A family in West Yorkshire has been left devastated and facing veterinary costs of £1,200 after an Amazon delivery driver ran over their German Shepherd, Molly, in a shocking incident captured on CCTV.
Shocking Footage Captures the Incident
The distressing video shows Molly sitting calmly on the driveway of her home in Otley, Leeds, when a white Amazon van drives directly over her. The driver is then seen quickly reversing while the dog is still trapped underneath the vehicle. Molly eventually manages to escape from around the rear wheels, after which the driver speeds away from the scene without stopping.
Her owner, 54-year-old Steve Cockerham, said he was horrified when he discovered the footage. "I was furious, shocked, and heartbroken when watching it," Steve recounted. "It felt like my heart nearly jumped out of my chest over concern for Molly's injuries." He had been working nearby and heard a loud yelp but did not witness the incident directly on September 21.
Severe Injuries and Mounting Costs
The consequences for Molly were severe. The family pet suffered extensive tissue and ligament damage and was left seriously injured. The situation was so grave that veterinarians at one point recommended Molly be put down if she failed to respond to treatment.
Steve immediately contacted West Yorkshire Police, who have confirmed an ongoing investigation into the matter. He also reached out to Amazon's UK complaints department. The response from the retail giant left him stunned. Instead of addressing the £1,200 vet bill, Amazon offered a £25 dog bed as an apology.
"It would have been better off not gifting the bed at all as it felt like a slap in the face," Steve said. The family's younger dog, Skye, has since destroyed the bed. He expressed his profound disappointment, stating, "I am very angry with Amazon and feel let down... I find it unacceptable considering we had already spent £1200 and there was no sign of getting any of that back."
A Glimmer of Hope After Social Media Outcry
Following the incident, Steve was told by Amazon that they could not consider reimbursing any costs until Molly's treatment was complete, a process that could take years. However, the situation may be changing. After Steve posted the CCTV footage on social media, he was contacted by a senior executive from Amazon USA.
According to Steve, the executive acknowledged the issue and said they "need some time to figure out how to put this right but they are working on it." This has provided a glimmer of hope for the family, who have been solely covering the substantial financial burden.
An Amazon spokesperson confirmed they are "aware of the incident involving one of their delivery service partners" and stated that the "parties involved were working to resolve the matter as quickly as possible." For Steve and his family, a swift and fair resolution cannot come soon enough for Molly, a dog who "has never known a second's worth of cruelty."
