Minnesota Man Sues Family of Dog he Ran Over
Here is a disturbing story from the May 16, 2006 issue of The Week.
A Minnesota man who struck and killed a dog while driving is suing the animal’s owners for damaging his car. Jeffery Ely says he has nothing but compassion for the Munthe family, whose 13-pound Miniature Pinscher, Fester, was killed instantly in the collision. But Ely claims that the impact drove pieces of his Honda Civic’s fender into its radiator and that he should be reimbursed the $1,100 cost of repairs. “I love dogs,” said Ely. “But once you get them, they are your responsibility.”
Wow. Talk about adding insult to injury. I am not an attorney, but based on my understanding of animal law, Ely may win the case.
The story does not mention whether poor Fester was on leash at the time of the accident, but I’ll bet that he wasn’t. I’ve never met a dog who was hit by a car while on-leash. Please remember that leashes are not simply required by law in most places. They also are important for the safety of your pet.
You have questions. 
OH THAT JUST MAKES MY BLOOD BOIL!!! YOU KILLED THEIR DOG!!!! YES IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON A LEASH BUT YOU ARE ALSO SUPPOSSED TO BE IN CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE AT ALL TIMES TOO.THIS IS WHY WE HAVE CAR INSURANCE!!!
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO SUE THE DEPT OF NATURAL RESOURCES WHEN A DEER JUMPS OUT IN FRONT OF YOUR CAR?
COME ON PEOPLE LETS TALK ABOUT RIDICULOUS.I WOULD BE ASHAMED OF MYSELF FOR DOING THIS - LEGAL GROUNDS OR NOT. IT’S JUST NOT RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree with Kim it makes my blood boil as well.. The driver was probably speeding otherwise why could’nt stop before he hit the dog? The guy should really look take a hars look at himself before he does such a stuipd thing to that poor family
I agree with Kim it makes my blood boil as well.. The driver was probably speeding otherwise why could’nt stop before he hit the dog? The guy should really look take a hard look at himself before he does such a stuipd thing to that poor family!
I agree with you guys! That’s absolutely DISGUSTING… and yes.. that’s why there’s insurance… unless that’s one of the states that’s all wacky about it… but still… WHAT A FRIGGIN JERK… and some other words i won’t say…. (you know, i hit a deer with MY^ car and totalled it out, BUT HEY- CAR INSURANCE… i just couldn’t find the family of the deer to sue them!!)
I agree with you guys! That’s absolutely DISGUSTING… and yes.. that’s why there’s insurance… unless that’s one of the states that’s all wacky about it… but still… WHAT A FRIGGIN JERK… and some other words i won’t say…. (you know, i hit a deer with MY^ car and totalled it out, BUT HEY- CAR INSURANCE… i just couldn’t find the family of the deer to sue them!!)
I’m sorry that this Dog got killed, but in reading different versions of this story the dog got out of the house and ran in the middle of the road and the guy could not avoid the dog. Had this been a bigger dog it could have caused a major accident and could a killed someone. The family stated they were always afraid that the dog would run in to the “busy road and get hit.” Again I am sorry for the Dog, but the owners did not take responsibility for their pet and properly train their dog not to run off, Or safe guard around their front door ( a baby gate goes a long way to insure that a dog can’t get out of the house!)
I did not read anywhere that the driver was speeding or driving recklessly, so I can not blame the drive on this one, the blame rest squarely on the Owners.
Well that’s why I’m over protective with my dogs ’cause if something goes wrong happen to my dogs like that, I don’t know what I’m gonna do. I maybe paranoid or what but I just have to expect the unexpected. Inside/out my house I keep an eye for my sweet babies!
OMG! That is so sad. I can’t believe this individual is saying what he is saying. I do feel sympathy for the family. Its a shame that we are living in a world where everyone feels the need to blame someone else rather than taking responsibility for their own actions.
that’s pointless. he was either speeding, or his breaks were bad. and you can get a HUGE ticket for bad breaks. my parents totalled my mom’s car at 10-15 miles an hour, and didn’t have to pay a dime because of INSURANCE. that’s so stupid.
Being a retired Vet Tech, there are plenty of horror stories I heard and many were the fault of the owner. I had to bite my tongue plenty of times. Here I side with the the driver because it seems no matter how many times you try to educate people they don’t get the message until it is too late. Sad story for the dogs family yes but they could have kept it safer. I had a neighbor who never learned and I picked two of his dead dogs off the road. I did not feel sorry for him because he should have learned the first time. The dogs are the victims here not the family or the car.
Sadly, one of my dogs got run over when he crashed through a screen door. He had never done that before, either. I had another dog that jumped out of my car suddenly. Fortunately, we were in town so the cars around us were going slow and were able to stop. He lived to a ripe old age of 14 and a half. The point being, you can’t always have your pet under control. Reminds me of children. :) But suing! What kind of litigious society have we become?
I agree that the fault lies with the owners, although from what I read the dog slipped past them when the door was opened. It wasn’t that they just let it out without a leash. However, I don’t understand why the driver is suing, unless he doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t want to file. He probably doesn’t want his rates to go up for actually USING his insurance. I guess I can see his side, but gee–talk about adding to the pain the poor family is feeling!! It is a terrible situation all the way around.