Latest news RSS Feed
Print Story
E-mail StoryLocals react to man who died trying to save dog
| Friday, Mar 7 2008 5:03 PM
Last Updated: Friday, Mar 7 2008 5:12 PM
Not much is known about Phillip Terry Hagar except how he died.
Our readers recommend:
Loading Stories
Hagar, 45, ran onto Rosedale Highway near Fairhaven Drive on Thursday evening to apparently save a dog in the roadway, the California Highway Patrol reported. Hagar was struck by a car and killed.
The dog was euthanized by Animal Control officers because it had suffered serious injuries. It’s unknown whether Hagar owned the dog.
Hagar listed the Bakersfield Homeless Shelter as his residence, but Dan Bayus, the shelter’s single adult case manager, had never heard of him. An uncle, Richard Hagar, said he had only spoken to Phillip once or twice since Phillip was 8 years old.
Some local residents believe Hagar’s final action was a brave and selfless one, while others believe he needlessly got himself killed. Several shoppers outside the PETCO on Rosedale Highway shared their views.
“I wouldn’t run out on Rosedale,” said Ridgecrest resident David O’Connor, owners of three cats. “That’s one street to avoid.”
Sandy and Rick Slain, of Bakersfield, said they probably would do the same thing Hagar did and try to rescue their dogs.
“We love them,” Sandy Slain said.
Nine-year-old Philip Donswyck would take a more cautious approach. Donswyck, of Ventura County, was visiting his grandmother in Bakersfield and was bringing his pet dachshund, Louie, to PETCO.
“I would definitely run out and save him, but I’d wait until there were no cars,” Donswyck said.
It’s not worth risking your life over an animal, said Bakersfield resident Glen Priest. He said he once saw a cat get hit by a car on White Lane and he went into the street to get it once traffic eased up. The cat lived, he said.
“I feel bad for (Hagar),” he said.
Kern County Animal Control Chief Denise Haynes said people shouldn’t endanger themselves for an animal. A dog or any other animal that’s in traffic is going to be panicked and will probably just run away from any would be rescuers anyway, she said.