Heartbroken Family Wants To Find Whoever Hit Their Dog (UPDATED)

UPDATE: Friends of the Southern Ocean County Animal Shelter Rescue are offering a $500 dollar reward to anyone who has any information on the driver that struck Tanna on the morning of September 27th 2018. All motorists are reminded that they are legally obligated to stop and report to the local police department any domestic animal or livestock that they have knowingly hit, run over, or caused injury to.

If you have any information on this driver, contact Stafford Animal Control (609) 597-1000 or email KKarch@staffordnj.gov.

STAFFORD TOWNSHIP, NJ - The little dog in the pictures was Tanna, the beloved pup of April Christine and her family.

And the family wants to find the driver that hit her on Thursday on Route 9 near Silo Road around 9 a.m., then sped up without stopping. The driver was heading north on Route 9, towards Barnegat.

Many tried to prevent Tanna from being hurt before she was hit. People got out of their cars and directed traffic to a complete stop. A woman was holding Tanna by her collar to prevent her from being hit. A man went to get a leash.

But it didn't work. A driver in a gray/silver sedan, possibly a Hyundai Elantra/Sonata, sped down the roadway and hit Tanna just after she slipped her collar trying to come home, Christine said. The impact sent the little dog into the next lane and the driver just kept going.

"Everyone was in shock & because of what they had just witnessed, no one could give a description of the car or plate # ...other than that the color of the car was gray," she wrote on her Facebook page.

The vehicle that struck Tanna has front end and driver side damage, she said.

"You DON'T just drive off after hitting a domesticated animal OR anything or anyone for that matter!!!," she wrote. "Unless of course you're just a cold, heartless coward! Accidents happen & generally, they are rectified by an apology or some sort of remorse. This person, by their actions (or lack thereof) showed neither!"

The family rushed Tanna to the Barnegat Veterinary Hospital. Tanna's back was broken, she had two broken legs, head and face trauma and cuts and bruises all over her body. The family had no choice but to put their dog to sleep.

"Our house feels empty," she wrote. "Routines are broken & are just haunting memories with unfulfilled expectations that she'll be waiting, smiling & wagging her tail. We're all so sad & miss her so much. Rest in peace, sweet Tanna girl!You came into our lives & gave us so much love, loyalty & so many happy memories. Hopefully one day we'll find the person who did this to you & give you the justice you so deserve."

If you think you know who hit Tanna, please contact Christine on her Facebook page.

Photos: Courtesy of April Christine