A heartbroken mum who watched in horror as the family dog was knocked down by a car is begging for the driver to come forward after they allegedly failed to stop.
Caroline Johnson, from Ayr, rushed Shih Tzu cross Nikki to the vets on Monday night following the accident and discovered she had suffered a broken pelvis and dislocated hip.
The mum-of-three made the difficult decision to have the 10-year-old pooch put to sleep due to the £3000 cost of the operation and following vet advice that she’d likely be in ongoing pain for the rest of her life.
Caroline has now shared footage of the silver Ford motor that struck the pooch on Ayr’s Prestwick Road at around 5.30pm in a bid to find out who the driver was.
She told the Record: “I just want the driver to acknowledge that they hit her. If they came forward, I think it would help us get some closure but this will take a long time to get over.
“Accidents do happen, I understand that, but to not acknowledge or check up on the animal which your vehicle hit is not acceptable. I haven’t reported it to the police yet because myself and the kids are still processing it. We got Nikki just after my youngest’s first birthday.
“My 21-year-old is at university in Edinburgh so I had to phone him and tell him. My other two kids were with their dad when it happened. I phoned him to take me to the vets with Nikki so the kids and their dad were there the whole time.
“She had a broken pelvis and a dislocated hip. The operation would cost us £3000 but she would be in pain and on medication for the rest of her life.
“I couldn't afford that but also didn't want her to be in pain so we had to put her to sleep then pay a vet bill of over £800.”
Recalling the accident, Caroline added: “I was inside making dinner when Nikki escaped out the garden through a hole in the fence. I saw her get hit. The car was heading to Ayr along Prestwick Road and it hit her with the driver's side front wheel.
“The car slowed down at first but then drove away. The car behind the one that hit her did behind stop and the driver got out to check with my neighbour how Nikki was.
“I managed to get a picture of the car on my Ring doorbell but the actual accident wasn't caught on camera as it was just out of view. Our house will never be the same without her but at least she's not in any pain anymore.”
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