Eastchester Woman Mourns the Loss of Her Dog

Whenever someone experiences the loss of a pet, it can be extremely devastating; but in the case of 23 year-old Jennifer Vasquez, her feelings of devastation have been riddled with frustration too after her two year-old Cocker Spaniel named Kira escaped from her Eastchester apartment back on Wednesday Aug. 1.

Eastchester FD responded to Vasquez's address that day after a gas line was struck by contractors working with a backhoe on the sidewalk adjacent to the apartment located at 203 Main st. according to Eastchester FD.

Due to the damaged gas line, Eastchester Fire Chief Michael Grogan stated that it was necessary to check each individual apartment unit to be sure conditions were safe and firemen reported neighbors stating that a young woman with a dog lived in the third floor unit.

When firemen got no response, they were forced to enter the apartment, at which time according to Eastchester FD, Vasquez's dog Kira, startled, ran out of the unit and out onto Main st.

All local law enforcement officials were notified and a search of the area was conducted, turning up negative results.

Then on Friday Aug. 3, two days after Kira first went missing, Vasquez received word that her dog had been struck by a car on the Sprain Brook Parkway, bringing to an end the hope of her safe return and along with her mother, she buried her dog that weekend.

"My main concern is that the Fire Department use more caution when entering homes in the future because I don't want to see this happen to another family," stated Vasquez.

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Chief Grogan responded by stating that his department rarely has seen an incident quite like this one and that, "we always make every attempt to secure people first and then if necessary, pets as well since they too are a priority."

Perhaps the situation was made worse by the fact that Vasquez was at work at the time of the gas leak and that the news of her dog's disappearance came from her landlord who contacted her by phone.

"I wish they could have done more to find her," said Vasquez, still visibly upset by the incident and while she would like to maybe get another dog in the future, for now, her loss has left her with a void that hopefully time will heal.