A 12-WEEK-OLD puppy has been run over and killed by a cyclist in a tragic incident.
The episode has devastated both the dog's owners and the cycling community.
Kym Rice was walking her Jack Russell terrier, Archie, on a footpath with an adjacent cycle lane in Redhill's Royal Earlswood Park on the morning of Sunday, June 22, when the dog collided with a cyclist.
Although the identity of the rider is unknown, the incident has provoked a backlash against cyclists on social media.
Writing on a Horley Facebook page, Jackie Cook said: "Awful to hear. Unfortunately it seems cyclists are the only people who think the Highway Code does not apply to them, literally getting away with murder, and yes I'm being very stereotypical here cos I've been on the end of a lashing from cyclists."
Adrian Webb, chairman of Redhill Cycling Club, has called for calm.
"There are lots of cyclists in the area who are distressed by this incident and the way it has been reported on social media," he said. "We are not there to cause harm to anyone, in fact we are trying to do the opposite, not cause anybody harm and distress.
"What's happened is a tragedy. As soon as Redhill Cycle Club found out about it, we contacted Surrey Police to offer assistance in any way we could."
Describing the incident, Mrs Rice, who lives in Royal Earlswood Park, told the Mirror: "I let Archie off the lead, as I normally do, and then he was sniffing something and then he started running past me and I turned round. I had my four-year-old with me, and there were two bikes coming up the pathway on the cycle path and obviously he went running towards them because he's a puppy and I was shouting, 'Archie, no, no!'."
The cyclist dismounted after colliding with the animal.
Mrs Rice continued: "He said, 'you're going to need a vet'. I picked Archie up and he bit me and I just said I needed to get him home. My son was screaming and I think he [Archie] probably died in my arms as I was running back. When I got back, my neighbours came out and did first aid, but he had already gone.
"At the end of the day you can't get a vet like an ambulance can you? The police said, 'did you not take any details?' and I said, no, I was more concerned about my puppy and my son."
Mrs Rice, 43, said her two sons are still struggling to come to terms with the loss of Archie.
"Zachary was absolutely screaming and it was awful, and then when we got in he was just really quiet and then he was well after that," she said.
"Then at nursery on Wednesday, he just absolutely broke down saying, 'I want my daddy, I want my daddy'. My other son, who is ten, has been in a right mess.
"It took us so long to take the decision to get a dog and then when we finally did he fitted in with the family so well and now he's gone. We are devastated.
"I have said we will more than likely get another dog. The kids want one and we are lost, but he will never be replaced. He was brilliant."
Mrs Rice called Surrey Police the next day about the incident.
Force spokesman Greg Miles said: "Although this is an extremely sad incident for the owners of the dog, Surrey Police has investigated the circumstances surrounding the incident and determined that no criminal offences have occurred. It would therefore not be proportionate to continue enquiries."
