On June 1st, our beloved cat Cowboy was hit and killed by a car on Herrison Road just two days before his first birthday. He never got to celebrate it.

Cowboy was more than a pet. He was our sunshine boy - ginger, warm and full of love. He slept in our bed every night, woke us up every morning by climbing in for cuddles, and escorted us loyally down the stairs for breakfast. He had a huge personality, a deep curiosity for the world, and won the hearts of everyone he met. He was our first baby boy. And now, just like that, he’s gone, without the chance for us to say goodbye.

We don’t know for certain if the driver was speeding as they didn't stop after hitting him, but we've now found that Cowboy died on our road that’s known in our community for tragedy. It’s a residential street, with cars parked on one side, Forston health clinic across from us, and a 30mph speed limit that is often ignored. At the top of the road, it turns into a 60mph zone - and many drivers accelerate too early, racing up the hill. There are no meaningful traffic-calming measures other then a 'Speeding? No excuse!' sign that is too dirty to notice, and enforcement feels non-existent. Occasionaly there has been a speed display, that thanks you for driving 30, but this has been missing for the last few months.

Since Cowboy died, we’ve heard from many other local residents who have lost their cats to the same road. It is a pattern that we were not aware of. We’re heartbroken. We won’t be getting another cat - not because we don’t want to, but because we no longer feel it’s safe. And we don’t believe in keeping cats confined indoors when we live in such a beautiful, rural conservation area with vast farm land and fields.

We're asking Dorset Council and Charminster Parish Council to take urgent action to make Herrison Road safer - for pets, for families, and for the whole community. We would want:

• A reduced speed limit of 20mph
• Speed bumps or other traffic-calming measures such as chicanes 
• A speed camera or speed trap to enforce the limit

Even one of these steps could help to save lives.

We want Cowboy’s death to mean something. We want Cowboy’s Law to mark the moment we stood up for safety in our village.

If you live, work, or travel through Charlton Down - or if you simply believe in protecting lives, both human and animal - please sign this petition. 

Because no one else should have to go through emptiness. Not another cat. Not another family. Not another heart broken.

You left too soon, Cowboy. We weren't done loving you yet.