Family fighting for change after 'special' puppy killed on railway

On Monday, December 5, the heartbroken Harding family announced that their 10-month-old Cockapoo had been found dead after a huge search from the local community.

Heidi, who was bought for 18-year-old Dylan after he was diagnosed with cancer, went missing on Sunday afternoon after being "spooked" on a walk at Eccleston Park Golf Club.

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Heidi was sadly found dead on the railway lines after a huge search for her (Image: Kerry Harding)

Travelling around two miles from where she went missing, the Cockapoo is said to have made her way onto the railway lines at Rainhill station.

Despite a huge search from the community, with social media posts shared thousands of times and hundreds of people coming out to look for the dog, Heidi was sadly found dead along the railway lines.

Although train staff were alerted to a dog on the tracks and slowed down for a period of time, Heidi was trapped as access to the railway lines is completely restricted except at stations.

Stating that it wouldn't have taken searchers long to find Heidi along the enclosed track, Heidi's owner Kerry's said she was "condemned to death" as trains were allowed to continue.

Heidi was bought as a therapy dog for 18-year-old Dylan after he was diagnosed with caner (Image: Kerry Harding)

Kerry, 38, said: "The biggest issue lies with the railway policies for dealing with reports of an animal straying onto the railway lines and trains being allowed to continue travelling the lines.

"Reports of a swan on the tracks would force a train suspension or closure, but a family pet would not.

"Trains continuing in darkness especially means an almost certain fatality as trains have poor head lighting. As such, it would be almost impossible to see an animal like Heidi on the tracks and avoid impact."

Heidi was described as a special dog who was adored by the family (Image: Kerry Harding)

Although Heidi was eventually found half a mile away from her last sighting, close to a railway bridge in Rainhill, the Harding family was unable to recover the body as trains were allowed to continue for a further eight hours.

With another dog reported to have accessed the lines at Huyton station and successfully rescued, Kerry and the family have created a petition for compassionate change regarding lost pets on railway lines.

They are calling on Merseyrail and Network Rail to install spring-loaded gates at all stations to prevent any pet or child from wandering through an opening onto the lines. 

They are also calling for better techniques to find stray pets on the lines, such as a short train delay to allow people to search the tracks or a thermal imaging drone to quickly search the lines.

The Harding family are fighting to change procedures on the railway lines (Image: Kerry Harding)

Kerry added: "I hope railway companies realise that pets are not just animals; they are part of a family and they deserve a chance to live.

"Three children have buried their beloved puppy with her Christmas presents to save commercial money and service disruption.

"For Heidi’s body to have been left in place for an additional eight hours after discovery also shows an appalling lack of compassion and has caused unnecessary trauma to Heidi’s already suffering family.

"We please ask that you support our plight to prevent incidents like this from happening again, as sadly it is currently all but too common for lives to be lost needlessly and senselessly like Heidi's precious life was."

To sign the Harding family's petition to improve railway procedures for lost pets, you can follow this link.

Heidi, the much-loved Cockapoo (Image: Kerry Harding)