THE death of a “motivational” man, who devoted his life to dogs, has shocked a Wyre Forest community says his business partner.

Aleksandar Krstic, 60, of Birmingham Road, Kidderminster, co-owned SOS Animal stores on Stourport’s High Street and Lombard Street with Annie Bayliss.

He had been out walking his three dogs in the Far Forest, as he did each morning, before his yellow Peugeot 107 was discovered in a field near the Plough Inn pub on the A4117 at about 8.20am yesterday.

He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. It is believed Mr Krstic suffered a heart attack before his car left the road.

Ms Bayliss said: “He was a motivator. He was absolutely dedicated to the care of the animals and worked hard to raise funds to take care of them and do everything he possibly could and we hope that will be his legacy.

“Everyone was absolutely shocked because he was very fit and healthy, active and strong. He took the dogs out to the woods, which he did every day, walked them and normally he came back to the shop at about 9.30am.

“When he didn’t come back yesterday I thought it was very alarming because it was a routine. My daughter drove out to look for him and found the car had swerved off the road.”

It is understood three dogs in the car were uninjured. They were taken back to kennels by police and reunited with Ms Bayliss.

The pair opened SOS Animal’s High Street store six years ago.

“He was very devoted to the animals and the shop,” she added. “He had very little time for anything else - dogs were his life. Most people in Stourport knew him - he was a Stourport and Kidderminster man and very recognisable in the towns.

“He was a great man and full of life.”

A post-mortem is due to take place today.

Anyone who saw the incident or remembers seeing the car just before 8.20am yesterday should call PC Richard Watkins at West Mercia Police’s force operational support team on 101, quoting incident 95-S-191212.

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