Crufts 2015 death: Poisoning of Irish setter dog Jagger 'likely to have happened after event'

The dog died just over 24 hours after it won second place in the competition

Jagger, who competed under the name Thendara Satisfaction, died on Friday evening (Amy Nettleton, via Facebook)

A dog that died following a Crufts show was likely to have been poisoned after the competition, a vet investigating the death has claimed.

A three-year-old Irish setter named Jagger, who competed as “Thendara Satisfaction”, was fed beef chunks laced with poison at some time around the Crufts show that was held on Thursday.

Dr Patrick Jans, a Belgian vet reportedly leading the probe, was contacted by the dog’s co-owners at around 2am on Saturday who told him that Jagger was dying.

Jagger, who had come second in its class, died in Belgium having apparently been fed poisoned chunks of steak, its owners claim. Another dog had also died and at least five others were taken ill after the prestigious event at the NEC in Birmingham.

Dr Jans told the Sun: “I doubt it happened at Crufts. I think that is unlikely and I am surprised everyone is saying this is the case. It could have happened on the way back from Crufts or even in the hours after they came back.”

Aleksandra Lauwers, one of the owners who lives in Belgium, said yesterday that toxicological tests were being carried out at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Ghent University. The results are expected in about a week.

Dr Jan added that the toxicology report could shed light on the time-scale of the dog’s death and hopefully offer more clues as to how it occurred. CCTV footage of the event is also being examined.

Polish Lowland Sheepdogs are paraded in the show ring during Crufts

Crufts organisers The Kennel Club have said they are investigating the claims, including that as many as six other dogs also fell ill and a second dog, a shih tzu, had died.

A spokeswoman for the club 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.

“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.”