Senseless Act

Says a lot about someone to hit a dog and not try to find the owners. As a dog owner, I really feel for this family.


Senseless act Family devastated after pet killed by snowmobiler
STEPHEN BRUN The Journal Pioneer
KENSINGTON – Sandy would lie in bed with Justine Pierce until the seven-year-old drifted off to sleep at night. But Sandy’s not there now and Justine, her sister Corie, and their mother Rebecca can barely slept at all. Shortly after 8 p.m. Wednesday, the amiable miniature golden retriever was struck by a snowmobile on the Confederation Trail, mere yards behind the Pierces’ Kensington home.
"The pitch of the motor in one of the skidoos changed and I had this gut-wrenching, horrible feeling," said Rebecca. "There were five seconds where it just didn't sound right. I went to the door and I called her and called her and called her. She's never out for more than five minutes at nighttime."Rebecca's boyfriend Pat went out to investigate when Sandy didn't come to the door. He found her lying dead on the trail. Snowmobile tracks veered off to the side of the trail near the point of impact and appeared to come dangerously close to a nearby tree before continuing on toward Summerside. The driver never stopped.That incident is upsetting for Kensington Police Chief Lewis Sutherland. An officer went to investigate Wednesday night, but found little evidence of the snowmobile. "There were a number of sleds on the trail at that time, but this person didn't have the common courtesy to stop," said Sutherland. "We have no leads at this time, but hopefully someone in that group will come forward with some information. I don't think someone would run the dog down on purpose, but I don't know."Although there is no speed limit for snowmobiles along the Confederation Trail, it is policed by wardens through the P.E.I. Snowmobile Association.Pierce said she'd like to see more enforcement and lower posted speed limits through residential areas. "That could've been my seven-year-old daughter out there on the trail, or my 17-year-old coming home from a friend's house. It could've been a neighbour walking their dog or a skier," she said."If they want to open it up to 130 in a field somewhere, go ahead. Don't do it in my backyard and have a little more respect for whatever else might be on the trail."Sandy was a quiet dog who played with the family's cats and always greeted visitors or the kids at the door when they came home. For the Pierce family, she'll never be replaced. "I'd just like the person who did it to understand what they've done," said Rebecca. "I know a lot of people are not animal people and to them it's just a dog. But to us, she was a very important part of our family. Because of their carelessness, we don't have her anymore."