Crufts organisers deny more dog poisoning cases

The Kennel Club has told ITV News that it will take "severe disciplinary procedures" against any member caught "attempting to deliberately sabotage another competitor's performance" after claims that an Irish setter named Jagger was allegedly poisoned at Crufts.

It added that rumours other dogs may also have become sick at the leading International dog show were "unsubstantiated" and said: "We can confirm that no vets have raised concerns about poisoning and there have been no official complaints from any owners at Crufts 2015."

The latest statement from the Kennel Club is below:

The Belgium co-owners of Jagger, the dog that died of suspected poisoning after its appearance at world-renowned dog show Crufts, have insisted that they do not think another exhibitor killed their animal.

Speaking to the press outside their home, Willem and Aleksandra Lauwers said "hopefully Jagger was just the wrong dog, in the wrong place, at the wrong time."

Mr Lauwers added that the couple did not want the entire dog breeding world to be tarnished by what happened to Jagger.

A dog called Jagger, who died after being poisoned at Crufts, was not the intended target, it has been claimed.

Jagger's owners believe this almost identical looking Setter called Noodle was.

He had won Best of Breed on the day Jagger competed and the dogs switched benches at the last minute.

But vets say more tests will be needed on Jagger to establish how he died.

The co-owner of a prize-winning dog allegedly poisoned at Crufts said the family "can't and won't" another exhibitor at the show was responsible

"I've done this to raise awareness of the heinous crime that took place that resulted in the death of Jagger," Dee Milligan-Bott told reporters outside her Leicestershire home.

"We can't and we won't think this was an act of another exhibitor. If we thought this couldn't go on," she said.

"I ask you all to unite in finding the perpetrator who did this and lets continue to produce and breed our gorgeous dogs who we are all so proud of."

A co-owner of a Irish Setter which died after allegedly being poisoned at Crufts said another breeder "wouldn't do something like that."

"It's out of the question," Jeremy Bott told reporters outside his home in Kilby, Leicestershire.

Mr Bott refuted suggestions the Jagger's death could have been "an inside job", saying, "I just think it's some person with a grudge against dogs or the show".

"We can't believe it's happened, they're absolutely in bits over in Belgium," he added.

A vet has told ITV News it is "very difficult" to determine whether or not a dog has been poisoned.

Zara Boland said performing a post-mortem on the animal will give "an indication" but that is still "very difficult" to tell.

"You are relying on the naked eye," Boland said. "Unless it is something very obvious like a blue slug pellet ... that hasn't yet been digested then it's very, very difficult."

Toxicology panels are the only way to determine what went on, she added.

The co-owner of a prize-winning dog which died after allegedly being poisoned at Crufts said she believes Jagger was the victim of a random attack.

Dee Milligan-Bott told BBC Radio 5 Live she was certain that the Irish setter, which died at the weekend after returning to Belgium, was poisoned.

But the distraught breeder said: "I don't believe in my heart of hearts that this was another competitor or anyone involved in the dog world.

"I can only imagine that it was a random act that somebody premeditated and wanted to cause total distress at the best dog show in the world."

West Midlands Police said its officers had not been asked to investigate the death of a Crufts competitor or received any complaint.

"The force has not been approached by police in Belgium or the dog owner," a police spokeswoman said.

"If, following toxicology results in Belgium, the force is formally asked to conduct inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the death of the animal, an investigation will take place by officers in conjunction with Crufts and the NEC," she continued.

"In conjunction with the NEC and Crufts, West Midlands Police are ensuring any possible sources of evidence are being secured and preserved."

The daughter of Jagger's co-owner Dee Milligan-Bott told Good Morning Britain they have "lost a member of our family".

Amy Mackay said the dog show world was "rocked" by news the prize-winning Irish setter may have been poisoned at Crufts.

One of the owners of a prize-winning dog allegedly poisoned while at the world-famous Crufts show said they have lost "our love, family member and best friend to our son". Three-year-old Irish setter Thendara Satisfaction, known as Jagger, collapsed and died after returning to Belgium from the show at Birmingham's NEC.

Co-owner Leicester-based breeder Dee Milligan-Bott described the dog's death as a "heinous crime", and posted on her Facebook page to say beef cubes resulted in a painful death for the animal.

A devastated co-woner Belgian Aleksandra Lauwers wrote on her Facebook page: "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."