Crufts look into reports of a second dog tragedy

The organisers of the Crufts dog show confirmed yesterday that they are looking into reports that a second dog, a Shih Tzu, had died following the event.

A prized Shih Tzu like this has also died after the Crufts dog show, according to reports. Picture: AFP

The Kennel Club said claims about the second death were “totally unverified at this point”.

The reports follow the death of an Irish red setter, called Thendara Satisfaction but known as Jagger, which died at home in Belgium after returning from Crufts at the weekend.

Jagger’s owners believe that the dog was poisoned.

Yesterday it emerged that the results of toxicological tests being carried out on Jagger are not expected until next week.

Co-owner Aleksandra Lauwers, who lives in Belgium, posted a message online from her vet saying toxicological tests were being carried out at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Ghent University, with results expected in about a week’s time.

Ms Lauwers, writing on her Facebook page, said: “Samples are at the moment under investigation and result will be known not earlier than in a week’s time.”

Asked by reporters for his thoughts on the mystery earlier, Prime Minister David Cameron said, if true, it was “an unbelievably awful thing to do” to an animal and his “heart goes out” to Jagger’s owners.

Meanwhile, the Kennel Club has confirmed it is looking into reports that several other dogs – including a West Highland white terrier, an Afghan hound and a Shih Tzu – were also sick after this year’s show.

However a spokeswoman for the club, which organises Crufts, stressed that no formal investigation has been launched because they have no direct information to act upon.

She 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.”

No vets have raised concerns about poisoning and there have been no official complaints from any other owners at Crufts, she added.

Joint owner Dee Milligan-Bott has called Jagger’s death “a heinous crime” but believes any attack was random rather than targeted.

Speaking on Tuesday with ­husband Jeremy Bott at their home, Ms Milligan-Bott said they were grieving but vowed to return to the world-famous dog show next year.

Mr Bott said: “This one isolated incident will not spoil our ­enjoyment to show and compete with our lovely dogs.”

Jagger had come second in his class during competition last Thursday.

West Midlands Police said they have neither received a complaint nor been asked to investigate, but are liaising with Crufts officials and the NEC venue to secure potential evidence.

The Kennel Club asked anybody who has any information about alleged poisoning at Crufts to email [email protected].