Bel's devoted pet lurcher Sophie run over by buggy

For the four years that Big Issue-seller Gary "Bel" Hudson has worked his patch outside Somerfield's Devonshire Road store, Sophie his pet lurcher has been his constant companion.

Now a passing shopper in an electric buggy has run over Sophie.

Regular patrons who have become Bel and Sophie's friends had been stopping to ask anxiously "Where's Sophie?" after the accident.

As word quickly spread, the enquiries swiftly changed to "How's Sophie...?"

For a week Sophie was not a well animal at all. She was injured as she lay on the pavement at Bel's side on Thursday, July 20.

Bel told the Observer immediately after the accident: "It was some time between 1.30 and 2pm.

"Someone came along in one of those electric buggies and must have run over Sophie as she lay there.

"The first I knew of it was a when Sophie yelped.

"This old lady just zoomed past and went on her way.

"To be fair, I don't know whether she even knew she had done it. She never looked at me. She just carried on.

"If she did know she hit Sophie I can't say - I just hope it was because she didn't know."

Bel has had nine year-old Sophie since she was a pup.

He said: "She was the runt of a litter of 11.

"I think it's her back legs that are hurt. She yelps every time she tries to move. She could walk a bit at the start. But this morning she couldn't get up. I had to lift her up to go outside..."

On Monday, Bel was back at his post again - Sophie at his side but keeping even closer than usual.

Bel told the Observer: "She's had a x-ray. Nothing was broken, thank goodness. But she was in a lot of pain.

"They gave her pain-killers and now she's a lot better.

"This morning was the first time that she wanted to get up and come out. At first her tail just drooped down all the time. Now she can raise it."

But the best indicator of all is the fact that Sophie is now wagging that tail again - albeit a little gingerly.

Bel is overjoyed to have his companion back at his side.

"I felt like my right arm was missing without her. She's with me every day normally. Everyone knows her and loves her. They all come to stroke her, adults and children alike."