Hit and Run (originally published 7-18-12; updated 4-9-13)

Hi, Everyone,

I'm not doing a letter today. I just wanted to take a moment to talk about what happened last Monday to Beastcub's sister, Gemily West; her boyfriend, Harison Long-Randall; and Gemily's dogs, Evie, Bindie, Zury, and Winry. Here is the story (not for the weak-of-stomach) http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/18/4638401/2-badly-injured-4-dogs-killed.html.

First of all, my friends Palomino Pony and LostWolf have been posting regular updates, including the latest news from the Sacramento Bee at http://blogs.sacbee.com/crime/archives/2012/07/hit-and-run-victims-remain-hospitalized.html.

Harison lost his leg saving Gemily's life. He is a true hero. I feel they will both recover, though they are going through a lot of pain, not only physical but also emotional because all four dogs are now dead.

I don't know what caused this person who drove the car to do this. Papabear knows that people are not perfect, and sometimes we do the wrong thing and sometimes we do things by accident.

Sometimes, though, there are people out there who, for lack of a better term, are just plain evil. The man or woman behind the wheel of the car did something unforgivably wicked. I can think of no reasonable excuse for running down two people and four dogs with a car going 80 miles an hour. None.

[Update: the man driving the car was a soused moron with a criminal record. Here's the story http://blogs.sacbee.com/mt/mt-search.cgi?IncludeBlogs=36&search=Gemily+West&keywords=Gemily+West&aff=5] 

How do we deal with evil in the world? For one thing, we step up to help those who were the victims, and Papabear is proud to say that he has seen a lot of furries try and help the families struck by this tragedy.

What we should not do is try and seek revenge or become angry and bitter about what happened. When we do this, it is not the perpetrator who loses, it is us. Papabear was very angry at first at this news, then sad. That is natural and we have to work through those emotions. Now it is time to get to work.

We all need to come together counteract the evil that was done to Gemily, Harison, their pets, and their families. I ask you all to pray for them in whatever manner you are comfortable with. I ask you all to send them love, to give them an outpouring of support, affection, generosity, and kindness. Here's whom to contact:

Harison Long-Randall/Gemily West Fund c/o Pam Dinsmore
Community Affairs Director
The Sacramento Bee
2100 Q St.
Sacramento, CA 95816  

It is only in this way that all of us can pull together and fight against the evil that exists in the world. 

Let's show our fellow furries that we are their extended family. That we love and support them and are here for them. You don't have to do a lot. Send them a card. Send a flower. Anything at all will help.

Thank you,

Papabear  

Update: 7-21-12

Beastcub posted the following on her FurAffinity page

I just wanted to say things are looking better over here, unless Hari gets an infection he is in the clear, he has an operation every 24-48 hours to keep his open wounds clean and he is on ventilator and feeding tube and cannot talk. He will be bed bound in the ICU for 3 weeks, after that he will be in the recovery ward. 

Gemily is doing well enough considering the double trauma of both her BF and dogs being part of this. With the rod in her leg she should be able to use it right away but what the media fails to report is she is missing chunks of flesh from that leg and is all covered in bruises, and her foot is all swollen.
I got to see her at last today, and she finally laughed a bit for the first time today and she and I both ate decently since this happened.

There also now an official paypal donation, you can send donations to longrandallwestfund[at]gmail.com 
Hari needs the money more than us, his home will have to be modified and his family members will be unable to work while caring for him. So every little bit helps.

Oh and you can sent a check too - from the Sacramento Bee:

Fund set up for hit and run victims
Readers responding to Monday night's horrific hit and run crash in Carmichael are offering donations to help the families involved.
Anyone wanting to contribute may send checks made out to the Harison Long-Randall/Gemily West Fund and send them to:

Pam Dinsmore
Community Affairs Director
The Sacramento Bee
2100 Q St.
Sacramento, CA 95816 

UPDATE: July 29, 2012

According to a post from my friend Palomino Pony, Harrison Long-Randall has died from his injuries from the hit and run. I'm sure all of you will join with me in a prayer for Gemily West and her and her mate's families.  Here is the story: http://www.news10.net/news/local/article/203062/2/Man-hurt-in-Carmichael-hit-run-dies-at-hospital. Also, Beastcub (Gemily's sister) posted on FA:  http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/3704788/#cid:27898545.

UPDATE: August 14, 2012 


The Carmichael Times published an update about the tragedy, which you can read here: http://carmichaeltimes.com/pdf_files/volume_32_pdfs/Times%2008-08-12.pdf and Gemily's sister, Lilleah West (aka Beastcub) published her reaction on FurAffinity here: http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/3739408/.

UPDATE: September 27, 2012

The man who committed (allegedly) this horrendous crime has now been charged with murder. See full article here:  
http://blogs.sacbee.com/crime/archives/2012/09/driver-accused-in-fatal-hit-and-run-in-carmichael-charged-with-murder.html. 

UPDATE: April 9, 2013

Paul Walden, who last year in Sacramento ran over Gemily West (sister of Beastcub), seriously injuring her, killing her boyfriend and her four dogs, is scheduled to stand trial this July. His defense lawyer is saying he was merely tired and not drunk or high. Walden had previously been convicted several times for driving high, and when police caught up to him several days after he ran over those poor furries, he claimed he didn't remember doing it. Read the story: http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2013/04/05/man-to-stand-trial-for-murder-in-fatal-dui-hit-and-run/.