Old Shep the collie rescued at Budleigh Salterton

OLD Shep the collie was saved when a Budleigh Salterton garage turned rescuer after he was accidentally run over. Angela and Nicky Marshall s 14-year-old border collie ended up under the family car after he walked into its path while it was being reversed.

OLD Shep the collie was saved when a Budleigh Salterton garage turned rescuer after he was accidentally run over.

Angela and Nicky Marshall's 14-year-old border collie ended up under the family car after he walked into its path while it was being reversed on the drive - so the couple made a mercy call to Staddons Garage to help.

Thanks to the rapid response of Staddons, Shep walked away from his ordeal unscathed - apart from a small graze on one of his front paws.

Within minutes, service manager David Matthews and technician Andrew Beck, both dog owners, had left the High Street garage, jumped in their van and made their way to the couple's Inner Ting Tong home, where they found former rescue dog Shep wedged on his side under the couple's car.

Swinging into action with an industrial jack, the pair soon had the car in the air - freeing the elderly dog.

The pair's quick-thinking actions have been praised by Mr and Mrs Marshall - and also the garage's kindness of telephoning the following day to check Shep's condition.

Former veterinary nurse Mrs Marshall, 70, said: "It was terrible seeing him wedged on his side.

"The garage saved his life. I don't know what we would have done without them.

"I was sure Shep would have had broken bones.

"We couldn't believe it when he got up and walked out.

"I don't know if dogs have nine lives. If they do, he's used eight."

Mr Matthews, from Staddons, said: "We both jumped in the van without thinking and left the garage. We were quite relieved when we saw him stand up.