LETTER TO THE EDITOR

May 29, 2008
Published: May 30, 2008

To the Editor:
In the wake of, moreover, in spite of the Michael Vick tragedy, as well as various others who whether famous or be it your neighbor next door, I want to serve notice that we Virginians love our dogs!
A case in point is what was witnessed on the evening of February 21, 2008. While driving along Route 29 North, when out of nowhere a man was noticed running exhaustedly along the highway. It became apparent that the man was in desperate pursuit of his animal which obviously had gotten away from him. The dog ran frantically up ahead of the man some 50 yards. As everyone in their cars watched in horror, the dog began to run across the two northbound lanes in direct path of oncoming speeding traffic. The dog then proceeded to go directly into the two lanes of the southbound traffic.
Miraculously a vehicle pulled over just as a middle-aged woman emerged from her vehicle. Now witnessing what was unquestionably a daring and courageous act of sheer bravery, the woman’s brazen effort to catch the frightened dog which was in imminent danger of getting struck by a number of cars. The woman walked swiftly toward the dog. As she got closer to the dog, the woman began to bend down, steadily talking to the dog, as she was seen begging the dog to come to her into the median and out of the traffic. The woman tried desperately to calm and coax the dog to come to her.
All the while, another woman who had been driving behind this woman’s vehicle had begun frenetically flailing her arms outside her window in a desperate attempt to impede traffic, of which without her efforts the dog would have surely met his demise. Suddenly the traffic in the northbound lanes began to slow to a crawl as the dog ran again into the oncoming cars.
Now, as the brazen woman continued trying to redirect the dog, it became apparent that the dog was dragging along its leash. In one final attempt the woman immediately walked toward the dog, who in fright and confusion seemed to want to snip at the woman, but was simply too exhausted; the woman did not flinch, but continued toward the dog endeavoring and determined to save its life. The woman then bent down; she had to have known that it was now or never. Smiling, she instantly took hold of the dog’s leash and returned the traumatized dog to his dazed and breathless master.
I’m sure the quandary of the event did not unfold until everyone had gotten safely home and began to ponder over the “what ifs.” What if both the dog and man would have been struck by a car and/or the woman who I deem the “Good Samaritan?” What if she and her passengers had been killed by an oncoming vehicle? What if a driver had been talking or text messaging on a cell phone (distracted) causing a 20-car pileup? What if those women were not traveling on Route 29 North at that exact time and location? What if the woman rescuing the frightened and disoriented dog had been afraid of animals? What if these women did not even care about the lives of animals?
So, I say again, “We Virginians love our animals!”
We love our dogs in Virginia! I know, because I was that Good Samaritan!
Be it known, I could not have saved the day, had it not been for the first “Good Samaritan” who I call the “Wonder Woman” who stopped four lanes of traffic on Route 29! - so that a little dog could go home and once again, happily be with its master!
Diane Kelley
Barboursville