Animal sanctuary owners mourning, furious at FedEx after beloved puppy was ran over and killed
Rooster, a seven month old corgi puppy, was killed in the driveway of his owner’s farm in Walker County when he was ran over by a FedEx driver. (Courtesy: Maryann Marsh)
TRION, Ga. (WDEF)- A pair of animal sanctuary owners in Walker County are mourning after a tragic loss over the weekend.
Husband and wife Maryann Marsh and Marty Orr’s farm is best known for their alpaca sanctuary..
However, they rescue all kinds of farm and domestic animals, including several dogs.
One of those was a seven month old puppy named Rooster, who had just overcome months of physical rehabilitation to restore usage of his back legs.
Just as he was becoming a healthy dog, his life was taken in a flash.
Marsh described how a quiet Saturday turned tragic when a FedEx driver drove up their driveway to deliver a package.
She said that despite having hundreds of feet to notice the presence of numerous animals, that “He kept just right on going and the dogs were all around him, and about 300 feet up he didn’t stop. He didn’t stop here. He didn’t stop here, he went about a car length around the tree here, and hit Rooster and killed him instantly.”
The owners believe the incident was preventable.
They’ve operated the sanctuary for years and have never had an incident like this occur.
Orr said, “It was senseless, I mean it’s a sanctuary, and you see animals running around. You don’t just keep driving. You stop! You blow your horn. You do something. He didn’t do anything!”
They say since the incident, they’ve reached out to FedEx in regards to the incident, to which they say they’ve received a cold reply.
Marsh described one call to FedEx’s complaint line, to which she says a call operator said, “I’m calling in reference to a driver that hit a dog.” without an ounce of compassion… I told him at the end of the conversation, “I said, I hope you don’t ever get a call about a child being ran over.” And then he hung up the phone.”
She also said that the email given on the company’s website bounced back her email attempt, but acknowledged she since has gotten in contact with a local FedEx operator.
We also reached out to FedEx, who gave us the following statement:
“We extend our deepest sympathies to the family mourning the loss of their beloved pet. We take this matter very seriously and are working directly with those involved to determine the circumstances behind this event. Based on the outcome of our investigation, we will take the appropriate action.”
The owners say despite his short life, Rooster’s determination to overcome his psychical disability should be an inspiration to all who hear his story.
Marsh said, “Everyone thought he would never walk and Rooster proved them all wrong… This senseless loss is not just ours as the owners, but he had thousands of owners.”
The owners added they hope FedEx and other delivery companies review their safe driving policies, especially in residential areas.
