81 Year Old Woman Gets $9,500 Settlement After Garbage Truck Runs Over Her Dog

[matcom]

<snip>

Her dog, Juno, always tried to protect her, Ethel Untermeyer said, even though the miniature black Schipperke was no larger than a cat.

"When I'd sit down at the table, she'd just plant herself on my lap, like my protector," the 81-year-old Untermeyer recalled. "She was serious about it."

The bond between the two was shattered four years ago when Juno was killed by a garbage truck as Untermeyer walked the dog on a leash near her home in north suburban Riverwoods.

Upset by the gruesome death of her beloved companion in front of her eyes, Untermeyer filed a lawsuit against truck owner Waste Management Inc., seeking damages for emotional distress.

In an unusual settlement that was announced Tuesday, the company agreed to pay $9,500 to compensate Untermeyer for the loss of her 7-year-old pet.

The settlement is important to her because it provides some recognition that she has suffered emotionally because of the loss of her feisty, 12-pound companion.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/275859,CST-NWS-dog28.article

[zanne]

1. It's about time.

People who are not pet lovers don't realize that when a pet dies, the pain is enormous. Especially for a woman of that age, living alone...the loss of her daily companion must have been devastating. I'm glad somebody recognized that pet-human bond and respected it.

[Hugin]

2. 'Here boy! Come on! Fweeeeet! Come here, boy!'

;)

[guitar man]

3. $9500!!

I love my dogs dearly, but hey, if it ever comes time where I have to euthanize one of them.......hey, I'm just sayin :shrug: :spank: