CECILIA, La. (KPEL News) — Just over ten years ago, my wife and I decided it was time to add a new pet to our growing family. Our two oldest daughters were just two and seven when we met Stormageddon—“Stormy” for short—at the Maryland ASPCA. He was a two-year-old puggle with a pronounced underbite, and we fell in love the moment we saw him.
Credit: The Angelle Family
Over the next decade, Stormy became part of everything: cross-country moves, purchasing our first home, and eventually settling back in St. Martin Parish, where I was born and raised. He’s been with us every step of the way.
A Quiet Louisiana Street… Until It Wasn’t
If you grew up in rural Louisiana, you know the kind of place I’m talking about—where kids and pets can roam without a leash, and everyone knows whose dog belongs to who. That’s our neighborhood in Cecilia, a peaceful cul-de-sac tucked alongside the Bayou Teche.
But on the morning of Friday, March 28, that peace was shattered.
My wife sent a text that stopped me cold:
“We have an emergency. Stormy’s paw is bleeding bad and it’s floppy.”
I rushed home from Lafayette. When I arrived, I saw Stormy with the bone in his front left leg protruding through his skin. After making arrangements for the kids, we brought him to Lafayette Veterinary Care Center.
Credit: The Angelle Family
The news was devastating: his leg was shattered beyond repair, and there was lung damage from internal bruising. The only option was amputation.
Credit: The Angelle Family
What Happened?
We didn’t know at first. But a neighbor soon told us he heard Stormy get hit sometime between 6:00 and 6:30 a.m. He said he heard the yelps, saw the driver keep going—and Stormy limped his way back home, alone.
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That’s what hurts the most.
We live on a quiet street where only neighbors drive by. Did someone we know just drive off after hitting our dog?
The answer, heartbreakingly, is yes.
Owning Our Responsibility
Let me be clear: Stormy wasn’t on a leash. That’s on us. After eight years without issue, we got complacent. He’s our responsibility, and we failed him. We own that.
But I’ll never understand how someone familiar with our family and our dog could hit him and not stop. We wouldn’t have asked for money. A simple check-in would have meant the world.
Instead, Stormy lay bleeding, terrified, and alone—until our oldest daughter found him on the front steps, wounded but alive.
Healing, Forgiveness, and Moving Forward
Credit: The Angelle Family
We brought Stormy home Sunday afternoon. He’s adjusting to life on three legs and is already starting to perk up. Our family is adjusting too, and we’re committed to making his remaining years as joyful as possible.
Yes, we’re angry. But we’re also choosing grace. Forgiveness isn’t easy—but it’s necessary.
To the person who hit Stormy:
I forgive you, and I pray for you. We all carry burdens. I pray you find peace, healing, and the strength to move forward with compassion.
Credit: The Angelle Family
Stormageddon is a fighter—and so are we!
10 Things Every True South Louisiana Driver Should Keep in Their Car
Living in South Louisiana comes with its own set of unique challenges, from unpredictable weather to surprise mosquito invasions. Whether you’re navigating backroads, chasing sunsets along the bayou, or heading to a crawfish boil, your car needs to be stocked with essentials that reflect life in the Pelican State. Here are the 10 must-have items every true South Louisianian should keep in their vehicle.
Gallery Credit: Joe Cunningham
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