EXCLUSIVE: Murder at Crufts? They’re barking up the wrong tree, claim officials

THE shadow of murder most foul looks set to be lifted from Crufts, the world’s greatest dog show.

Jagger the dogSWNS

Crufts show dog Jagger died in Belgium after eating poisoned meat

A pedigree Irish Setter said to have been poisoned at the event this month is unlikely after all to have eaten the meat that killed him while at the show, it emerged last night.

Thendara Satisfaction, known by the pet name Jagger, appeared at Crufts at the NEC in Birmingham on Thursday, March 5, and came second in a class that afternoon.

The three-year-old spent the night with his owners at a hotel in Leicester before travelling back to Belgium, and died on Saturday, March 7, some 28 hours after leaving the show.

Dogs normally digest their food within six hours.

Dr Patrick Jans, the Belgium vet whose practice did the post-mortem examination, said: “We saw there was fresh meat in the stomach and that there were small black particles that make us think about intoxication.

"We took the contents of the stomach and sent it to the laboratory to see what products were in there.

"Only when we know, can we make further analysis.”

We can’t believe it happened

Jeremy Bott, owner

Kennel Club Secretary Caroline Kisko said: “Allegations about dogs being poisoned at Crufts are understandably distressing to dog lovers and owners, so we must make it absolutely clear that there is currently no evidence that any dog has been poisoned at Crufts.

“West Midlands Police has not received any complaint at this stage or been asked to investigate an allegation involving the death of a dog.”

Jagger was jointly owned by Belgian dog lovers Willem and Aleksandra Lauwers and Dee Milligan-Bott and Jeremy Bott, of Leicester.

Mr Bott said: “We are still getting over it.

"We can’t believe it happened.

"I don’t know how poison works so I can’t comment on the time frame.” 

Crufts: The Truth

By Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary

As a nation of dog lovers we were all deeply saddened to hear of Jagger the Irish Setter’s tragic death.

Following the speculation surrounding his death we wish to clarify the facts and address the rumours so not to cause any unnecessary distress or worry to dog owners.

The facts vs speculation

Jagger, the Irish Setter competed at Crufts on Thursday,  March 5, and died some 28 hours after leaving the show – in the early hours of Saturday morning, in Belgium.

While there are suspicions of poisoning, the veterinary surgeon who carried out the post mortem in Belgium has told the Kennel Club that she cannot comment on where, when and indeed if poisoning has taken place until the results of the toxicology report are available.

It should be noted that reports claim a suspicious substance was found on a piece of beef and food normally digests in dogs within six hours.

The Kennel Club has spoken to and offered support to the owner at this difficult time.

Allegations about dogs being poisoned at Crufts are understandably distressing to dog lovers and owners, so we must make it absolutely clear that there is currently no evidence that any dog has been poisoned at Crufts.

West Midlands Police has not received any complaint at this stage or been asked to investigate an allegation involving the death of a dog in Belgium, who died after returning home. 

There have been reports about another three dogs (an Afghan Hound, a West Highland White Terrier and a Shih Tzu) alleged to have got sick or have died since Crufts, but their identities are unknown, their owners anonymous and we cannot know if they even attended the show – however we do know that the veterinary team at Crufts saw no dogs in any of the breeds alleged to have been affected, during the show.

As already reported, only in one case where a dog was seen by a Crufts vet was the suspicion about the ingestion of suspect material raised by the owner but the vet could not find any evidence to show that poison was the cause of the sickness, and no official complaint was made to the Kennel Club or the police.

What do we mean by poison?

Without speculating on any individual cases, this issue has shone a public spotlight on the issue of poisoning and it is only right to address, in general terms, what dog owners can do to keep their dogs as safe as possible.

Vigilance over your dog as much as possible is always advised but clearly this is not always possible as dogs, particularly on walks, will stray from our sides.

By far the most common cause of poisoning in dogs is accidental ingestion of a dangerous substance.

There are a range of products that are commonly found in the home, or in public places, that can be poisonous to dogs, including a variety of foodstuffs, cleaning and other pharmaceutical products and human medicines.  

The effects of these can range from mild stomach upset to death and by making themselves aware of potentially dangerous substances, dog owners can help to ensure that their much loved pets do not fall ill through ingesting them.  

Dog owners who have any suspicions that their dog has eaten something potentially dangerous should contact their vet immediately.

What's next?

If, following toxicology results in Belgium, the West Midlands police are formally asked to conduct enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the death, an investigation will take place by officers in conjunction with Crufts and the NEC and all have worked together to ensure any possible sources of evidence are being secured and preserved.

Crufts has strong security measures in place which is why no known poisoning cases have emerged in the show’s long 124 year history, but security measures are always under review and we will continue to do everything we can to ensure that all dogs competing at Crufts are as safe and protected as they can possibly be.

We also urge dog owners to read our poison guide online, in order to inform themselves about substances potentially harmful to their dogs and to keep their dogs safe.

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