To The Neighbor Who Ran Over My Dog And Left Him For Dead…I Forgive You

CECILIA, La. (KPEL News) — Just over ten years ago, my wife and I decided it was time to add a new pet to our growing family. Our two oldest daughters were just two and seven when we met Stormageddon—“Stormy” for short—at the Maryland ASPCA. He was a two-year-old puggle with a pronounced underbite, and we fell in love the moment we saw him.

Over the next decade, Stormy became part of everything: cross-country moves, purchasing our first home, and eventually settling back in St. Martin Parish, where I was born and raised. He’s been with us every step of the way.

A Quiet Louisiana Street… Until It Wasn’t

If you grew up in rural Louisiana, you know the kind of place I’m talking about—where kids and pets can roam without a leash, and everyone knows whose dog belongs to who. That’s our neighborhood in Cecilia, a peaceful cul-de-sac tucked alongside the Bayou Teche.

But on the morning of Friday, March 28, that peace was shattered.

My wife sent a text that stopped me cold:

“We have an emergency. Stormy's paw is bleeding bad and it’s floppy.”

I rushed home from Lafayette. When I arrived, I saw Stormy with the bone in his front left leg protruding through his skin. After making arrangements for the kids, we brought him to Lafayette Veterinary Care Center.

The news was devastating: his leg was shattered beyond repair, and there was lung damage from internal bruising. The only option was amputation.

What Happened?

We didn’t know at first. But a neighbor soon told us he heard Stormy get hit sometime between 6:00 and 6:30 a.m. He said he heard the yelps, saw the driver keep going—and Stormy limped his way back home, alone.

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That’s what hurts the most.

We live on a quiet street where only neighbors drive by. Did someone we know just drive off after hitting our dog?

The answer, heartbreakingly, is yes.

Owning Our Responsibility

Let me be clear: Stormy wasn’t on a leash. That’s on us. After eight years without issue, we got complacent. He’s our responsibility, and we failed him. We own that.

But I’ll never understand how someone familiar with our family and our dog could hit him and not stop. We wouldn’t have asked for money. A simple check-in would have meant the world.

Instead, Stormy lay bleeding, terrified, and alone—until our oldest daughter found him on the front steps, wounded but alive.

Healing, Forgiveness, and Moving Forward

We brought Stormy home Sunday afternoon. He’s adjusting to life on three legs and is already starting to perk up. Our family is adjusting too, and we’re committed to making his remaining years as joyful as possible.

Yes, we’re angry. But we’re also choosing grace. Forgiveness isn’t easy—but it’s necessary.

To the person who hit Stormy:
I forgive you, and I pray for you. We all carry burdens. I pray you find peace, healing, and the strength to move forward with compassion.

Stormageddon is a fighter—and so are we!