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1 dog killed, another injured in NH hit-and-run; driver sought

Bella

NASHUA, N.H. — Nashua police are looking for the hit and run driver who killed one dog and injured another.

The driver also barely missed an 8-year-old girl who was walking the two dogs at the time.

The family is heartbroken and hopes someone will come forward.

Cora McCarty has been keeping Bella's paw print impression close by. It's all she has left of her young Rhodesian ridgeback.

McCarty said a driver hit her two dogs and took off around 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

"I was looking down to the other part of Hanover Street yelling and screaming at the driver," she said. "It would be a big difference if he stopped."

Bella and Deacon, a 5-year-old miniature pinscher, were on a leash held by McCarty's 8-year-old niece as the three were just about to cross the street.

"My niece was lucky enough to take one step back, but not enough time to pull the dogs back," McCarty explained.

She says the driver of a light blue SUV didn't stop and blew right through the stop sign.

Bella died on the way to the vet.

"She suffered more internal injuries than anything else. Deacon suffered a fractured pelvis," said McCarty.

McCarty is saddled with a $5,000 vet bill to repair Deacon's injuries and, for now, he's confined to a stroller. McCarty says there is no way the driver didn't notice, but she is thankful her niece stepped back.

"What happens if she was hit too? How would this person feel?" she said.

The family is hoping the driver comes forward and under state law, it's a violation not to. McCarty's sister -- the mother of that young girl -- says her daughter is shaken and they are all looking for someone to take responsibility.

"That is the right thing to do, just don't let a family suffer," McCarty said.

The family has set up a GoFundMe page here for help covering the vet bills.