ANIMAL lover Donna Horsley is appealing for the public's help after her pet dog was killed by a hit-and-run rider on a stolen motorbike.

Cross-breed Shimmi died on Sunday afternoon after being hit by the speeding bike while out for a walk with her owner.

The two-year-old dog was lying down in the grass after chasing a ball and was instantly paralysed after being struck by the bike, which had been stolen earlier.

Donna, 22, of Byron Street, Hartlepool, said she was walking her two dogs through the town's Rossmere Park with her friend Kimberley Clark at about 2.15pm when the bike appeared from nowhere.

"My friend screamed and as I turned around this motorbike was going about 50mph," said Donna, who is a project worker for a mentoring programme.

"He didn't try to swerve, he just went straight into Shimmi.

"The force flipped her into the air and she died about 20 minutes later."

A vet told Donna that her dog had been instantly paralysed by internal injuries and a break to her spine. Her other dog, Rambo, was unhurt.

Donna and Kimberley watched "hysterically" as the biker, who had fallen off the machine, got up and shouted abuse, before making off.

"He hurled abuse at us and said we shouldn't have had the dogs in the park," said Donna.

"He never looked at us - he just walked off. He didn't even see if we needed help.

"I want him to know that Shimmi may have just been a dog, but she was like a child to me.

"And it could have been a child sat in the grass and he could have taken someone's son or daughter away.

"He needs to come forward."

Police have appealed for anyone with information about the rider's identity to come forward.

The black Suzuki bike, registration number K156 PTN, had been stolen from the Brierton Lane area of Hartlepool.

The rider is described as being aged 17 or 18, with brown, short hair, average height and build. He spoke with a local accent.

Anyone with information should call Hartlepool police on (01642) 302126.