Reward offered in dog’s death
{Submitted photo}
Rex, a 4-year-old Shih Tzu, was struck and killed by a car driven by a woman who fled the scene. A $500 reward is being offered for information leading to the woman’s arrest.
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By KIPP HANLEY
Published: November 15, 2008
The sight of her dog's water bowl is so upsetting to Cynthia Liberta that she can't even go down to her basement.
On the evening of Nov. 6, Liberta was taking her Shih Tzu, Rex, to the Minnieville Animal Hospital when he broke free from her grip on the leash and bolted across Minnieville Road.
According to Liberta, several cars stopped, but one didn't. The car in the left lane struck Rex, killing him almost instantly.
The woman driving the vehicle briefly got out and then sped away, leaving Liberta flabbergasted.
Liberta rushed across the street after the incident and scooped up Rex, who was already dead.
"I still have the image in my head," Liberta said, choking back tears during a phone interview.
Liberta was taking her 4-year-old dog into the animal hospital for routine shots when the accident occurred. Liberta and her husband, Anthony, who is serving in Iraq, are offering a $500 reward for anyone who can provide informa-tion that will lead to the arrest and conviction of the driver who hit the dog and fled.
Prince William police say the motorist could face a hit-and-run charge for destroying personal property, or an ani-mal cruelty charge for leaving the scene.
The only information Liberta could supply about the accident was that the car that struck Rex was a blue, four-door sedan operated by a black woman.
Anthony said he didn't think to file a criminal complaint when he first informed the police of the matter. The couple didn't understand how someone could hit a dog and then flee the scene.
"I don't even hit dogs in my 40,000-pound vehicle while I drive around in Baghdad," said An-thony in an e-mail on Monday.
"She knows she hit him and she saw me," Liberta added.
Anthony is returning later this month and said he was looking forward to seeing Rex after eight months overseas. Luckily, Liberta's 7-year-old stepson Jonathan was visiting his father in New York and doesn't know about the accident yet, said Liberta.
"Someone had to see this occur," Anthony said.
Staff writer Kipp Hanley can be reached at 703-878-8062.
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Reader Reactions
Posted by ( BIGROOT ) on November 22, 2008 at 7:54 am
I WOULD HAVE STOPPED AND POWERBRAKED ON THE DOGS HEAD. IT S A STUPID DOG, WHY DID IT RUN INTO THE STREET? MAYBE IT WAS REALLY SMART. IF I HIT THAT RAT I WOULD PRESS CHARGES ON THE OWNER FOR NOT HAVING CONTROLL OF THEIR ANIMAL LEADING TO AN ACCIDENT. SORRY ABOUT YUR RAT. GO GET ANOTHER ONE AND DONT LET GO OF THE LEASH!! IT WAS YOUR FAULT. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
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Posted by ( LeiDelyLei ) on November 17, 2008 at 7:44 pm
So if the the lady does return and turns her-self in she can too sue the dogs owner for any damages done to her car? The animal did run out into a bussy street!I’m sure the owner knows this. She just wants her dog back and no we can’t replace it but let it’s memory live on.On the other hand what does the insurance company tell us? Hit the aanimal so you can prove that the accident was caused by it and not assumed!So if the driver had swerved and hit someone who is the blame? THE OWNER OF THE ANIMAL so lets be releved that it didn’ go the other way.Sorry about your loss Mam.
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Posted by ( sneezewhiz ) on November 17, 2008 at 10:53 am
You’re making a lot of assumptions.
The news story doesn’t make clear how dark it was. “Evening” on Nov 6 suggests it was dark. Minnieville Rd traffic moves pretty briskly during evening rush hour.
When the woman who struck the dog stopped and got out, we do not know if she saw the dog or the owner, or how far away she was when she stopped, or whether she was blocking a lane of traffic when she stopped.
And no, there is no difference between domesticated animals and wild animals when they run into a busy roadway. Whether it is a possum or a pussycat, it is an it and it gets flattened.
People need to stop anthropomorphizing when they deal with animals. It’s alright for a 5-year-old child to try to pretend to read the expression on a bunny’s face, but for an adult to mistake those big sad eyes for anything other than something an animal has learned to do to get a treat is just naive.
And yes, it is a fact that it’s dangerous to approach an injured animal. They are going to react instinctively and defensively.
I wonder if this news story will get on Jay Leno?
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Posted by ( No.Virginian ) on November 17, 2008 at 9:59 am
Yes, the owner is at fault for not having her pet secured. The driver who hit the loose dog did the right thing by stopping once she realized she hit the dog. However, for her to stop her vehicle, see the dead dog and the terrified look on the dog’s owner, and then decide to speed away is inexcusable. Had the driver not pulled away, nothing would have happened to her. The driver, by speeding off, showed no remorse and is the epitome of being a coward. I certainly hope the driver is found and charged and I hope this serves as a lesson for those who would not consider stopping. Keep in mind, there’s a huge difference between hitting a wild animal and a domesticated animal!
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Posted by ( jstmyopinion ) on November 15, 2008 at 10:24 pm
i was perturbed by the words used by boogerwolf…big d@mn deal??? seemed really insensitive. yes, the owner should have secured her pet better, and i would wager a bet that she is regretting that immensely. even so, boogerwolf could have used a little compassion when writing his/her comment. also, if i hit a dog, i wouldn’t have simply driven off. i would have felt awful, even if it weren’t my fault.
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Posted by ( boogerwolf ) on November 15, 2008 at 9:57 pm
sneezewhiz, I agree. It seems it would be the pet owner who is charged w/ animal cruelty for not securing their pet. It’s not like the car driver intentionally hit the dog.
jstmyopinion, have you ever attempted to assist an animal that has been seriously injured? They become very defensive and dangerous. There is nothing that the average person can do to help an injured animal, other than put it out of his misery.
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Posted by ( sneezewhiz ) on November 15, 2008 at 4:29 pm
This news article may just become famous.
I don’t believe you have to stop for roadkill.
I feel for the lady, but her dog ran out into heavy traffic. The driver who hits a dog, or a deer, or a squirrel is NEVER at fault.
If anything, the dog’s owner is at fault for not keeping her pet under control.
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Posted by ( k9luv ) on November 15, 2008 at 4:24 pm
I did not know it was a crime, but I still would have stopped and tried to help if I had hit a dog.
I hope they find the driver and she is charged.
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Posted by ( jstmyopinion ) on November 15, 2008 at 12:00 pm
boogerwolf: you are certainly entitled to your opinion, but how totally insenstive of you to post that comment. boooooo. :(
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Posted by ( boogerwolf ) on November 15, 2008 at 10:34 am
big d@mn deal. I probably would not stop if I hit a dog either, b/c until reading this article, I never knew it was a crime. Im sure Im not the only one.
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