Warning: this is a horrible story about how some people actually are horrible people; the dog doesn’t die, but it’s still awful… 
I sometimes encounter mean people (we all do), but today I witnessed someone not only mean, but actually completely without a soul. I was driving down Central and witnessed someone hit a dog… on purpose. I saw the dog in the middle of the road, clearly scared and deciding whether to turn back or keep crossing the street. I saw the oncoming car, the driver, and his friends. I saw them point at the dog and laugh. I saw the driver swerve to hit the dog and I saw the dog go under the front left tire. I saw the driver laughing while he sped away.
Amazingly enough, the dog, Max, survived. A woman who stopped, Margarita, carried him to the sidewalk and a man tried calling the number on Max’s tag. Max was yowling for a few minutes, but calmed down amazingly quickly and was so good through the whole process. We couldn’t get hold of the owner, so Margarita put an old towel down in my car and I drove him to Central Animal Hospital, where he is currently. Margarita was able to get hold of the owner and told her where I was taking Max.
We hear stories every day about people who do terrible things that we just cannot comprehend actually DOING. This is the first time I’ve ever seen someone make a decision like that. A normal person would have slowed the car or swerved to avoid hitting the dog; it’s hard to imagine that there are people who would go out of their way to run a dog over for fun. Anyway, I needed to share…
Update: I just called Central Animal Hospital at 4:45pm to check on Max and he’s still stable and probably going to be okay.
I had to comment because I am a serious dog lover, my chihuahua’s name is Margarita, and my grandmother-in-law’s dog was hit on purpose (and died). Tippy was killed more than 20 years ago and my g-i-l still talks about him almost every day. This is so sad and it really hurts me to think there are people that cruel. Thank goodness Max is okay… you guys are his angels.
If this happened to either of my dogs I would go crazy!
What a horrible story. Thank goodness for people like you and others who helped him. Do you believe in karma? I do to a point, and am hoping that those awful people will get what’s coming to them.
My dog, Macie, was hit and run on Central Ave. in April. It was (and still is) devastating! This story just broke my heart. From one dog lover who lost hers, thank you for helping Max!
I am horrified and saddened. Please post an update on Max’s condition. I’m sure most of your animal-loving readers would love to hear that he is, in fact, doing okay and back at home with his family. Why was he out roaming to begin with? Tell me he accidenally escaped and his family doesn’t let him roam alone. Does he need a new home???
I was so upset by this. I sent the posting to Cindy Wolff at the Commercial Appeal last week. I’m hoping she will put it in her column. Maybe someone saw the car that hit Max and the vile people who did this will be caught. We can only hope.
I know bike riders who have been purposefully swerved toward.
Did anyone get in touch with Pug Resue Memphis for the little guy?