A HELPLESS Rottweiler puppy was run over after being dumped at the side of the road and chasing after a car.

The dog was discarded in a cardboard box outside Rochford Police Station, in South Street, at 7.20am on New Year’s Eve.

As the car that dumped the box drove away, the puppy leapt and tried to run after the car - only to be run over by an unsuspecting motorist coming in the opposite direction.

The driver got out of the car and tended to the dog with Jamie Nunn, 18, of Rochford Garden Way, who saw the whole incident unfold as he walked home from his night shift at Tesco Extra, in Prince Avenue, Southend.

Mr Nunn said: “The dog was conscious but hobbling after he was hit.

“The guy who hit him stopped straight away and went over to him saying he was so sorry, but he didn’t have time to stop or swerve.

“We put him in the man’s car and he said he knew a vet that could treat him at that time of the day.

“It all happened very quickly, I didn’t get his details or which vets he was taking him to.

“It was horrible, you see the adverts of dogs being for life, not just for Christmas, but it was shocking to see it in real life with such horrible consequences.”

Mr Nunn described seeing two people, a man and a woman, get out of the blue people carrier-style car and dump the box.

Neither the RSPCA nor the police received any calls about the incident and it is not known which vets the puppy was taken to but the animal charity has called for anyone with information about the dumping to come forward.

A spokeswoman for the charity said: “Unfortunately, at this time of year we do receive reports of animals that are given as Christmas presents and then carelessly dumped when something goes horribly wrong.

“Sadly, it sounds as though this may be the situation with this poor puppy in Rochford too.

“Dumping a pet in such a way is hugely irresponsible and can be very dangerous for the dogs involved - in this case it was.

“We hope the puppy makes a full recovery.”

If you have any information about the incident contact the RSPCA on 0300 123 4999.