My son’s sister's dog, who was truly a loved family member, tragically had its life cut short by a hit-and-run incident. The pain and distress borne by their family were magnified by the fact that the driver responsible faced no consequences. This issue is bigger than just our personal loss. Every year, countless animals are killed by reckless driving, feeding into a cycle of pain for their human family that loves and misses them.

It’s disturbing to think about how this could have been a human life, even someone's child. Animals constitute an irreplaceable part of many households, playing the roles of friends, confidants, and family members. In most jurisdictions, hitting an animal and driving away isn't even a traffic violation, let alone an event of serious legal consequence.

By enforcing stricter penalties on hit-and-run incidents involving animals, we're not just seeking justice for our non-human loved ones, we're also advocating for safer streets. In the U.S, approximately 1.2 million dogs alone are killed on the roads each year (Anderson, 2015). Every driver on the road has a responsibility to act humanely and carefully, this responsibility should extend to all living beings, not just humans.

We urge and demand legal bodies to recognize the gravity of this situation and legislate accordingly. Please sign this petition and join us in fighting for justice for our voiceless companions.