Remembering Thomas, with a plea to slow down (and a thank-you)

As West Seattle grapples with the grief and shock over the first murder in years to happen in an open, public place, many have suggested it’s time to step up the simple act of “looking out for each other.” In that vein, we got this note from Stephen, about Thomas the cat (photo left), and what he’s asking people to do:

Today (Monday) between 4-6 pm our youngest cat was hit by a car, directly in front of our house. My wife and I live on 26th near Dakota (map). Since we moved here we have noticed cars driving up and down the street at a very inappropriate speed. The houses around this area have pets and young children. It would be nice if you could post this to let people know that accidents DO happen, but something like could have easily been avoided by driving a slower speed. Thank you to whomever was kind enough to move him off the street and onto the sidewalk. The attached picture is Thomas, 05/05/04- 02/02/09.

slow down February 3, 2009 (5:39 am)

I to live on 26th and am constantly annoyed by the speed in which car go down the street. I think that 26th ave needs some speed bumps.

Mike Dady February 3, 2009 (6:36 am)

Stephen, sorry to hear about the loss of your cat.

Regarding speed issues occurring on your section of 26th Ave. There has been some talk and interest over the last couple of years in trying to provide some relief to your street from the speeders that race through on this street as a short-cut to Andover/All Star/WS Bridge. It will take someone such as yourself who lives on this street to spearhead and lead the effort to obtain either traffic circle(s)/chicane(s) or speed cushion(s) from SDOT. You can be that person! To learn more about the SDOT Neighborhood Traffic Calming process and funding options come to the North Delridge Neighborhood Council meeting on Wednesday Feb. 4th at the Delridge Library. Start time is 6:30.

Nulu February 3, 2009 (8:47 am)

I am sory to hear of your tragic loss.
Accidents like this can easily be avoided.
Cars should not speed.
But, cars that are not speeding sometimes run over darting cats. (I felt terrible).
Cats love to hide under parked cars. Cats kept inside are NEVER run over by cars.
Cats kept inside are NEVER taken by predators such as coyotes that roam our streets.
Cats with nine lives soon use them all up if let outside.
Responsibility by drivers and cat owners should be our concern.
I pledge to drive responsibly.
Can you pledge to be responsible and keep your cats registered and off of the street?

westseattleite February 3, 2009 (9:01 am)

I’m sorry about poor Thomas, he looks just like our cat. I would be devestated if anything happened to him so I’m sure this has been tough. Hopefully this posting will make some people be aware and slow down.

Richard February 3, 2009 (9:10 am)

Yes, lets cage our cats and dogs, because they shouldn’t have the freedom to roam our yards. They should be boarded up like wild beasts and never to see the light of day. You know, animals like the outdoors. Many learn about the dangers, and sometimes accidents do happen, tragically. But to live in a bubble is not necessarily the answer. To Thomas’ owner, I feel the pain of your loss of a significant pet. For the parents, home and pet owners around Fauntleroy when the lanes are reduced, be ready for more speeding vehicles traversing the side streets.

Nants February 3, 2009 (9:13 am)

I just want to echo Mike’s request that neighbors who are troubled by speeding along 26th, please get involved with the North Delridge Neighborhood Council. The co-chairs are just helping us develop ideas for street projects in our neighborhood and traffic calming along 26th is important. They’ve been very successful in the past and are trying to help us.

If you can’t make Wednesday night’s meeting but want to team up, please send email to NorthDelridge@gmail.com. Thanks!

austin February 3, 2009 (9:13 am)

That’s awful about the cat. People driving cars can be selfish and oblivious to an unbelievable extreme. I too have noticed people driving at completely unwarranted speeds down my half-width one way sidestreet that isn’t a shortcut to anywhere. I’m always afraid that one of them is going to mow down my neighbors’ bulldog (which roams catlike unfortunately) one of these days.

Drivers need to understand that it isn’t a race or a game. If you have to be someplace at a certain hour, instead of risking the lives of others, try leaving the house sooner or waking up earlier. Give yourself extra time, plan to have a cup of coffee and read the paper once you get to where you’re going before you Have to be there. If you can’t even manage to do that, slow down and accept your lateness. Nobody’s life, whether it be your neighbors’ or your neighbors’ cat, is worth your desperate attempt at being “on time”.

margo February 3, 2009 (9:49 am)

I drive on this particular part of 26th and don’t think I’m one of the speeders, however I will keep an eye on my speed. So sorry about your cat.

