2 black labs....jumped out of an irrigation ditch right in front of me. My Fl60 hit one dead center...I had no option. That dog did over $500 damage to my exhaust sytem....you think I wouldn't have done any reasonable thing to miss it?

Unless you saw the incident with the dog or the cat....please don't judge.

[sher9570]

Vivian sure was a pretty kitty and I'm so glad she had the love of the "neighborhood" for at least four years. I'm sure she is mourned and
missed a great deal.
Sometimes cats run in front of us so fast it's hard to avoid the dreaded thud.
It has happened to me twice over the years and it just breaks my heart even though there was no malicious intention on my part. I would never intentionally hurt any animal.
I'm sorry for your loss and your anger, understandable as it is.

Sher

[PUCampin]

I am sorry for your loss and can appreciate your anger. I lost my Tommy a few years ago in a similar manner. We kept him indoors and he was a family cat, but he would bolt out any oppertunity he got. He loved the outdoors and it was nearly impossible to keep him in if he wanted out. And of course he would cross the street ignoring my pleas to come back. One day he didn't come home, and I couldn't find him. The following week one afternoon I was talking to my next door neighbor about missing my cat and describing him. A look of horror flashed across his face and without me asking, and without him saying, I knew what had happened. I know my neighbor is a decent person an would not maliciously do something like that. I let it go without even directly asking. I still have a good relationship with my neighbor, the look I saw on his face told me he was punishing himself enough. I have no idea as to the personality of the person you are refering to, but remember this can happen to the best of us, and does not necessarily make them a bad person.

[deleted-2]

The DW and I appreciate the comments everyone.

I was hoping by posting here Vivian's small life remembered might circle the globe.

[ScottG]

It doesn't sound like Vivian was insignificant at all.
Now the jerk that keeps running over things? He's insignificant.

[Kittykath]

I didn't know I was a pet person until Layla came around.

Beautiful black friendly stray kitty, visiting campsites only at night, looking for a handout and obviously pregnant.

She chose a covered boat to have her kittens in, but the boat owner threatened to throw the kittens overboard if they weren't gone by morning. Jerk!!

Looks like I got me a new pet. I found wonderful homes for the kittens once they were old enough. Layla couldn't be more perfect for our family. "Layla" means dark night or black beauty. Fitting.

[nabi]

very sad to read...glad Vivian had the love of the neighbourhood before her death.

[magnusfide]

I'm sorry to hear of the loss. On the other side of the coin, I've seen dogs literally commit suicide even when an already slow vehicle is trying to swerve to avoid the animal. As animals age, they don't always have the mental capacity. There's also the panic factor. Sad, all of it.