Labrador belonging to autistic boy killed after being 'cruelly poisoned' with slug pellets

Police said they are investigating an incident of criminal damage

Hovis had been trained as a support dog for Ben (Debra Jansen)

A Labrador belonging to an autistic child has been killed after being “cruelly poisoned” by slug pellets which may have been thrown into the family's garden.

The one-year-old puppy, Hovis, died after eating the pellets which could possibly have been thrown over the gate of the family’s home in Martham, Norfolk.

Hovis, who was bred specifically as a support dog to 11-year-old Ben, who has autism, died after being put into an anaethetised coma following a series of seizures after eating the pellets.

The puppy's sister Luna, also ate a smaller amount of the poisonous pellets but was found not to have consumed a significant enough amount to cause any serious damage.

Writing on a JustGiving page, Ben’s mother Debbie Jansen said: "Whilst the family was out at work our two Labrador puppies were cruelly poisoned in our garden.”

Mrs Jansen said she discovered an empty container of pellets when she got home at around midday.

She told The Independent her son’s life “changed for the better” when Hovis was born.

Hovis was trained to 'pre-empt Ben's anxiety and meltdowns', according to Ben's mother (Debra Jansen)

Trained by Ben’s sister Tamara to be a support dog, Hovis learnt “to pre-empt Ben’s anxiety and meltdowns when he got overwhelmed in situations. She [Hovis] would distract Ben from hurting himself or would sit on him, pinning him to the couch forcing him to stroke her, thereby bringing his anxiety right down,” Mrs Jansen said.

“Ben and the family are totally distraught. Not only have we lost a treasured pet, but Ben has lost his best friend,” she added that her son's behaviour had turned “very worrying” since Hovis’ death.

Mrs Jansen said she hopes this “dreadful scenario” would not be repeated in another household.

A Norfolk police spokesperson said: “We are investigating an incident of criminal damage, which took place at an address in Willows Court, Martham between 8.30am and 12pm on Tuesday 13 October 2015."

"Any witnesses or anyone with information regarding this incident should contact Norfolk Constabulary on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Luna will now be trained as Ben’s replacement dog, which they are funding for on JustGiving.