Richard February 3, 2009 (9:49 am)

Austin, you’ve given me an idea: How about a national Move Your Clock Forward 5 Minutes to prevent your lateness?

Ms Pam February 3, 2009 (10:00 am)

I am not familiar with this area, but it stands as a REMINDER to everyone to SLOW DOWN and be aware of a child or an animal that might come rushing out from the sidewalk.

I am so sorry for your loss. We get these pets for such a short time on earth but they touch our lives forever. Take care…

Neighbor February 3, 2009 (10:01 am)

Oh, I’m so sorry about you beloved kitty. Your family is in many of our thoughts.

Can we all slow down on Admiral too, how many people have to hit before cars get it? It’s not a freeway. One of my neighbors was hit while crossing and now has brain damage. Imagine, brain damage and 3 boys to raise all because someone wanted to get to where ever they were headed to 3 minutes earlier….

rjb February 3, 2009 (10:16 am)

Geez Nulu, do you really need to lecture the guy right now? His cat just died.

AlkiRagdoll February 3, 2009 (10:26 am)

My condolences, as I know what it is to loose a beloved pet. Also, thanks for your reminder to slow down. I dont know what I would do if I ran over someones pet, it is one of my greatest fears. While I keep mine inside, I know just how bad they want to get outside, and your cat was very lucky to be so loved. Thanks for the reminder.

Sean February 3, 2009 (10:26 am)

If you’re not speeding, you’re not going to run over an animal (unless you’re just not paying attention). Be it a cat, dog, or squirrel. It’s as simple as that.

Sorry to hear about your loss, Stephen.

Krystal February 3, 2009 (10:30 am)

We really need to do something about all the speeding, period. I have issues with this on Edmonds between California and Fauntleroy—right by the daycare, of all places. WSB, what is the best way to get speed patrols in our areas, I know we all live in different neighborhoods, and we need to address this in all neighborhoods. If you recall, we had a neighbor witness(?) his/her dog getting run over by the True-Value by some speeders who didn’t even stop!

rjb February 3, 2009 (10:49 am)

Another place that the police should be targeting is California, by the high school when school lets out. The teen drivers seem to think the speed limit is 60. And racing each other is a super great fun idea.

Michael February 3, 2009 (11:14 am)

Always sad to see a cat hit by a car. My heart goes out.
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That said, and having driven that stretch myself hundreds, maybe thousands of times – people don’t normally drive all that fast there.
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Frankly, it’s hard to get up over 30 mph when half of the road is one lane with cars moving in both directions.
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In fact, the bigger problem is that with only one lane, if a cat darts from behind one of the parked cars on either side of the street, there’s nowhere to swerve to.
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So save the hand-wringing over the speed demons, people. It ain’t the problem here.

AlkiKmac February 3, 2009 (11:30 am)

I thought Nulu was as nice as possible with feedback. We’re hypocrits to lecture folks to keep their dogs on leashes but not point out the same to cat owners. The leash law applies to dogs and cats.

Al February 3, 2009 (11:33 am)

I ride by Andover/26th every day and almost every day see cars/trucks/delivery vans (I was almost run over by a UPS truck here recently) zoom up to the stop sign on 26th and then roll right though it without stopping. Yesterday I saw a Saab run the stop sign and almost get t-boned by an SUV heading east on Andover. The guy in the Saab then took off FAST up Andover, still in a rush to get somewhere. Almost all the people I see who run this stop sign seem to be in a huge “hurry” which makes me believe that there is a huge speeding issue on this street. So sorry about your cat!

Al February 3, 2009 (11:43 am)

Actually cats are exempt from the leash law.
“The law states that it is unlawful for any owner of a domestic animal, except cats and pigeons…” and “There is no leash law on cats, But it is unlawful for any owner to allow their cat to damage the private property of another or be a threat to public peace, health or safety.”
http://www.cityofseattle.net/animalshelter/didknow.htm

JumboJim February 3, 2009 (12:00 pm)

Actually it would be easy to hit a cat even when you’re not speeding. As mentioned, they love to hide under parked cars and they often dart out when scared (such as by an approaching car). Also, you often don’t see them at night, which is when so many are roaming.
I’m not here to lecture Thomas’s owners – nobody loves cats more than I do, but responsible is responsible. Letting your cat wander outside is gambling with its life.

