Sir,
Not long ago I wrote about my cat Smokie being run over on Templebar Road, and asked people to please keep their speed down and go carefully. Well here I am again, writing about yet another death in my family, this time my oldest cat Peanut who was over 15-years-old. He was a very friendly and loving ginger and white tom, and will be missed very much.
At the time of writing, I have just returned from the vet where I had to make the terrible decision to have him put to sleep. For those pet owners out there who have been in the same position, you will know how heartbreaking it is. I stayed with him while they put him to sleep, sobbing the whole time - very melodramatic I can here others of you say, but until you've been in this situation, don't judge. Peanut wasn't killed outright like Smokie, but the damage to him was horrific. Both back legs were broken or fractured, one was crushed into bits, his pelvis was damaged and he had internal injuries. How he even survived is a mystery. The vet thinks that the car actually went over him to do this sort of damage.
Since my last letter, I have seen no sign of anyone slowing down, no speed cameras or police, and it is getting more and more difficult getting out of the drive. I am really concerned about the children and older people who walk along this road, as well as the pets.
Please, please observe the speed limit and try to keep below it in any area where there are houses and maybe children and pets. They have no road sense and it is up to us to be observant and do the job for them. I really don't want to lose any more pets, it is too emotional.
Anne Claydon, Pentlepoir.