Our resident pet expert and reporter Gabby Peterson worked on a tragic and complicated story this week that centers on a pet owner's worst nightmare. 

🐶 A devastating injury: Stella, a beloved 3-year-old mixed-breed dog, was in the driveway when she was struck by a truck driver who had entered the rural Oakley, Summit County, property to perform some maintenance work. 

🩺 A pricey vet bill: Stella's pelvis was crushed in the accident, and as a result, Mike and Whitney Weiss were forced to make the decision whether or not to have Stella admitted for orthopedic surgery, which would cost the Weiss' family a total of roughly $10K. 

This is where it gets murky. 

Initially, the couple was told the driver's insurance would provide full coverage for the surgery, so they provided the go-ahead for Stella's operation and prepared for a long recovery for the family and for Stella, footing the whopping $10K veterinary bill themselves, planning on receiving compensation for the surgery from the insurance company.

☎️ The call that changed everything: Shortly after the surgery while Stella's wounds and the family spirits were on the mend, Mike received a call from a representative for the insurance company telling him they determined that their driver was not liable for hitting Stella on the Weiss' property. 

💵 So who foots the bill in cases like this? It's complicated, and in this case, what happens next is still evolving. 

📰 Read more of Gabby's reporting on the topic.

📣 PSA: If you or anyone you know is aware of a similar situation, we would love to hear from you. You can reach out to sgambles@deseretnews.com.

🤝 Gabby and I are working together on the reporting aspects of the story, so any advice or insight from our resident Utahns or people with connections to Utah would be incredibly helpful.

We are planning on following this story as it continues to develop. Thanks for your help!

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