Pet poisoning alert as couple's dog dies

Animal lovers in a Black Country street have raised an alert after their pets died from a mystery poisoning.

Mick and Tina Doyle were heartbroken after their boisterous Jack Russell terrier, Jack, suffered a fatal toxic dose a week after a neighbour's cat suffered the same fate.

Other animals in the area are also said to have died suddenly. The couple, of Broad Lane South, Wednesfield, took Jack to Cavan's veterinary practice in Lucknow Road, Willenhall.

Mr Doyle, a 52-year-old chef, said the vet was shocked by the amount of poison in his system.

He died two days later on February 1.

The family had become concerned when the 10-year-old dog began vomiting water.

Mrs Doyle took him to the vet the next day when samples of the dog's blood were taken and he was given antibiotics for a possible infection.

But Jack continued to deteriorate, developing a violent shake and becoming disorientated.

The following evening he was taken back to the vet who broke the news the dog had been poisoned and would have to be put down.

Travel agent Mrs Doyle, 50, said today: "We were in shock.

"The vet told us it was much too strong to be rat poison and that the kindest thing for Jack would be to put him down. It's upsetting to lose him in this way, especially as he had more good years in him.

"Since then we've learned that our next door neighbour's seven-month old kitten collapsed and died a week before Jack and the same thing happened to their perfectly healthy West Highland terrier last September.

"A dog walker who uses the fields at the back of our house, where we walk our dogs, said he lost his dog suddenly quite recently.

"The vet can't identify the poison, only that it was the strongest he'd ever come across.

"We just want to warn other people to be careful if they walk their dogs in this area."

Cavan's vets was unavailable for comment today.