Thank you for your thoughts and prayers - Page 2

Thank you for all the response.  It has been a tough few days. 

Here is breifly what happened...

Somehow the pin that holds the trailer hitch receiver either broke or the cauter pin came out and the receiver came out of the slide, disconnecting it from the trailer.  The chains held, but the trailer flipped anyways.  When the trailer flipped, it ripped the roof off,  and all the contents including the dogs, flew into oncoming traffic which happened to be a Semi truck.  Three of the dogs ended up under the Semi truck.  Tara was run over and Rookie was hit.  Tara didnt make it to the Vets.  Rookie, took off and was found about 4 hrs later, by some friends of mine, in a ditch about 3/4 of a mile from the accident.

Rookie is doing better, but I am going to take him into the Vets tomorrow.  It has been 5 days and he is still really sore and walking really hunch backed.  He also whines a lot when he lays down and still has rapid breathing.  He is on anti inflammatorys and pain killers, but I want to be sure nothing was missed.  Maybe he just needs some more time.

The third and fourth dogs,  are just fine.  Umi  the other dog that ended up under the truck, was not hit or run over.  She acts like it never even happened.  She has 2 or 3 dime to quarter size scraps and that is it.  The fourth dog, Nitro has a scrape on one leg and was a little stiff for about 3 days.

Kim

Kim,

this sounds like a horrible frealkaccident that may have been very difficult to predict or prevent.

We are all very sorry to hear about your lose and the trauma it must have caused everyone.

I always say we cannot control some of the things that happen to us in Life but we can control how we react to them. Keep your faith and your spirit and it wil pass and surely something good will come out of this tradegy.. .it always does... but it may take some time and hard work to find it.

God Bless

Jeffrey

Kim, How awful!  I know how hard it is to deal with a loss, we have to go on with the ones that are left and I'm hoping the others mend quickly and fully.  My heart goes out to you.

So sorry.

Oh Kim, that is just heartbreaking. What kind of dog trailer was it? Jones or WTThermo? Is there a chance that it was a factory defect?

Chris

It was a Schmidt trailer.  No it wasnt the trailer,  I have towed that trailer thousands of miles over the last 7 years with never a problem. 

Anyone have any ideas how to get a figure on what a 2000 schmidt trailer would go for?  My Insurance wants me to get some quotes.

KIM

The very same thing happened to me halfway across Wyoming a few years back. Luckily the safety chains held long enough for me to slow down and AAA brought me another hitch pin and cotter pin. I now use a LOCKING device on both the hitch receiver AND the ball hitch. (about $15. at Advance Auto parts or U-Haul, and 2 heavy, fairly short, crossed safety chains. Still, I worry.

My heart goes out to you and for your losses.

SS

Kim

 It has taken me a while to figure out what to say about all this. I am still in shock and it didnt happen to me. I have no idea if I would be ale to handle something like this like you have. Just keep you head up and be thankkful that you are ok. I am glad that Rookie is doing better. I guess in times like this you find out who your true friends are. You made a few calls and the whole calvery came to help. I feel bad that you lost Tara, but again am glad that you and the rest of the dogs are going to be ok.  

I'm so sorry for what happened.  It does sound like it was a freak accident.   I think Shelleys' advise about using a locking device as well as her suggestions on the chains should be heeded by those who pull dog trailers.