'No tolerance' vow after Crufts dog death

CRUFTS organisers have said sabotage will not be tolerated, amid "rumours" FIVE other dogs could have also been poisoned.

Jagger ranked second in his class at Crufts just the day before his death  NEWSTEAM/GETTY

Jagger ranked second in his class at Crufts just the day before his death

This comes as the owners of Irish Setter Thendara Satisfaction - also known as Jagger  - spoke of their devastation after the three-year-old dog died within 24 hours of competing at the show. 

Alexandra Lauwers described Jagger as "our love, family member and best friend to our son".

On her Facebook page she posted: "To person who has done it, hope you can sleep well knowing you have killed our love, family member and best friend to our son."

Jagger's co-owner Dee Milligan-Bott described the act as a "heinous crime".

Her daughter described the hound as "priceless" to his family.

Meanwhile, five other dogs – two Shetland sheepdogs, a West Highland terrier, an Afghan hound and a Shih Tzu  – are also believed to have been poisoned, a judge at the prestigious show told the Daily Telegraph.

This raises the possibility that there could have been one and more poisoners on the loose on each day of the four day competiton. 

Three-year-old Thendara Satisfaction, who was better known as Jagger  NEWSTEAM

Three-year-old Thendara Satisfaction, who was better known as Jagger

Whoever did this knew what they were doing, trying to get exactly the right type of poison with a slow release

Dee Milligan-Bott

The Kennel Club say they are now "urgently" looking into the possibility of six poisonings. 

But a Crufts spokeswoman said no vets have raised concerns about poisoning and there have been no official complaints from any owners at Crufts 2015.

The spokeswoman said: "The facts surrounding Jagger's sad death are still being established. With regards to speculation about any other incidents involving other dogs, we must stress that these are at this stage just rumours.

"There are any number of reasons why a dog may display symptoms such as sickness and should a dog fall sick there are vets at Crufts who will examine the dog in question and file a report."

She said they are aware that there are reports in the press "regarding a number of dogs", adding that If anybody has any information, they should come forward to report the matter by emailing press.office@thekennelclub.org.uk.

"As with any international competition rumours of sabotage do occasionally surface. This of course is not in the spirit of competition and will not be tolerated.

"Anyone caught attempting to deliberately sabotage another competitor's performance, particularly if a dog's welfare is put at risk, will face severe disciplinary action, which could include a ban on competing at all Kennel Club licensed events.

"Furthermore anyone who puts a dog's welfare at risk could face prosecution under the Animal Welfare Act."

Earlier today,  Ms Milligan-Botttold told BBC Breakfast: "The accessibility of shows such as Crufts ... is such that the general public can wander in and out of the dogs' benches and approach any dog that they feel fit, so to keep an eye on everybody who came up and spoke to the dogs is very difficult.

Police in Belgium are expecting the results from a full toxicology report next week. SWNS

Police in Belgium are expecting the results from a full toxicology report next week

She described her family as "just devastated and beside themselves. The sensationalisation that the media has portrayed today - that Jagger was worth 50,000 - is beyond ridiculous.

"Jagger to his family was priceless, and he was also used, not only as a family pet, but as a pet therapy, and Alex and Will and Jeremy would take him into old people's homes and he would sit there and give the residents some delight in him just being around."

*SEE ALL THE LATEST PHOTOS FROM CRUFTS 2015*

Jagger's owners believe that the prize-winning dog - who had ranked second in his class at the world's largest dog show the day before - was fed poisoned chunks of met while attending Crufts, held at the NEC in Birmingham.

Police in Belgium are investigating the claims and a full toxicology report is expected next week.

Ms Milligan-Bott told DogWorld.co.uk her dog was killed by "two or three different poisons".

She said: "All the dogs were all running and playing together and Jagger seemed a bit tired, unable to keep up with the others.

"Three or four hours later after getting back to Belgium he collapsed and by the time the vet arrived he was dead.

"The post-mortem showed that two or three different poisons were used and that it is likely it was administered on Thursday morning; we’re now waiting for exact toxicology reports.

"Whoever did this knew what they were doing, trying to get exactly the right type of poison with a slow release."

Jealousy over Jagger's podium finish is the most likely motive for murder, Ms Milligan-Bott told the canine website.

She added: "There would have been windows of opportunity for someone to feed Jagger something at Crufts. 

"It’s been suggested that someone’s really got it in for us, and to not let it get to us. There do seem to be too many coincidences. 

"You go to shows trying to win, and one of our dogs is on a roll at the moment, and our kennel had a good day at Crufts on Thursday.

"We’re very proud of our record and maybe some people aren’t happy.

"But there’s no excuse for this. Sometimes you can’t prove anything but you know in your gut what has happened and that something very untoward is going on."

The Crufts Dog Show... in pictures

The Kennel Club, which organises Crufts, said it was unclear what had happened but the group would support the police throughout their investigation.

"We are deeply shocked and saddened to hear of Jagger's death and our heartfelt sympathies go out to his owners," a spokesperson said.

"We are in contact with the owners and will do all we can to support them at this sad time."

TV presenter Clare Balding tweeted: "Everyone at #Crufts2015 horrified at death of Irish Setter Jagger."

The owner of a Shetland sheepdog Myter Eye to Eye, who is thought to have been poisoned the day after Jagger said she thought the act was driven by "jealousy."

She told the Daily Telegraph she thought her dog was deliberately targeted by someone with expert knowledge of the breed. 

"The setter was poisoned the day before my bitch, and I don’t think there is a link between the two. 

"I think that one [Jagger] was someone who had randomly targeted them because a lot of people don’t agree with Crufts.

"I think it’s driven by jealousy.

"People do get fed up with seeing the same dogs and bitches winning all the time."

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