Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Lucy of Seattle --- Her memory...Have you seen the El Camino?

This article is from the West Seattle Times about a golden retriever named Lucy who was fatally injured by a hit and run driver. We are searching for an El Camino as described in the article below.

 

Followup: Working for safer West Seattle streets in Lucy’s honor

March 18, 2011 at 2:45 pm | In Pets, Safety, West Seattle news | 19 Comments
One week ago, we published the sad story of the hit-run crash that killed Lucy, a 13-year-old Golden Retriever. First we heard from the witness who saw the whole thing, as Lucy and her owner were crossing California SW at Dakota. Then we heard directly from Matt, who was with Lucy when it happened, and almost got hit himself. While there is no word from police on any break in the case, those who told their stories have been working on the pedestrian-safety advocacy they hope might be Lucy’s legacy. We promised a followup. First, the witness e-mailed three City Council members, who, he says, got a fourth involved, which ultimately led him to Seattle City Light to make sure the street light on the southwest corner of that intersection is working. He was also pointed to SDOT to request better signage for the crosswalk.
The witness was also directly in touch with Matt (and wife Sarah), who say they have connected with SDOT’s community traffic liaison, Jim Curtin. They learned Jim, a West Seattleite, had heard about Lucy’s death via WSB, and they wrote:
Jim informed me that the wheels are turning at SDOT and they plan to do a full site visit and evaluation to determine the most appropriate options for making the California/Dakota intersection safer. He indicated that he will be back in touch with me within one to two weeks with recommendations and next steps. Additionally, we briefly discussed potential opportunities for funding if there isn’t a budget for the recommended improvements. Some alternative sources of funds could include the SDOT Neighborhood Street Fund and/or the DON Neighborhood Matching Fund in conjunction with community funding (via fundraiser).
Also, we’ve received a more detailed description of the vehicle involved in the hit-run incident from the Seattle Police Department. The vehicle is a customized dark colored El Camino with possibly aftermarket grill and rims and tinted windows. It would be great if we could ask the community to keep a look out for this vehicle and, if seen, inform the Police. The SW Precinct police officers involved have been incredibly responsive and helpful.
… Please let the community know how much we appreciate all their kind words and thoughts for our family during this difficult time and how fortunate we feel to live in such a wonderful, close-knit community.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Doug and Cory Bond

My sister and her family recently lost their horse who was a big part of their world for more than 20 years. Very sad and it was thought that Kokanee was going to get better.  We pet owners cringe at the thought of losing one. Doug and Cory Bond deal with this regularly because the original pet owners did not have the integrity or means to stand by their pet.

These two retired police officers in Saanich British Columbia Canada take in abandoned, often ill older dogs to give them comfort and care during their remaining days. The vet bills are considerable, the sad days always near and the sense that they are making a difference always there.

As an aside one has to wonder how many of these dogs were abandoned because of inflated drug prices charged by unscrupulous veterinarians...refer CBC "Marketplace" episode.

Back to Doug and Cory - What can one say about people like this?
Read more at http://www.timescolonist.com/life/Couple+puts+hearts+souls+into+helping+sick+dogs/4080239/story.html

www.patbayreflective.com sends kudos to Doug and Cory...

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Folks under 44 - The number one cause of death

I was reading a website today. The site is very much in tune with what we at Pat Bay Reflective are trying to do > Prevent Accidents. The site is www.preventable.ca and is full of great information. These folks take a proactive view of accidents prevention. Even though preventable accidents are the number one killer for people up to the age of 44 in the Canadian province of British Columbia the good news is that this is something that people can actually do something about. By practicing common sense and being fully cognizant of the 'what if' factor we can reduce these deaths and injuries.
The 'what if' factor is what operational managers refer to as contingency planning. > What if that technician cannot solve the problem? What are the options?
In terms of accident prevention I adopt this "what if"operating principal to reflect the need to plan to work, play and rest safely. What if a car cannot see me at this corner? What if the wood stove chimney leaks? What if I lose my dog at night? What if I drink and drive? What if I am not properly trained on a motorcycle or scooter? Dealing with these questions and resolving the issues will keep you and yours safe. Think "What if?"

Be Safe, Be Seen in 2011
www.patbayreflective.com