A CARLISLE dog owner has vowed never to use an extendable lead again after her pet’s lucky escape.

Seven-year-old Border terrier Hugo – distracted by a nearby dog barking – darted across the road, only to be hit by a car.

Pat Williamson’s beloved dog suffered a badly dislocated hip, lost two teeth and spent a couple of nights at the vets, but she knows it could have been a lot worse.

She said: “It all happened so quickly. He had an extending lead on and I had a plastic bag in one hand, my gloves and I was blowing my nose when a dog barked and quick as a flash Hugo was across the road, just as a car came from the left and hit him.

“It was on a corner, so I think the driver wouldn’t have seen him – if they were going any faster, it would have probably been a lot more serious.”

Although it was just unlucky timing, Pat doesn’t want to take a chance and has ditched the extendable lead for good. She said: “I threw the extendable lead in the bin as soon as I got home. In my mind, that was the main cause.

“I’ve always used it with Hugo and he’s never had any problems, but the one time I had my hands full this happened. I’ve replaced it with a short canvas-type lead and I feel like I’ve got a lot more control now.”

Hugo is back to his best and enjoying walks on his new lead, and Pat is thankful to the vets that treated him and the good samaritan that came to her aid.

With blood pouring from his mouth and his back left leg appearing to be ‘floating around’, she was naturally worried and in shock. The driver stopped to check he was alive, but couldn’t help with a lift home, but thankfully someone visiting a house on the street came to the rescue.

Once home, having phoned Paragon, Pat, of Lowry Hill Road, took Hugo by car to the Dalston practice.

Pat said: “Once at the vets, veterinary surgeon Ruth Simmons took over, thank goodness, and Hugo was kept in for an x-ray.

“Ruth rang later; bloods were fine but the x-ray showed he had dislocated his hip and two front teeth were broken.

“They rang the next day and explained she would need to operate to remove the teeth and to put his hip back in. The operation was a success and Hugo was put in a sling to keep his hip immobile.”

Ruth said: “Hugo was very lucky as the injuries could have been a lot worse.”