The Wheels of Justice May Move Slow But They Do Move Forward!!!

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I am so excited to share this news with our Doodle Family!

For those who are new to DK this was posted this past February.

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With a heavy heart I am writing to inform you all that our sweet Dublin who was being fostered by Adrianne Matzkin's daughter Marissa Tait in Pittsburgh was killed this evening.

Marissa's husband, Seamus, had Dublin and their doodle Mickey out for their evening walk when both Seamus and Dublin were struck by a speeding hit and run driver 1 block away from their home. The driver was apparently going so fast that he skid and hit the curb propelling the car onto the snow covered sidewalk striking Dublin killing him almost instantly and then striking Seamus so hard that it knocked him out of his boots. The cars front tire actually ran over Seamus' foot and leg injuring both. Luckily The Tait's dog Mickey was behind Seamus at the time of impact and was not injured. Terrified, Mickey ran all the way back to the house.

The driver did not stop........

Thank goodness the snow was deep enough to cushion the force of the cars tires as they ran over Seamus' leg or his injuries would have been far worse. The snow was not deep enough to spare poor Dublin. He was closest to the oncoming car and was struck first.

He tried to get up for an instant and then collapsed. By the time Seamus got to him he was gone. Crying, in shock and dragging his own injured leg, Seamus picked up Dublin and carried the 70 Lb. dog back to the house to a hysterical Marissa who was on the phone with me shortly after and inconsolable. I only wish that I could have been there with them as they were experiencing this terrible tragedy. I felt completely helpless and could only offer a calming voice on the other end of the phone as comfort.

Another driver who witnessed the event had already called the police and then proceeded to try and chase the hit and run driver. The driver has not been found.The police arrived minutes later along with an ambulance.

Seamus so pumped up on adrenalin refused treatment and opted instead to help the police try to find the driver.

Marissa and her father-in-law wrapped Dublin in a blanket as Mickey who had been trying to rouse him, sat by sullenly watching. Though they knew that he was gone, together they took Dublin to the emergency vet. The vet confirmed that Dublin had been killed by blunt force trauma to the head and that thankfully he had not suffered.

I am personally so devastated by the loss of this poor dog who never seemed to be able to catch a break in life that I am finding it difficult to type this post.......I cannot imagine what this young couple who with Dublin in their charge were first time foster parents are going through emotionally in the aftermath of this evenings events. They drove 5 plus hours in total to rescue him from a neglectful and abusive home in Ohio. They bravely brought him into their home flea bitten, stinky, sick and scared and immediately showered him with all the things that he had never before experienced in his 5 years of life--care, human kindness and unconditional love. I do know that they are utterly grief stricken, completely devastated and feel personally responsible for Dublin's death.

I am asking you all to please reach out to Marissa and her husband Seamus and let them know that we are grateful to them for taking such good care of Dublin and for giving him a second chance for a happy life. Now more than ever they need the support of our rescue family and our DK family and most importantly they need to know that this tragedy was not their fault.

No matter where we are all located throughout the country, we all came to know and love Dublin. We are all grateful for this sweet, gentle soul and that he finally had a chance to experience the unconditional love, attention and affection that he had so cruelly been deprived of for most of his life. Even if it were only for a short while, his last days were joyful carefree and filled with love. He was a happy dog in spite of his past and all of the medical tests and vet visits he was subjected to as we tried to save his sight. Thank you for following his story and for all of your help and support.

.......and thank you for any words and expressions of sympathy appreciation and kindness you can offer this young couple through this terrible time.

With great appreciation,

Jacquie

Today Marissa and Seamus got a message from the Police that they will be going through prosecuting the driver of the car that they suspected hit Seamus and killed Dublin! They finally got back the forensics of a piece of the drivers car that was left at the scene of the accident and matched it to his car. Charges should have been filed today!

It's the first step but we are all thrilled that the Police took this seriously to continue to work on the case after all these months. I know that they did not pursue the case because of Dublin but I still am grateful that Dublin will get justice!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Wow. This is amazing news. I am very, very happy about this.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I googled to see if there was an update. I found this article in the Pittsburgh Gazzette that I had not seen before. Nice to see that they mentioned that Dublin was a rescue and a little about his condition BEFORE Marissa & Seamus brought him home.

