A heartbroken dog owner whose pet was killed after running out in front of a car has hit out at an insurance company for a “callous and uncompassionate” response. Sue Kennedy, from Cury near Helston, Cornwall, lost her beloved Yorkshire terrier Bonnie after an accident outside her home.
She told CornwallLive she received a response from Animal Friends insurance company that appeared to suggest she had been guilty of an offence under the Road Traffic Act. Sue said: “We’re two weeks on now and the pain is still very much there.
“Throughout our 35-year marriage we have owned dogs, usually two, but sometimes three or four, and anyone who knows us knows our dogs have been the centre of our world. We have always taken insurance out for them, paid for grooming and kept their inoculations up to date and up to now our dogs have lived to a good age.
“So our world was shattered two weeks ago when my husband following his usual daily routine carried our younger dog Teddy, who is still very excitable, down our garden path to the car with Bonnie trotting along behind him. A cat walked straight in front of them and Bonnie took flight after the cat, straight out of our close to the road that runs through our village.
“My husband called her name but was left to watch helplessly as she was hit by a car, which didn’t stop. The impact killed her instantly and my husband was left to pick up her lifeless body while being comforted by our neighbour.”
Sue was visiting her daughter in Devon and returned straight away when she received the news. She added: “We are both broken by the loss of our beautiful Bonnie who was a placid and friendly dog who was loved by everyone who knew her.
“I phoned our insurance company later that day and submitted a claim form for the £200 we believed we were entitled to which would enable us to arrange for a cremation and scatter her ashes on her favourite walk. Less than a week after the accident we received a letter from Animal Friends accusing us of committing a criminal offence and declining our claim.
"I followed Animal Friends' complaints procedure hoping to find they had some compassion but the decision to refuse payment was upheld. I know there will be people who say it was our fault, as the insurance company did, but did we didn't deserve to be told in such a cold and callous way that basically we failed to ensure the safety of our beautiful Bonnie."
The letter received by Sue said that any person who permits or causes a dog to be on a designated road is guilty of an offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988. The letter added that dogs must not be able to escape a property and must be wearing a collar and lead.
An Animal Friends spokesman said: "We are deeply sorry to hear about the tragic passing of Bonnie and understand how devastating it is to lose a pet. The claim outcome letter sent to Mrs Kennedy was not of the high standard that we typically pride ourselves on delivering at Animal Friends insurance.
"We did express our condolences to Mrs Kennedy in our subsequent communications. However, we understand how this particular letter Mrs Kennedy received could have been distressing at what is an already difficult time."
Sue has set up a fundraiser to pay for Bonnie's cremation. You can donate here.
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