



LATE IN November, Buttons and his owner were taking a walk. As they stopped to talk to a friend, something caught Buttons' attention. In a split second he had wriggled out of his collar. When his owner realized what had happened, Buttons was already dangerously close to the road. Time seemed to slow down as she willed him to stop, and not walk into the street. A car was approaching, and in mute horror she watched Buttons bound into the road. In a split second he was killed. His small puppy life had been ended forever.

Buttons was a Shetland Sheepdog in a litter of four that I raised. Three of the puppies found wonderful homes in the same neighborhood with three 9-year-old girls, fast friends and schoolmates. Many sunny days I would watch the girls play together with Lady, Perry and Buttons.

All of my ""babies" had gone to loving homes and were still able to play with each other. When I was informed of the accident, I was devastated.

I had loved him so much, and now he was gone. Whose fault was it? Could it have been prevented? Over and over again, I thought to myself ""if only." What if it had been a child who slipped away?

Cars speed down our residential streets and race recklessly around corners. Drivers don't seem to realize how easy it is to snuff out a life when late to an appointment, rushing to the office or speeding in hopes of saving some time. How much would it really have mattered to be two minutes earlier? The guilt and remorse the driver would feel could all be prevented.

Lives can be saved by taking the time to be careful. Elizabeth Smokay, ORLANDO

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