Girl trying to save sick pet dies in stolen car crash
Sometimes, the news I find is just sad.
A 15-year-old girl died Tuesday in a dramatic, ill-advised, effort to save her cancer-stricken dog from euthanasia.
Taylor Mae Stinchcomb, 15, died trying to prevent her dog from being euthanized.
According to an article in the Chicago Sun Times, Taylor Mae Stinchcomb, 15, stole her family’s 2003 Dodge minivan and fled her Chicago-area home with her ill dog, Romulus, and a female friend, also 15.
When Taylor became too upset to drive, her unnamed friend took the wheel. Moments later, the friend lost control of the vehicle and crashed into several trees and a telephone pole.
The dog was thrown from the vehicle and died immediately. Taylor died of her injuries at a local hospital. The driver escaped almost without a scratch.
Drugs or alcohol were not a factor in the crash, police said.
Police are not sure where the girls were headed or what they planned to do.
Taylor picked the dog out while visiting an animal shelter on her 13th birthday.
A high school freshman, Taylor is survived by two sisters, a brother and her parents, Bill and LeeAnn Stinchcomb.
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95 comments Add your comment
CH
June 24th, 2011
11:26 am
Poor misguided girl. I know my beloved pet was so sick at the end. Now that I am older I feel guilty for trying to keep her here and make her suffer. My parents tried for a couple of months to talk me into putting her down but I just couldn’t bare it. But as a teenager you don’t think like that. EVERYTHING is bigger than it really is, more important..don’t you guys remember? Who knows what her desperate plan was. But where ever or what ever happens after this life..those left here who loved her deserve a little compassion and love. Not stupid arguements about stole..took..
And I’m not even gonna bother with the other. Bless his/her heart.
CAM
June 24th, 2011
11:31 am
I see some cold post and proves on this planet there are more morons than not…I had a sick cat that never left the yard and on her last day she ran down the street and i had to go bring her back.my girl freind’s mom picked her up to carry her to the vet..little did i know… they were going to put her down..the cat knew it but i had no clue.
Hull
June 24th, 2011
11:37 am
DamnAnimalLovers
June 24th, 2011
9:51 am
I think she’s in DOGGIE HEAVEN – where all Animal lovers go to spend the remainder of their soulless lives – taking care of the sick, dying and the already-dead.
This is the kind of comment someone like Jared Loughner might post. Hopefully your words are in jest, if they’re not you really need to seek counseling.
SAJWG
June 24th, 2011
11:38 am
Mike: If people were as good as our companion animals then I’d do as much for them. Unfortunately, they’re not.
“The dog is a gentleman; I hope to go to his heaven, not man’s.” ~Mark Twain, letter to W.D. Howells, 2 April 1899
TC
June 24th, 2011
11:54 am
The dog was dying anyway. Now you are dead and you made the dog die faster. Teach your children that animals are animals and should be treated as such.
Charlie S
June 24th, 2011
11:57 am
I mean I don’t even see myself a really a Christian despite growing up in the church. However, if being an atheist or even an agnostic makes you loose your humanity then sign me up for Hinduism, Zen or even whatever makes Apple consumers so loyal. I’d rather have fellowship with good people then cynicism and self-loathing alone. All hail the spaghetti monster!
TGIF
June 24th, 2011
12:10 pm
Her parents probably refused to pay for treatment. I’ve seen irresponsible pet owners opt to euthanize over a broken leg. SPAY, NEUTER AND ADOPT!
TGIF
June 24th, 2011
12:13 pm
“Animals are animals” …. Until you or someone in your family is saved by a pet or needs a canine assistant. (…or needs to catch Bin Laden — had to throw that one in there)
TGIF
June 24th, 2011
12:15 pm
Our domesticated animal world are more humane than we are: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofpYRITtLSg
Editor
June 24th, 2011
12:26 pm
@Mimi: “took the car” would be fine; however, the previous poster suggested “took the car without permission”, which is much longer. And yes, space is very precious.
Also – your vs. you’re.