A woman has been left heartbroken after claims her puppy was ran over and killed by an electric scooter being driven by two boys along a popular walking route in Salford.
Susan Leigh, 63, had taken her nine-month-old Poodle, Rupert, along the Walkden to Little Hulton Loop Line when the pooch was allegedly knocked down by the vehicle. The pair had stopped at a bench near Walkden High School so Rupert could enjoy a quick drink, when out of nowhere Susan claims the scooter came speeding towards them.
Before she had a chance to react, Susan said the scooter's wheels went over the dog - leaving him motionless on the pathway. She claims the two youths glanced over, but didn't stop to help her on Wednesday.
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Screaming for help, a number of bystanders came to Susan's aid, with one man offering to drive them to a local vets. Efforts were made to revive Rupert, but he was sadly pronounced dead a short time later.
Speaking to the M.E.N, Susan became overwhelmed with emotion as she described her devastation. Her neighbour Cheryl said the pooch had become 'her life' and helped her cope with her mental health.
The incident has been reported to Greater Manchester Police, as Cheryl described an ongoing issue with youngsters on e-scooters using he paths illegitimately in recent weeks.
Speaking of the tragedy, Susan said: "I had stopped to give Rupert a drink of water and he was chewing on a stick as he loved to do. He spotted the scooter before me as it didn't make a noise. The next thing he just shot from his feet and went to the centre of the bike and the bike wheel went over him.
"There were two lads on the bike. They must have been going at least 20mph. They looked around to see what they had hit and then just drove off. They never bothered to come back and check. I was on my own and I was screaming for help. Some people finally appeared. I was shouting that I needed to get him off the path. He wasn’t moving and there was blood coming from him.
"One woman’s husband came back with a plastic lid and put him on that to carry him to his car and he drove us to the vets. I knew he was gone. They were giving him CPR trying to bring him back and then they came through and said he had gone."
Susan's neighbour Cheryl said the "happy" and "friendly" puppy had given Susan, who lives by herself, 'something to live for.' She said her neighbour would take Rupert out for walks whatever the weather.
"Rupert was her life. She is absolutely devastated. She didn’t even hear the scooter coming they just appeared and rode over him it was that quick. That could have been a child. They are down there all the time at the moment. They are not allowed there. It’s a walk way which cyclists can use but they have to give notice with their bell but any motor vehicle is no allowed on there."
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police confirmed the incident was reported to them on May 19 and that enquiries were "on-going." Anyone with information is being asked to report it online or via LiveChat at www.gmp.police.uk.
