In Florida, there is an apparently fuzzy line between loving animals and loving animals. For those who do not understand the difference, let's look at two examples from yesterday's headlines.
In the first case, the Miami Gardens Police Department announced it would hold funeral services tomorrow for a German shepherd K-9 dog named Max that was killed recently in the line of duty.
In the second, a man spotted a stray cat on the Turnpike. But when he stopped his car to try to save the animal, he caused a horrible accident that killed another driver and landed him in critical condition.
One of these things is not OK.
If you picked the dead hero dog, then, well, you either have a reflexive hatred of German shepherds or a thing against cops. Sure, a publicly financed funeral for an animal seems a bit excessive at first, but Max probably did a helluva lot more for his community than you ever will.
Stopping abruptly on the side of a mega-highway to save a stray cat, however, is insane.
Yet, that's exactly what Michael James Schneider did Monday afternoon in Broward County. The 35-year-old Tequesta native pulled his Toyota Tundra onto the northbound shoulder of the Turnpike to rescue the animal.
Instead, the demonic creature drew him into oncoming traffic. An unidentified woman hit Schneider with her car before losing control.
Schneider was thrown onto the grass, but the driver was not as lucky. She crashed and was later pronounced dead at Broward Health North, according to the Miami Herald.
Schneider remains in serious condition. The feline's fate remains a mystery.
Follow Michael E. Miller on Twitter.
Follow Miami New Times on Facebook and Twitter @MiamiNewTimes.
