Heartbroken girl, 16, says beloved puppy was hit by taxi driver – who then just drove off

Lauren Haddock, from Eccleston, was giving her puppy Bob a walk before bed on Saturday, June 29 on the fields near her home when the tiny dog got loose of his harness.

The tiny King Charles Cavalier and Beagle cross Bob ran on to Bleak Hill Road before being hit by a taxi.

She said: "Our garden is getting constructed and Bob needed to go for a wee before going to bed so I said to my brother that I would take him over the field.

"Bob and I went over to the field which is literally opposite a couple of houses down the road. We crossed the road and went over the field, and were running around but we keep him on his lead because he’s only a puppy and has no recall yet.

"At about 10.40pm I decided to go back so we started walking towards the exit and as we just got out of the metal gate on to the path my dog slipped his harness off.

"My first thought was to shout his name and try and get him to come back to me but he started to run and I decided to chase him, which now I think was the wrong idea as he must of thought I was playing with him.

"I saw and heard this black cab taxi hit my puppy. He did a little squeal. I literally picked him and moved him out of the middle of the road.

"The taxi man had passengers inside and did step out of the vehicle. He saw me and the dog on the floor then just drove away.

"I had my dog in my arms and ran to my house. I came running in screaming and shouting for my brother.

"I lay Bob down in the hall but he had gone.

"The taxi has hit the whole of his face and his jaw, there was blood everywhere and is still blood spots on the pavement and road where it happened.

"My heart has broken into pieces and Bob will never be forgotten. He was only 22 weeks old. He was a true part of our family.

"I’m struggling to cope and I keep replaying that the incident in my head more and more."

Lauren's older brother Scott Hunter, 23, a mechanic, added: "All I saw was Lauren running in covered in blood, I didn't know if it was hers and she was screaming; I thought someone was chasing her. Then I realised the dog was in her arms.

"I told her to go and get towels and held Bob in my arms. About 10 or 15 seconds later he just died in my arms.

"The accident could have happened to anyone, I'm not blaming the taxi driver for that. Bob's harness was a bit too big for him because he'd outgrown his other one and he got loose, it's terrible but it could happen to anyone.

"What I do blame him for is driving off and leaving my devastated 16-year-old sister with a bleeding dog on the side of the road.

"He had no thought to just make sure she got home, she's been distraught ever since by what she saw.

"I've been upset as well, but she's only 16.

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"The vet even said when we took Bob to get cremated that there was no way with how much force Bob took that the taxi driver would not have noticed. He just didn't care enough to stop.

"How would he feel if it was his daughter in that position?"