A Welwyn family is “distraught” after their five-month-old puppy was run down by a car and left in a critical condition.

The Jones' family, from Mardley Hill, is appealing for the council to lower the speed limit on their road as this is the second time one their pets have been seriously hurt.

On Wednesday, January 11, Thor, the family's Labrador puppy escaped through a small hole in the fence and got hit by a car on the road.

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He was immediately taken to the vets and is currently in the ICU with an oxygen mask, a broken shoulder, and a collapsed and ruptured lung.

On Monday, January 16, a CT scan has been conducted and the vets said Thor's shoulder is shattered and he will be required to have a metal plate put in.

Prior to this incident, a few months ago, the family's cat had also been hit by a car on the same road and had to have his leg amputated.

The husband, wife and two young girls who own Thor and his siblings have said they are "distraught" and "his brother and sister are whimpering all the time now."

The Jones' added: "To anyone that uses this road, please slow down, it could be a child next time that gets knocked down.”

Oaklands Primary School and Woolmer Green are two schools that are only 10 minutes away from this street where the family believes drivers tend to speed. 

A spokesperson for Hertfordshire County Council said: “We’re sorry to hear about these incidents involving pets and we understand how distressing they are to pet owners.

"In addition to the existing speed cameras, we are currently planning a new Safer Routes to School project on the B197 Mardley Hill, with the aim of reducing traffic speeds, particularly through Woolmer Green and Oaklands, as well as widening pavements and providing better crossing points.

"Our aim is to make walking, wheeling and cycling safer and more convenient to improve the health and wellbeing of our communities. We will be publishing the draft plans for comments and suggestions in February.”