A heroic Ockendon bus driver who stepped in to help a dog hit by a car has spoken of his shock after support has poured in from across the country.

Paddy the Pooch was found lying by the road with his lead on last Monday by local dad Ben Welsh after being hurt in an accident.

The dad of one spotted the dog was in trouble on the B186 on Davy Down at about 11.30am as he was driving to Lakeside with his two year old son Caiden, and called for help with his own vet.

Mr Welsh, 29, of Carnach Green, said: “It was terrible, he was in the road, lying on his side, trying to drag himself round by his front legs.

"After I helped him, I could see his back was broken as he was sitting up by the side of the road like a human, with his back legs bent under him."

He added: “It was very upsetting, I didn’t want my son to see the dog in such a way and I just don’t know how someone could just drive off from the situation.

"I called my vet and told him it looks like a broken back and he said bring him over.”

Generous vet George Vug at the Medivet on Canterbury Parade, South Ockendon, transferred Paddy to the Medivet Hospital in Hendon where he received life-saving surgery on his back he needs.

The dad, who works for Ensign buses, added: “I couldn’t believe it when my vet George Vug offered to treat him for free – he told me the bill after surgery would be over £20,000. I was amazed.”

Paddy has been recovering well since the surgery he needed, and is now eating normally – but not yet walking.

Ben added he had been shocked by how popular his post to find Paddy’s owners had been.

He said: “Just a couple of days after I posted the pic on my own Facebook page, I saw it had been shared over 5,000 times.

“All I did was share it with my friends, with 160 people, hoping someone would find the owner. 

"Now I have even heard of a Lost Dog page where the story has been shared 800,000 times to try and track down his owner. It’s been shocking.”

Mr Welsh described getting calls from all over the country and pledges of up to £30,000 to help towards Paddy’s treatment.

The disbelieving dad said: “I’ve had people calling me up from as far away as Cornwall offering to adopt Paddy or give money donations.

“One lady called from Torquay at 10.30pm at night who was sobbing down the phone saying that’s my Moo-Moo – but when I asked her what sex the dog was, she said a bitch.

“I said sorry lady, you’ve got the wrong dog. I had to ring her back the next day to see if she was alright!

“Another charity rang me up and offered £3,000 for his surgery. It’s been crazy! I never believed people would get so involved.”

Paddy has won many admirers and fans since his accident. Hundreds of Facebook users wrote on the Medivet page.

Dawn Corkin wrote: “So many of us thinking about him. He has won over so many hearts. Hope he continues to improve x."

Another wrote: “Keep getting stronger and stronger sweet boy ❤️❤️🐾🐾❤️❤️ xx." 

Mr Welsh said: “He seems to be on the mend luckily.

“As Medivet aren’t a charity I haven’t been able to set up a Justgiving page for the donations or accept them. Luckily they are treating him for free. It’s amazing – these days you don’t get nothing for free.”

“I think the vet is going to take care of him whilst he gets better through physiotherapy and rehab and I am hoping the owner gets in touch through Facebook.

The heroic dad added: “I can’t take him myself. I’ve already got a dog and she’s a bit protective of the house.

“It’s going to take at least a few months for Paddy to recover, and hopefully by then, we will have found his owners.”

Updates on Paddy's progress can be found on the Medivet Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/medivethendon/ or #paddyupdate