THE heartbroken owner of a dog killed in an accident on Monday is amazed at how a Facebook post about the hit and run driver has been shared over 2,500 times.

Mark Wewerka, of Isambard Way, posted the update after his beloved Shar Pei Coco was knocked down after wandering off on their daily walk in the lanes in St Andrews Ridge at around 6pm.

“The driver took off and must have driven about a mile and a half from where the accident happened because she was overheard on the phone saying she had just hit a dog in a pub car park,” the 37-year-old said.

“I was quite upset and I managed to catch up with her and I approached her calmly and asked her if she had hit Coco and she didn’t answer.

“I only put it up on Facebook because I was angry and upset at the time and I didn’t expect it to go so mad with people commenting and sharing it. I would hope if she sees it, she would reach out to apologise.”

While he says he doesn’t blame the driver for the tragic accident, he would have liked more compassion from the woman after Coco died at the scene from the head injuries she sustained.

Vets believe Coco suffered fatal internal injuries to her vital organs.

“I had my other Shar Pei Ozzy with me at the time and after it happened he just started crying and whining,” Mark added.

“My dogs are trained and while Coco was off the lead, she usually comes back so she must have found a scent or something in the bushes which leads to the road.

“It was quite an ordeal and not what you expect when you take your dog on a walk every day.

“My dog died in my arms in the middle of the road and it was one of the hardest things I’ve been through and I just wished the driver had treated it a bit more sensitively but I don’t blame her for the accident because it was just that, an accident. But as a number of people have said under the post on Facebook, they understand my frustration at how it was quite a heartless thing to do to drive off.”

Mark, who owns the Carpet Warehouse in Beatrice Street, has since reported the incident to the police and informed officers that in retaliation while driving away, he swore at the female driver.

“I really didn’t expect to get that reaction on Facebook and if I knew that it was going to get so much abuse on both sides then I probably wouldn’t have put it up because I didn’t want a to start a vigilante group against her,” he said. “I just wanted to make people aware and hopefully raise the profile so that the police take note.”

Under the Road Traffic Act 1988, a driver who refuses or fails to stop at the scene of an accident involving a dog must provide police with details within 24 hours.

Failure to do so could lead to prosecution unless the magistrates believe the driver was unaware of the accident.

Wiltshire Police confirmed the driver reported the incident to them within 24 hours and investigations are continuing.