A VETERINARY practice has launched a campaign to prevent animals being killed on the region's roads.
The campaign has received the backing of Jim Wight, son of the real-life James Herriot, Alf Wight, who recently stopped by at the Stanhope Park Veterinary Practice in Darlington to lend his support.
Micaela Wright, veterinary surgeon at the practice, said many animals are killed unnecessarily on the roads every day.
Her advice is that if you do happen to hit an animal on the road you should:
l Always stop to check whether the animal is alive or not
l If the animal is alive, contact the RSPCA on 0990 555999 or a local veterinary practice
l If the animal is dead, try to move it to the side of the road to avoid any collision with other vehicles
l By law, if a driver hits a dog they must report the accident to the police
l Remember that many animals die from shock so a quick response can save a life.
Ms Wright said: "Hundreds of animals in the region are injured on the roads every year and even more so in the dark winter months.
"Tragically, these animals are often left to die in pain. I would urge motorists to drive with extra care on country roads, especially in the dark."
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