Published: December 23, 2006 01:25 pm            

The Extra Milers - Saundra Duffee and friends

A street full of kindness for injured dog

As a young girl, Saundra Duffee recalls crying for hours when an automobile she was riding in hit and killed a bird. Like so many, she has often thought about what she would do if she ever came across a severely injured animal and even carries a blanket in her car to be prepared. She no longer has this question lingering in her mind.

Saundra and her dog, Annie, live on a busy street in Jeffersonville . Last month the two were walking when they saw a small beagle in the neighborhood. As they turned down a street, Saundra heard the horrible sound of an animal crying out in pain. She knew immediately what had happened and turned in the direction of the accident. The beagle was limping with a severely broken leg and gashes on his body. Saundra approached the dog, “He was terrified and in obvious pain. This wasn’t a matter of choice; I knew I had to catch him and get help.” Even with his mangled body, the dog pushed himself to keep going at least a mile down the road and was obviously fearful of being caught. Then something miraculous happened. Saundra realized she wasn’t alone, “I don’t even know where all the people came from … but some stopped their cars and some came from their homes to catch and assist this poor, scared little animal.” One man was helping to corner the dog, while a young couple was climbing a fence to stop him from running further. A woman joined in and handed Saundra a towel and said they should throw it over the dog before picking it up to ensure nobody was hurt. “The outpouring of people who cared about this little stray dog was amazing,” Saundra said as she wiped away tears.

  After the beagle was caught, treatment was the next hurdle. They were refused treatment by an off-duty veterinarian and decided to take the dog to the J.B. Ogle Animal Shelter. Saundra noted they had a convoy of vehicles driving to the animal shelter for assistance. If he survived, she had decided the dog should be called, “Trooper.”

 Saundra was impressed with the professional staff at the J.B. Ogle Animal Shelter, “They made calls to find a veterinarian who would help with the dog and provided a crate for transportation.” It was late on a Saturday afternoon and the Louisville Blue Cross Animal Hospital was closing when they answered the call for help. They choose to assist by staying open until the injured dog arrived. Trooper didn’t survive – he was too badly injured.

Saundra sat with me for well over an hour talking about the little stray dog, the events of that afternoon, and the acts of kindness she saw all around her. She added, “This group of people stood together after we got to the animal shelter, crying and hugging one another. When I look back and remember all these people rushing to help – all the kindness on my street in Jeffersonville – strangers working together to help this little guy – I am so proud.” “They were strangers who met briefly, shared compassion for an injured beagle, shed a tear and did a good deed.”

Acts of kindness are not always a natural process. Sometimes they take courage and perseverance. No longer will Saundra or the other kind citizens from that day have to ask themselves, “What would I do…?” They already know. They are all “Extra Milers.”

Carol A. Dawson is a resident of Jeffersonville and president of a national training and consulting company, EEO Guidance, Inc . If you have seen or been a part of an act of kindness or know an extra miler, let us know about it. To submit a story or act of kindness, contact Carol via email: Extra.Milers@newsandtribune.com or send mail to: The Extra Milers, The Evening News, 221 Spring St., Jeffersonville, IN 47130-3340.

        

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