A YOUNG family have been left devastated after their beloved dog was killed in a hit-and-run accident on Linburn Road. 

Wayne Austin, 42, of Mey Court, was on his usual night-time walk with Staffie Diego at 10pm on Monday when the pet unexpectedly ran out on to the road and was hit by a silver Astra. 

Although the accident was not the driver's fault, Wayne said he was left gobsmacked when they fled the scene unwilling to help. 

"I don't want to go into detail the state he was in because it was heart-breaking but he lost a lot of blood," the electrician told the Press. 

"Thankfully, another dog-walker was there who ran to get his car while I stayed with Diego. We rushed him to the vet but there was sadly nothing they could do for him.

"I feel responsible because he wasn't on his lead but I can't believe the driver just left like that.

"I mean parts of their bumper were broken off, which gives you an idea of how bad the impact was.

"It all happened too quickly though and unfortunately we didn't get a look at the registration."

Wayne, with his partner, Fiona, and two girls, Ayla-Jane, 10 and Eva, six, had four-year-old Diego since he was a puppy. 

The pet doted on the two children and wouldn't leave their side as soon as they got in from school.

Last Tuesday, Wayne said he was building up the courage to tell his youngest daughter of the tragedy. 

"He was the definition of a nanny dog and just sat at their side but he never did that for me!" Wayne continued. 

"I don't know how I'm going to tell Eva, Diego is all she remembers. 

"Ayla-Jane just went very quiet when we told her. They both loved spending time with him. 

"Going for his night-time walk was the highlight of his day and we did lots of hill-walking together. He was so strong he would just pull me up if I held on to his harness!

"He was a very obedient dog and always waited for traffic so it was very unexpected that he legged it across the road. 

"We were on a grassy area so he didn't need to be on a lead but he spotted a dog on the other side of the road and went over. 

"He knew he'd done something wrong straight away so then stopped and tried to come back. 

"I don't like that road though – we've had near misses before so I've had visions of something like this happening."

Wayne said he had to thank the dog-walker who went out of his way to help.

He said: "I don't what I would have done without him.

"It was hard to get to sleep on Monday night and it's unusual that he's not around. 

"We'll get another dog but I think we'll have to give it some time first."