Dog owner’s heartbreak after pet loss

Natalie Wilson – who is a mobile dog groomer from Dumfries – was working at her horse yard near the busy stretch of road when the incident happened on Sunday morning.

She said: “Anyone with a moral compass should feel the responsibility to stop, check, and report what happened.

“This isn’t about blaming the driver. I understand that accidents happen. If I had done this I’d be devastated.

“What is inexcusable is the failure to take responsibility, leaving my poor dog, Bella, without a chance of help and forcing someone else to bring her lifeless body to me.

“It’s heartbreaking and inhumane on so many levels.”

Desperate to find out who was responsible, she hoped posting about the incident online would help get some answers.

However, she received cruel messages from some people.

Natalie said: “The support I received was overwhelmingly heart-warming, showing most people genuinely cared. Unfortunately, a small minority used my grief as an opportunity to be cruel. This incident highlights a wider issue with online trolling.

“No one grieving the loss of a beloved pet should be subjected to such cruelty. Words have consequences, and it’s vital for people to consider the impact of their actions on others.

“I want to say how much I will truly miss my little Bella (Buttons).

“She was always the life and soul of the pack— full of energy, joy, and unconditional love. My home feels empty without her.”