Incline woman walks road to recovery
by Merry Thomas, Bonanza Staff Writer
Incline Village resident Sara McBurnett says
she's doing better a month after an angry motorist
snatched her beloved pet from her lap near San Jose.
"I'm starting to function again," she said. But the
violence of the loss of her little dog Leo on Feb. 12
will haunt her for a long time.
airport to pick up her husband Patrick, an American
Airlines pilot based out of San Jose, she was involved
in a minor fender-bender.
"He got out of his car, shouting to me that I'd tapped
his bumper," she said as she recalled the other driver's
reaction. "I rolled down my window to talk to him. I
never dreamed he'd do something like that."
What he did was an incident that has horrified dog
lovers around the world. The enraged man plucked the
10-year-old bichon frise out of her car and threw it into
the heavy passing traffic in an act of road rage.
Yet, McBurnett continues, "It has become so common
these days. I think television has contributed to our
being desensitized to violent acts. Who will be next?"
she wonders. "A 2-year-old child?"
show-quality bichon frise. The puppy was already following
McBurnett everywhere she walked around the house.
"He's the only thing that's made me smile again," she said.
"My husband and my mother bought him for me for Valentine's
Day. I couldn't come home to a dogless house."
"I'm beginning to get my faith in people back, " said McBurnett.
"After that happened it was hard."
The freeway lanes outside the San Jose airport were crowded, McBurnett said there weren't many people willing to step forward and help.
"So many people were around, but only one person tried to help me," McBurnett recalled. The passing motorist offered more than just immediate help.
she said.
On Thursday, March 9, McBurnett was supposed to go to San Jose
to view a lineup for a possible I.D. of the attacker.
"The police have some good leads," she said.
McBurnett has received hundreds of messages of sympathy from
all around the world.
"Leo's story has touched many," she said. "I've received so many
e-mails and cards from perfect strangers; flowers from perfect
strangers -- and phone calls."
But not everyone has been so supportive.
"We had one crank call. In the middle of the night. But since
installing the call waiting we've had absolutely no more
trouble," McBurnett said.
She's optimistic about catching Leo's killer.
"One of my friends started by offering a $5,000 reward. Now it's up to $70,000. So many people have been so generous."
The reward is earmarked for the Humane Society's fund to
prevent violence to animals. And there's a Web site:
www.interstice.com/leo, McBurnett said.
"He had lots of dog friends. He really loved the Incline dog scene."
McBurnett suggests that if Tahoe residents who have been moved by Leo's story would like to contribute something, that they think of giving to Pet Network in memory of her companion.
The tremendous amount of attention McBurnett and Leo's story
has generated not only sympathy but some negative response from people. McBurnett said some people have said "Why all this fuss about a dog when there are children dying every day?"
"This isn't meant to diminish in any way peoples' loss of their
children. It isn't about invalidating others' losses," McBurnett
said. "I just think people were touched by this innocent little
fluffy thing, and my love for him has come across."
publicity, McBurnett considers her loss more than just a
personal one. Also, because he died as a result of road rage,
McBurnett sincerely wants his death to be a wakeup call
regarding anger management.
She said is concerned about what she considers a trend in our
culture: lack of compassion.
"I think he has really become a symbol -- a symbol of the
devastation of random violence," says McBurnett. "We all feel
anger and sometimes fantasize about what we'd like to do. Those
who actually do something need to be held accountable."
McBurnett also wants to make a memorial to Leo.
"As I get through this, it will come to me," she said.
McBurnett said Leo used to really like walking along the beach.
"The highlight of his life was when we would go to Chimney Beach.
That's where," she sobbed, "I'm going to scatter his ashes."
But for now, McBurnett simply wants some normality restored to
her life. She wants to get back to work, and to get on with her
life, and to enjoy Stormy.
"I had never been a victim of violence before," she said. "People
don't realize how one random act of violence, in just seconds,
can alter a life forever."
is better than to have never loved at all.
For all of the times that you have stooped and
touched my head, fed me my favorite treat and
returned the love that I so unconditionally gave to you.
For the care that you gave to me so unselfishly. For
all of these things, I am grateful and thankful.
I ask that you not grieve for the loss, but rejoice in the fact that we lived, loved and touched each others lives. My life was fuller because you were there, not as a master/owner, but as my FRIEND.
I came to have a peep.
I could see that you were crying,
You found it hard to sleep.
I whined to you softly
as you brushed away a tear,
"It's me, I haven't left you,
I'm well, I'm fine, I'm here."
I watched you pour the tea,
You were thinking of the many times,
your hands reached down to me.
I was with you at the shops today,
Your arms were getting sore.
I longed to take your parcels,
I wish I could do more.
I was with you at my grave today,
You tend it with such care.
I want to reassure you,
that I'm not lying there.
I watched you pour the tea,
You were thinking of the many times,
your hands reached down to me.
I was with you at the shops today,
Your arms were getting sore.
I longed to take your parcels,
I wish I could do more.
I was with you at my grave today,
You tend it with such care.
I want to reassure you,
that I'm not lying there.
as you fumbled for your key.
I gently put my paw on you,
I smiled and said "it's me."
You looked so very tired,
and sank into a chair.
I tried so hard to let you know,
that I was standing there.
It's possible for me,
to be so near you everyday.
To say to you with certainty,
"I never went away."
You sat there very quietly,
then smiled, I think you knew
... in the stillness of that evening,
I was very close to you.
smile and watch you yawning
and say "goodnight, God bless,
I'll see you in the morning."
And when the time is right for you
to cross the brief divide,
I'll rush across to greet you
and we'll stand, side by side.
I have so many things to show you,
there is so much for you to see.
Be patient, live your journey out
... then come home to be with me.
new puppy, Stormy. Her last dog, Leo, was
killed in a road rage incident near San Jose.
- Photo credit/Michael Okimoto
And God said, "I know."
I said, "God, I cry a lot."
And God said, "That is why I gave you tears."
I said, "God, I am so depressed."
And God said, "That is why I gave you Sunshine."
I said, "God, life is so hard."
And God said, "That is why I gave you loved ones."
