Update 1/17/26: I have since learned that Hazel Park already has an ordinance (HPMC 6.04.010) requiring drivers who strike a domesticated animal to stop, render aid, and report the incident. Unfortunately, situations like Big Boy’s show that laws alone are not enough if they are not widely known, enforced, or taken seriously. This petition now calls for greater enforcement, public awareness, and accountability, so animals are not left to suffer and residents understand their legal responsibilities. Whether through stronger enforcement, education, or broader statewide standards, the goal remains the same: drivers must stop, report, and call for help when an animal is hit. —————— Big Boy didn’t deserve to die alone on the road. Strengthen Michigan law to require drivers to stop, report, and help animals hit by vehicles.

 Animals are being struck by vehicles every day in Michigan and left to suffer or die because drivers face little accountability for fleeing the scene. When someone hits a domestic animal and drives away, the result is often prolonged pain, preventable death, and no consequences for the person responsible.   This is not just heartbreaking — it is a failure of accountability and a gap in crime prevention.   
This issue is personal to me. I lost my dog, Big Boy, after a hit-and-run where the driver fled the scene and left him without help. There was no immediate aid, no reporting, and no accountability. What hurts most is knowing that if the driver had been required to stop and report the incident, Big Boy may have had a chance to survive. No animal should be left to suffer and die because someone chose convenience over responsibility.   
Many animals hit by vehicles can survive if help is called promptly. Mandatory stop-and-report laws save lives — not just animal lives, but they also reinforce responsible driving behavior and public safety.   
We are calling on Michigan lawmakers to strengthen and clarify the law by:   
Requiring drivers to immediately stop after striking a domestic animal
Mandating drivers to report the incident to authorities or animal control
Requiring drivers to render reasonable aid or call for help
Establishing clear penalties for fleeing the scene, similar to other hit-and-run offenses     
This is not about punishment for accidents. Accidents happen. This is about what someone chooses to do afterward. Stopping, reporting, and taking responsibility should be the bare minimum.   
Strengthening these laws will:   
Prevent unnecessary suffering and death
Deter negligent and cruel behavior
Close a legal loophole that allows drivers to flee without consequence
Align animal protection with existing crime-prevention standards     
Animals are not disposable. Accountability matters. We urge Michigan legislators to act now and protect animals by making it illegal to leave them injured and helpless on our roads.