Edinburgh woman launches desperate appeal to find hit-and-run driver who killed her beloved dog

Police are now hunting the driver of a white van that failed to stop after hitting the dog.

A woman has spoken of her anguish when a driver failed to stop after hitting and killing her beloved pet dog in Granton.

Doriana Chodor was walking in Hesperus Crossway at 3.15pm on Thursday, July 9, when her five-year-old French Bulldog, Hugo, was hit by a white van.

“Hugo was passing across the road slowly,” the 29-year-old said, “it is not like he bolted out suddenly and caught the driver by surprise.”

Doriana Chodor was walking in Hesperus Crossway at 3.15pm on Thursday, July 9, when her five-year-old French Bulldog, Hugo, was hit by a white van.

She watched in horror as the van driver slowed down after the crash, but then drove off.

“Hugo lost too much blood and he wasn’t strong enough to survive,” Doriana explained, “he died in my arms a few seconds after the hit.

“I can honestly say that was the worst day in my life and I and my partner deeply miss and think about Hugo every day, I can’t even describe how much love he has brought to our life.

"Hugo had a very wonderful temperament and liked other dogs – especially other French Bulldogs – and he loved every human.”

Now police are hunting the hit-and-run van driver and searching local CCTV.

“I blame myself. If I had known the driver wasn’t looking, I would have run out to get Hugo.

“But I can’t honestly believe that the driver never stopped, never tried to help us, never reported the collision.”

Now police are hunting the hit-and-run van driver and searching local CCTV.

Doriana has appealed for the person responsible to contact the police.

“I would like him to come forward,” she said, “he should have stopped and helped.

“I know he was probably in shock and scared, but I want him to come forward and take responsibility.

“More than anything I just want him to be careful. It was not a busy road - and Hugo could have been a child.

“I know I can’t get Hugo back, I just don’t want it to happen again,” she added.

But Doriana also paid tribute to the people who did stop to help her.

“Lots of people helped me after the incident. It was raining and a woman came over to me and put a blanket around me.

“Some workers from a nearby construction site gave me some water to drink. And someone left flowers in the place where Hugo died.

“I could never really thank any of them at the time. I was in shock. I could not even see their faces clearly.

“I really appreciate all their support.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "About 3.15pm on Thursday, 9 July, 2020, officers responded to the report of a hit and run road traffic crash at Hesperus Crossway in Edinburgh.

A white coloured van was in collision with a dog. The dog was killed in the crash and the white van failed to stop at the scene.

“Anyone who may have any information which might assist in tracing the white van and driver is asked to call police on the 101 number, quoting the reference number 2227 of 9 July 2020."

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