A family dog was accidentally knocked down by a car and killed in a hit and run by an Amazon delivery driver. Ring doorbell video footage shows the upsetting moment that 17 year old rescue dog, Alfie is hit by the van's back tyres and the driver leaves the scene, the Mirror reports.
Tragedy struck at around noon on September, 17 when the driver had been delivering a parcel for Linda before unknowingly striking Alfie. Heartbroken owner, Linda Banwell said that she treated her beloved West Highland white terrier like he was one of her kids and the loss of Archie had torn her family apart.
Linda, 48 complained to Amazon about the devastating incident and was eventually compensated with a £250 voucher for her grief which she has said is not measurable to the gravity of her situation. Linda does not believe the act was deliberate and Amazon said it is "taking this matter seriously and have reached out to the customer to offer our support".
The mum said: “I got the parcel off the guy and had my other dog [Charlie] with me,” she said. “I took the parcel to my mother and when I walked out I saw my dog lying on the floor covered in blood.
"I assumed he didn’t see him and reversed over him but when my husband looked at the CCTV he was driving forward. He’d had a really difficult life, he was quite a nervy dog but we managed to get him to a point when he was happy.
"He was very fit for a 17-year-old dog and would still run around. My kids grew up with him so he was like one of them really."
CCTV footage shows the Amazon driver arriving at her home to deliver her mother’s parcel. The next clip shows Alfie being run over by the back tyres of the van as it drives off, although no video has yet been shared of how the dog got in front of the vehicle.
She says she has also contacted Surrey Police about the incident. “He was covered in blood, there’s still a stain on my driveway," she said.
"We had to move him very quickly because my friend's grandaughter was there and I didn’t want her to see him. His loss has been catastrophic, he used to follow me around all the time and he’s just not there.
“I feel he shouldn’t have had to die like that, Charlie’s looking for him the whole time. It would be just as devastating if it was a member of my family, they’ve taken him from us when he should have died nicely.
"He was quite an abused dog before we got him but for the last few years he’s been happy. It’s just cruel.”
Linda said while the company can do nothing to bring back Alfie she does not believe that Amazon has taken the situation as seriously as she hoped, although she says the act was not deliberate. Amazon’s response in the first phone call was just ridiculous and they weren’t listening to what I was saying,” she added.
“Their reaction has been disgusting.'' An Amazon spokesperson said: “We have very high standards for our delivery service providers and how they serve customers. We are taking this matter seriously and have reached out to the customer to offer our support.”
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