AlkiKmac February 3, 2009 (12:33 pm)

I stand corrected about cats not needing to be on a leash in Seattle, but defer to JumboJim who addressed the spirit of the law.

ellenater February 3, 2009 (12:33 pm)

thanks for the reminder and well put. i DO drive too fast and I will be thinking of your little buddy and slowing down. I have lost cats to the road and it sucks. I’ve also witnessed kitties being hit and it is the most awful thing. Take care!

Joe February 3, 2009 (12:36 pm)

I’m so sorry. Thomas looks like a sweet kitty. I have two cats who I love dearly. I’m sure they’d like to wander free but then so would my kids. We live in a city that’s just not safe for children or domestic critters. This story is so sad, and yet part of that sadness comes from having heard it over and over. Yes, there will be a litterbox (the real reason most people let their cats out), but there’s work involved in being a responsible pet owner just like being a responsible parent. Outdoor cat’s average lifespan, 3-4yrs, indoors 12-13.

Mike February 3, 2009 (12:37 pm)

I hear cars ripping down our street all the time. We live by an elementary school too. A few years back some kid that would go by every night at insane speeds finally made his last pass by. All I heard was him going through gears on his crotch rocket and then POP. When I went outside I saw what happened. He was going so fast he put the bumper of a mid 90s Acura Legend into the rear seat of the car. Bike was toast and on fire. He flew from one side of our property line to the other side along the crosswalk, clipping one of the small tree tops at the same time. He was lucky and lived. His leg was backwards in a manner no leg should ever be, but he lived.

SLOW DOWN!

On the other side, we keep our cat inside for many reasons. This story is one reason why. We don’t live in the country, we live in city limits. There’s a ton of traffic and I see pets that have been run over all the time. I’ve come close to running over cats and dogs many times, luckily I’m pretty active with keeping an eye out for them darting across the road and have been able to avoid it so far.

Sorry for the loss of your cat, if you get another one, please keep it indoors.

feline_fan February 3, 2009 (12:47 pm)

Richard – it IS possible to let cats outside, but keeping them on YOUR property. It’s called a high-fence around your yard.

The life expectancy of cats that go outdoors is about 8 years, mainly due to injuries they receive outside (cars, other animals, etc) that they aren’t exposed to when kept indoors or even within their owners’ yards.

It’s awful that Thomas was hit by a car, but without the details of what happened then it’s tough to blame either the owner or the driver. A black cat darting into the street is tough to avoid no matter how fast/slow you’re driving.

WS Chic February 3, 2009 (12:53 pm)

So sorry for your loss. I used to live on 36th and Dakota and cars would haul butt up 36th right when they came off the bridge. To make matters worse they used the alley behind my house as a cut through and thought they could speed up that too.
My cat is an outside/inside cat and wouldn’t have it any other way – people just need to slow their roll!

Donuts for all February 3, 2009 (1:27 pm)

Feline_fan
A high fence to keep in a cat – now really. They have been known to climb telephone pole. My three legged cat can climb up a tall tree easily – hence why I keep him inside.

Stephen
I’m sorry to hear about your loss – it is tragedy no matter if the car or cat caused it.

Cassie February 3, 2009 (1:33 pm)

Thankyou Mike for that information! I believe that my husnand (Stephen) and I will be there. Thank you also for the condolences.

KateMcA February 3, 2009 (2:27 pm)

I’m so terribly sorry for your loss! We live on 35th and definitely feel your pain about people speeding all the time- we can barely back out of our garage without being mowed down. WS would be a great place to live if everyone did look out for each other just a little more.

rjb February 3, 2009 (2:31 pm)

I’m starting to get a little worried about people who think letting cats outside is bad. They seem to obsess about it a lot.
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I wonder how many posts have been hijacked by the never-let-your-cat-outside-or-it’ll-die crowd on this blog??

