Sad, sad sight on the I-85 median grass today (between Greenville and Atlanta)

[DemoTex]

I was driving down to Atlanta for my weekly digital photography class. Near the Chateau Elan exit I saw two happy, good-looking tan dogs (with collars) in the broad median. They were having a grand old time with some discarded food, tails wagging. Traffic was heavy and moving very fast. This shall not end well, I thought.

I drove back to Greenville up I-85 after class, in the dark. Near the Chateau Elan exit I saw both dogs on the side of the road, dead.

I don't know why this kind of thing always upsets me so. I could not wait to get home and give Nick a hug.

[Bryn]

1. That's so sad

:cry:

I have two large dogs.

[bertman]

2. Wearing collars. Must have slipped away from their humans. Very sad indeed. nt

[jmowreader]

15. I don't think so...

This sounds to me almost like some bastard abandoned his dogs alongside the Interstate and forgot to remove the collars first. Disgusting.

[bertman]

18. Wow, jmowreader, that's a huge conclusion to jump to based on the evidence we heard.

(Did you have a really bad day? If you did, I hope you're feeling better now)

I have seen many, many incidents when two dogs were able to get out of their fence, or the underground fence went dead, or they just got away from their owner, and then took off on The Free Dogs' Big Adventure. I've seen them cross interstates, wander all over state campgrounds, travel from neighborhood to neighborhood, tour downtown, etc. etc. in search of that Great Trash Can In the Sky with last night's KFC chicken in it. This is just doggy fun at its highest level.

The sad thing is that some of these escapes lead to tragedy.

But, hey, you can think the worst if you'd like.

[jmowreader]

19. I've been having a really bad last few months

In May I will tell you what is up.

But seriously, the area DT describes is pretty sparsely populated. If I were a Georgia resident who wanted to dump a couple dogs alongside the Interstate, that's where I'd go.

[bertman]

20. I'm sorry to hear about your misfortune, jmowreader. Best to you for better days ahead.

[Faygo Kid]

3. Awful. I have saved some, and lost some.

I know why it upsets you. Because it's an awful thing to have happen.

[KingFlorez]

4. Things like this are always sad

That would have hit me hard too had I saw it.

[Captain Hilts]

5. It's upsetting, that's why. We judge a society by how it treats the weak. nt

[tango-tee]

6. Animal lover here, too.

No words. Oh, DemoTex. Give Nick another big hug from me.

[kimi]

7. It's a horrible thing, I'm sorry you saw it

I saw something similar when I was a passenger in a car near Sacramento, in the fast lane. Out of nowhere, a little white dog comes trotting towards the median on the interstate, right in front of us, during rush hour in the morning, and was hit by the car next to us. He was hurled right into the median barrier, obviously dead. There was nothing we could have done to stop it, but it absolutely shocked and stunned me. I remember going cold all over and couldn't speak till we almost got to Tahoe. The memory still hits me and hurts. It's an awful thing, and I can understand how upsetting this was for you.

[theHandpuppet]

8. I have a similar story to tell

Years ago I was driving on a highway east towards Huntington, WV when across the divider I spotted a car that stopped on the shoulder and dropped off two young (maybe 6-8 months) pups, looked to be lab mixes, lovely and playful. The car then sped away. Traffic was heavy that day and realizing just what these people had done, I sped to the nearest exit and headed back, praying I would be in time to save these two young dogs. It was too late. They had both been hit and killed.

These dogs deserved loving homes, not heartless murderers. People who abuse animals belong IN JAIL.

[FourScore]

9. Too bad it couldn't end like this:

(Hopefully this will cheer you up a bit.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK5A83wNzR8

[The Midway Rebel]

10. I have seen similar situations. Once, I stopped to try and usher a big ol' Rottie

out of traffic on the interstate. He did not make it. I still have scars on my hands where he bit me as I tried to hold him down after he got hit by that Cadillac. Biting my hands was his last earthly act as he died in anguish and pain. Poor ol' dog.

I think I had PTSD after that. I relived the event nightly before I fell asleep.

Irresponsible humans piss me off.

[HillbillyBob]

11. The air went out of my lungs when I read this.

We have 4 rescues.

[Ron Green]

12. God bless all of you on this thread

who've shared your love and compassion for our "best friends."

[amborin]

13. very sad

[Blue Owl]

14. For some reason

I have a hard time forgetting about it after I see a dead cat or dog along the road.

It's among the most stomach-sinking, saddest feelings.

:(

[OnyxCollie]

16. Sorry you had to experience that.

While walking my dog at night, I've seen a cat and loose Chihuahua in the headlights of an approaching car. I felt helpless as screamed, "No!" Both barely escaped at the last moment.

I've had a nightmare in which my dog was hit by a car as we crossed the road at night.

[Blue_Tires]

17. i remember seeing a dead, rotting horse years ago

on I-85 a few exits past Union City...