Police looking for driver who hit and killed dog
Crafton couple had rescued labradoodle
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
By Linda Wilson Fuoco, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Seamus and Marissa Tait are mourning the hit-and-run death of Dublin, a rescued dog that lived in their Crafton home for only 10 days. Mr. Tait watched in horror Saturday night as an SUV struck the 5-year-old black labradoodle on Broadhead Avenue.

The SUV also hit Mr. Tait in the leg and ran over his feet. The male driver did not slow down or stop, Mr. Tait told Crafton police.

But Mr. Tait was not complaining about his injuries Monday. He was grieving for the dog.

"Poor Dublin was hit in the head. He stood up and tried to walk, but immediately collapsed. I did CPR," Mr. Tait said, but he could not revive the dog.

The Taits' other dog, a 1-year-old brown labradoodle named Mickey, also was on the walk but was not injured.

"When I got hit I dropped both leashes and Mickey ran home," said Mr. Tait, 28. Despite his own injuries, he picked up Dublin's 70-pound body and walked a block and a half to his home.

"We are just heartbroken," Mrs. Tait said. "This is very hard for us. Dublin had been through so much. We only had him 10 days, but we loved him and we miss him."

The Tait home was actually a temporary "foster home" for Dublin, who had been rescued from an abusive home by a nonprofit group called The Doodle Rescue Collective. The Taits had driven to Warren, Ohio, to pick up Dublin, and they planned to care for him until a permanent home could be found.

Three hours after they brought him to Crafton, the Taits took Dublin to a veterinarian because he was covered with fleas and both ears were infected. The vet also said Dublin was blind in one eye because of a cataract and possibly had cancer.

The Doodle Rescue Collective had raised $600 for Dublin's vet bills when rescuers learned about the accident.

"I have never seen a living creature adapt so quickly to a new situation," Mrs. Tait said of Dublin. "All he wanted was to be loved. He got along with Mickey. ... He was a sweet boy and we were lucky to have him."

Shaken by Dublin's death, Mr. Tait on Saturday shrugged off paramedics' suggestions that he seek medical treatment. On Sunday after he woke up stiff and sore, he went for X-rays and learned that he has no broken bones -- just sprains and bruises.

Crafton police Chief Harold Rost said officers on all shifts are investigating. Anyone with information about the hit-and-run should call 412-921-2016.

Broadhead Avenue does not have sidewalks, and the road was narrower than usual because of piles of plowed snow, the chief said. That forced Mr. Tait to walk farther out onto the road than usual.

But looking back on the accident, Mr. Tait said the driver should have seen him and the dogs anyway because one of the leashes has an attached light that is always on for night-time walks. When Mr. Tait saw the SUV coming, he pulled Dublin and Mickey up onto a pile of snow, but "the driver veered toward us."

"We want justice for Dublin," Mrs. Tait, 26, said, "but we also hope this never happens to anyone else."

"We hope people will think twice before driving recklessly, especially when the roads are snowy or narrowed by plowed snowbanks," added Mr. Tait.

Go to doodlerescuecollective.ning.com to see pictures of Dublin and Mickey and comments about the accident.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10047/1036140-57.stm#ixzz0oZDIi2C8

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I must admit I'm surprised and very happy that the police took this so seriously. I hope there's some press coverage so that it is a deterrent for others. Great...don't you love it when "the system" actually works!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

great news! Not stopping was inexcuseable!

[Zoe, Benny and Tyler]

Fantastic! The story still gives me goose bumps. Keep us updated.

[Wendy and Eddie]

Hooray!!

[Rose]

I'm so happy to hear this, Adrianne!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

CONGRATULATIONS! If nothing else comes of it, at least the police did the research and caught a suspect. I don't think here in California, anyone would have taken the incident seriously - even if Seamus had been more seriously injured.

[shelly]

This is GREAT news. Thank God! I just love when justice can be served! I hope this brings a bit of peace to Dublin's family!!!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Great! Forensic science works and kudos to the police for pursuing this.This driver could have just as easily killed Seamus too and clearly needs to be tried in a court of law.