A family whose two beloved pet dogs were hit and killed in a road traffic incident have spoken of their heartbreak.
Fred the six-year-old bulldog and Penny the one-year-old Pomeranian/Yorkshire terrier mix were at home when the tragedy unfolded on Friday (27 December).
The much-loved pets ran out of their front door on Manchester Road in the Blackrod area of Bolton after it was blown open at around midday.
A gust of wind from the back door meant the dogs were able to escape when they spotted some other dogs across the street.
Tragically, the pair were hit and killed by an oncoming driver. The dogs were taken to a veterinary hospital where Penny was pronounced dead a short time later. Sadly, Fred passed away within the next 48 hours.
The family have been left devastated
(Image: Steven Moss)
Their owner, Steven Moss, has recalled the heartbreaking moment he was given the news. “My wife isn’t coping,” he said. “I’ve had some cries.
“I was in Whitby at the time and I was driving back. It was a bit surreal really.
“It took me three hours to get back so I had three hours of driving to think about it.
“We had the front door closed but the back door open and it blew open the front door. It was a tragic accident.”
Steven revealed the driver has now asked for insurance details after the accident caused minor damage to their car bumper.
The dad says he has reported the incident to the police. “They had plenty of space to see the dogs, the conditions were light and dry.
Fred and Penny
(Image: Steven Moss)
“If the car was coming from the right to the left, I could understand if there were cars there.
“But it was on the opposite side of the road. There were no cars anyway and plenty of time for them to see this.”
Commercial manager Steven, 53, says the whole family have been left devastated by the loss of their beloved pets, including his wife Lisa, 51, and stepson Dale.
“Dale can’t even think right now,” Steven added. “He couldn’t breathe. He was having a breakdown.”
“It’s been hard for my son mainly as he has disabilities,” Lisa told the Manchester Evening News.
“He sleeps with them. They’re his coping mechanism in life and now they’re both gone. He feels totally alone. So my worry is for him now as well as losing them.”