I hope the person who ran over our much-loved cat, Dolly, on Monday, June 12, between 11pm and midnight in Westfield Crescent, is ashamed of what they did.

Dolly is like part of our family and has an older sister called Smudge.

With it being a warm night, we were sitting in the garden with the family when we heard a car with music blaring out screech to a halt, stop for maybe ten seconds, then speed off. Of course, we did not realise that shallow person had just run over our cat and driven off, leaving her lying in the road.

That night, there was heavy rain in Brighton. We didn't know Dolly was lying alone in terrible pain in a bush in our garden.

It was not till the next morning she managed to drag herself to the back door on what we presume must have been her front paws, as both her back legs looked broken.

We found her with her damaged legs and flies in a stomach wound which exposed her flesh, weak and panting for life.

We raced her to the PDSA in Brighton and, in the taxi ride, she passed out three times.

At the moment, Dolly is still in the PDSA. The vet suspects she may have a ruptured diaphragm and a fractured pelvis.

We are awaiting for her breathing to stabilise and further X-rays.

Anyone callous enough to injure an animal and drive off should realise it belongs to a family who loves it and has brought it up.

Animals feel pain the same way humans do but are unable to fend for themselves in such a situation.

If it was not for Dolly dragging herself home and the PDSA, she would no longer be with us. My whole family has been deeply upset by what has happened.

I am disgusted anyone could drive away and leave an animal to die in the road. It is callous and cold-hearted.

So I make this plea to all drivers out there. Be vigilant and, if you do hit an animal, do not drive away and leave it in pain. Get help.

-Amanda Main, Brighton