Happened me a year or two ago, just as I was heading into a series of bad bends on what passes for a main road here in Ireland (just west of Ballinasloe, for those who know the area.). The rather large dog bounced off the front of the car and scarpered - apparently none the worse for wear. BUT - the impact caused an emergency cut-off in the fuel supply to kick in and the car wouldn't restart! There was no hard shoulder, just a rather uninviting ditch. Approaching traffic couldn't see me till the last second, due to the bends/hedgerows. On a hunch, I activated and reset the immobiliser system - and it worked! Car restarted and off I drove - no sign, good or bad, of the dog.

When I called into my garage to tell the tale, they laughed and said "Just as well it wasn't the previous model! With it, you'd have had to open the bonnet and find a switch buried in the guts of the engine!"

Regards