An woman has spoken of her heartbreak after her dog died in a tragic accident at Twickenham railway station.
Megan, 68, from East Berkshire, says her nine-year-old teacup Chihuahua, Dobby, died earlier this month after falling between a train and the platform at Twickenham station.
Dobby had fallen headfirst and died instantly after he suffered a fatal electric shock.
The owner said the accident happened as she was leaving the train with Dobby. She believes his lead had accidentally slipped off due to his small head size.
According to Megan, the platform was crowded and Dobby became “panicked” and “disoriented” as he lost sight of his owner. The dog attempted to run back towards the train but fell into the gap.
Dobby, who weighed 1.5kg, had been Megan’s companion for nine years. She described him as a happy and healthy dog known by the local community.
“He was sweet, loyal and cheeky,” she said.
“For a Chihuahua, he was reasonably calm.”
Megan said Dobby was protective despite his small size and often acted as her ‘little security guard’, barking when visitors approached the front door or when strangers came too close.
The Chihuahua was also well known for his interactions with locals, particularly children, who often stopped to stroke him during walks.
The 68-year-old said her favourite memories are seeing how much smile and laughter he brought to the children.
Dobby had a reputation for barking at larger dogs and would often become excited when encountering other small dogs during walks.
Following Dobby’s death, Megan said neighbours and friends showed their support with heart felt messages. She added TfL train guards had also shown their support and empathy at the scene.
No funeral was held for Dobby as he was cremated as part of a community cremation service.
Megan said: “Even though he was a dog, the loss of a dog is a significant loss too and it was shocking.”
She revealed that she still grieves this loss especially after looking back at his paw prints taken before his cremation.
Despite being offered another dog by her daughter, Megan said dogs are a huge responsibly and Dobby cannot be replaced, therefore has no plans to get another dog.
Megan has encouraged other pet owners to appreciate the time with their pets, saying this tragedy serves as a reminder of how quickly circumstances can change.
Featured image credit: Leigh Van Breda
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