WSB February 3, 2009 (3:15 pm)

There is not a “crowd” — that is the official animal advocacy/animal experts’ position. They say there are no risks to keeping your cat indoors but outline a long list of risks, from cars to other animals to diseases, to allowing your cat outdoors. We have discussed this before and I seem to recall providing a variety of links. Here’s one from the Humane Society of the United States
http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/cat_care/keeping_your_cat_happy_indoors.html

However, this is a total threadjack to the point Stephen makes, which is SLOW DOWN. Animals are not the only ones at risk. People are too – TR

Stephen Lamphear February 3, 2009 (4:01 pm)

I am very sorry about your cat. I also totally agree with Nulu.

I have 3 wonderful rescue cats (one blind, one stupid, one a retired breeder) — they are my 3rd set of cats in 50 years. They’ve lived longer lives because they are kept indoors. For a variety of reasons (predators, cars, diseases, cat-killers, poisons), outdoor do not live as long as indoor cats.

I mourn your loss — and urge everyone to show your cats more love by keeping them inside.

feline_fan February 3, 2009 (4:28 pm)

to donuts_for_all…just as an fyi – it is possible to let your cats outside in your own yard without them leaving the yard. if a high fence isn’t enough (might depend on the fence structure) than there are other things that can be done (netting attached to top of fence, angled tops to the fences) to keep the cats from making it over the fence.

Kathy February 3, 2009 (4:36 pm)

We live south of Genesee on 26th and people use it as a way to bypass traffic jams on Delridge whenever there is a backup. Unfortunately, many of these people choose to speed down our street in their haste to get to the bridge and seem oblivious to the fact that this is a residential street with kids and pets frequently crossing it. Please, if you choose to use 26th to bypass Delridge, be respectful of the people (and pets) who live in this community. Sorry for the loss of your kitty.

Kristina February 3, 2009 (6:57 pm)

I’m so sorry to hear about your kitty. My condolences, and thank you for the public safety message.
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Our dog was hit by a car in front of our house (he got between my legs as I opened the gate – he was young and foolish and chasing another dog that he saw across the street) and a speeding car hit him on a residential block of 45th. It was AWFUL. Our dog survived, with thousands of dollars of medical bills and daily medical attention for 6 weeks. The woman who hit him felt awful but it could have been prevented if she had been going slower, even though my dog was at fault for darting into the street.
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For what it’s worth, my dog is wiser now. He’s afraid of streets, and no longer inclined to dart. A tough lesson. (And YES I keep him on a leash when outdoors….don’t even go there!)

BB10 February 3, 2009 (9:29 pm)

So sorry to hear about your kitty. I live on 25th and Dakota and I think I’ve seen him a couple times. He always seemed like such a sweet fellow. Take care.

brandon February 3, 2009 (11:32 pm)

WSB, that’s like saying animals in the zoo are happier and live longer in captivity because they are protected from predators. But are they really happier having never lived in the wild? Our cat would go nuts if kept inside all week long. Same for our kids, because, wouldn’t they be kept safer and live longer if kept indoors safe and sound? This may sound like an apples and oranges, but I’d rather hear it from the cat, rather than an Animal Activist. “Kitty, kitty, would you like to stay inside if you would live longer, or would you enjoy life more with the token risks of playing outside?”
I say, enough chastising of Steven for letting his cat out to the rest of us!

WSB February 3, 2009 (11:39 pm)

No chastising here, but the previous post’er inferred it was some sort of strange mob-mentality attitude to oppose letting cats outdoors, and in our continuous Truth Squad mode, I felt compelled to note that it’s the official recommendation. Not here to argue it, gotta get back to the park story.

John February 4, 2009 (2:47 pm)

I plan to never let my child out of my house! I have that right until he’s 18. I will allow him to enter the backyard, but I’ll walk next to him in case he tries to explore more. I will not let that happen. I’ll home school him and keep him safe. My son will be much safer than any other child that’s aloud out. If you let your child outside you truly don’t love them.

bridavkev February 4, 2009 (9:50 pm)

Hey Guys… we are so sorry about little Thomas. Really if there is anything we can do, we are always right next door.. we’ve all been where you are and feel awful. :( Our hearts go out to you both.

I always hear, see, and experience people going too fast down our street. We’ve all made mistakes and gone a little too fast here or there, but this serves as a tragic reminder that we need to respect each other’s safety and pay attention on the road. No one should speed down a road this narrow.. save it for the highway! Cats, kids, dogs, cars… all at risk in any neighborhood.

By the way, if you guys want to get bumps put in, we’re on your side… all the way!

Much LOVE,
Brian, David, and Kevin

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