From Gregory Stock’s The Book of Questions: You are driving late at night in a safe but deserted neighborhood, and a dog darts in front of your car. You slam on the brakes, but still hit the animal. Would you stop to help? If you did stop and the dog was dead but had a name tag, would you call the owner?

Personally, there’s no question about it. I’m pulling over immediately, hazard lights on, ready to do whatever I can to assist the injured animal. Even if it means sacrificing some precious sleep and dealing with a potentially awkward situation, I couldn’t live with myself if I just drove away.

Now, let’s say the worst has happened, and the dog has sadly passed away from the impact. However, upon closer inspection, you notice a glimmer of hope – a name tag attached to the collar. Would you take the time to contact the owner, even in the middle of the night, to inform them of the tragic news?

Again, for me, the answer is a resounding “yes.” I’d want to know if it were Krypto, no matter how devastating the news might be. It’s the right thing to do, even if it means an uncomfortable phone call and a few more minutes out in the chilly night air. Plus, it might give the owner some sense of closure, knowing that someone cared enough to reach out.

I can imagine the conversation now: “Hello, is this John? Hi John, this is Aaron, the random dude who just hit your dog with his car. I’m so sorry to disturb you at this hour, but I thought you’d want to know…” Okay, maybe I’d be a bit more tactful than that, but you get the idea.

In all seriousness, I believe that we have a responsibility to do the right thing in situations like these, even when it’s not convenient or easy. It’s a matter of empathy, compassion, and basic human decency.

But hey, that’s just me. I’m curious to hear what you, dear readers, would do in this situation. Would you stop to help the injured dog? Would you make that difficult phone call to the owner if the worst had happened? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and let’s hope that none of us ever have to face this midnight dilemma in real life!