Dogsey

A family whose dog was hit by a car and left to die have said they are “devastated”. Max, a border collie cross, was hit on Castlesyke Hill in Pontefract at approximately 1.30 pm last Thursday. He had been out walking with his owner's partner, Sean Annable, in nearby fields, together with the family's other dog, Casper.

Owner, mother-of-two Andrea Murgatroyd, explained that both dogs bolted towards the main road. She said: “I can't believe someone could hit a dog and not stop to help it. Even if it was a stray dog I would still take it to the vet and contact the police to at least try and find its owners.

“I want the person who did this to be disgusted by what they've done. They have killed my dog.”

She expressed her gratitude to a passer-by who showed Mr Annable where Max was lying on the roadside and to a female motorist who brought Mr Annable and the dogs home.

Max died on the way to the vet. Miss Murgatroyd, 37, said: “He was a faithful dog and so good with the children, we'd only had him for six months but he was part of the family.”

Referring to the law that motorists must report hitting a dog to police, Mrs Murgatroyd said “I just want people to know if a dog runs out onto the road and you hit it, it might not be your fault but you're supposed to stop.”

Although the family reported the incident to the police, the driver has not been in contact. Any information can be given to the police on the non-emergency number, 101.