As her children watched in horror, April Rebecca says a driver turning around on her property struck their beloved puppy and drove off without a word.
“Everybody in the house is just broken,” says April Rebecca, who preferred not to give her last name.
Fighting back tears, she says the woman appeared to be using her long driveway off County Road 93 between Midland and Penetanguishene to turn around Friday afternoon. With her six-year-old son Cohyn and 10-year-old daughter Taylynn playing outside, she says the woman struck the family’s six-month-old Boston Terrier and quickly left without an apology or even an acknowledgement of the beloved family member she had just hit.
“I understand that accidents happen, but (her) leaving is the hard part,” April Rebecca says, noting the woman was told she had hit the puppy.
“I was surprised she didn’t even acknowledge it. I guess she could have been panicking. I just want her to acknowledge what happened.”
She also wants the woman to know what the little dog meant to her family.
“His name was Koda, but he was my little toad,” April Rebecca says. “He started answering to ‘Toad’ more frequently than Koda. He was my daughter’s ‘son’ and my son’s ‘nephew.’
“He was worth more than a 'I was just turning around' yell out of your window. Mistakes happen, I get that, but at least be accountable for them.”
April Rebecca says she’s alerted the police, but isn’t sure much can be done on their end. As well, she says she waited four days before releasing a more detailed description of the incident on her Facebook page in the hope the woman would come forward.
“I’ve talked to police and there’s not much they can do,” she says, noting the vehicle appeared to be similar to a Hyundai Kona and the woman driving looked to be over forty years old with blonde/grey hair.
She also surmises that the woman may have been a delivery driver since there were a number of packages visible on the front and rear seats.
“It isn’t lost on me the colour, make, model of your car or that you were very clearly delivering parcels,” April Rebecca says in a message to the driver, pointing out she also contacted delivery companies but they all told her they didn't have anyone working in that area at the time of the incident.
She says that since the incident occurred her normally joyful home has become one of extreme sadness for her family, including her big brown dog Bruno who's left wondering where his buddy Koda has gone.
“My bed and my lap are going to be empty and our hearts are destroyed,” she says. “I wanted so badly for the driver just to come forward and let me know. I thought seeing my little toad for real would be enough.”
And like most close deaths that create a seemingly endless stream of grief that can destroy your world and break your heart, it’s the little things April Rebecca misses most, including Koda’s snoring as he lay on his back beside her with his head on her pillow.
“His favourite toy was a stupid unicorn he shred all over the house,” she says. “He was so upset with me when I took it away.
“There were so many times I would take him out to go pee, we’d walk back in and he’d find somewhere inside to go instead. I found myself on Sunday wishing I could just step in the damn dog pee.”
