Irish Setter eats poisoned meat, dies after UK's famed show
Irish Red Setter Thendara Satisfaction, known as Jagger stands in this undated image, made available from Oakdene.Be on Monday March 9, 2015. The co-owners of the Irish setter feared poisoned at Britain's leading dog show are devastated by his death but insisted Monday they don't believe that one of the other competitors is responsible. Three-year-old Thendara Satisfaction, known as Jagger, died Friday, shortly after returning to Belgium following an appearance at the world-famous Crufts dog show in the central English city of Birmingham last week. A veterinarian performed a post-mortem examination and found pieces of meat laced with poison in his stomach. (AP Photo - Oakdene.Be) 
Irish Red Setter Thendara Satisfaction, known as Jagger stands in this undated image, made available from Oakdene.Be on Monday March 9, 2015. The co-owners of the Irish setter feared poisoned at Britain's leading dog show are devastated by his death but insisted Monday they don't believe that one of the other competitors is responsible. Three-year-old Thendara Satisfaction, known as Jagger, died Friday, shortly after returning to Belgium following an appearance at the world-famous Crufts dog show in the central English city of Birmingham last week. A veterinarian performed a post-mortem examination and found pieces of meat laced with poison in his stomach. (AP Photo - Oakdene.Be)
LONDON (AP) Tasty cubes of beef would tempt any dog, let alone one sitting patiently on the stand during public viewing at Crufts, Britain's premier dog show. But instead of a treat, one owner says a deadly surprise was sewn into the meat: slug killer.
Jagger, a 3-year-old Irish Setter, collapsed and died after leaving the show with a bellyful of poisoned beef, leaving his owners distraught and triggering a canine whodunit worthy of Agatha Christie.
The dog, also known as Thendara Satisfaction, died Friday shortly after returning to his home in Belgium from the Crufts show in Birmingham, England. A post-mortem examination found the poisoned slug killer cubes in his stomach, according to Jeremy Bott, one of Jagger's co-owners.
The only time Jagger was unattended and could have been poisoned was when he was on the stand for public viewing, his owners said - but they refused to believe that another competitor could have done such a thing.
"We can't and we won't think that this was the act of another exhibitor. If we thought this, we couldn't go on, and the last 30 years would be a complete waste," Dee Milligan Bott said on her Facebook page. "So I ask all of you to unite in finding the perpetrator who did this."
But that still leaves the question: Who would kill a dog show contestant and why?
Jeremy Bott thinks it was a case of mistaken identity. He said he believes the poisoner is someone who bears a grudge against dogs in general or the Crufts show in particular, but not Jagger himself.
In an article published in "Dog World," Milligan Bott suggested the real target of the attack could have been another dog she owns, Thendara Pot Noodle. That dog won the "Best of Breed" title at Crufts, while Jagger finished second in a preliminary competition.
Police in Belgium and Britain are aware of the incident, but authorities said they have not been asked to investigate. The Kennel Club, which organizes Crufts, said it is awaiting a toxicology report on Jagger's stomach contents before deciding what action to take.
Milligan Bott told reporters outside her home that Jagger's death shouldn't overshadow "the positive sides of Crufts."
"I certainly don't want our dog shows - the places we work so hard to get to - to become a ground of finger-pointing and suspicion," she said.
The Kennel Club issued a second statement Monday after reports that another dog had fallen ill after Crufts.
"The facts surrounding Jagger's sad death are still being established, and we must stress that any other unsubstantiated rumors about dogs being poisoned are just that," the club said. "There are any number of reasons why a dog may display symptoms such as sickness. And should a dog fall sick, there are vets at the show who will examine the dog in question and file a report."
No vets have raised concerns about poisoning at the show and "there have been no official complaints from any owners at Crufts 2015," the club said.
Canine competitions have long been the subject of rumors about unscrupulous behavior - including owners slipping drugs to rival dogs. In 1996, a breeder was banned for giving valium to a Chihuahua at another British dog show.
And Crufts is not just any show. It is Britain's most famous dog event, attracting more than 21,000 competitors from 43 countries this year. It was founded in 1891, about 14 years after New York's Westminster dog show.
The stakes can be high. Although the prizes for such shows are small - the "Best in Show" title carries a purse of just 100 pounds ($150) - puppies from the winners can fetch thousands.
The grief of losing a beloved friend coursed through all the pictures and family statements Monday. The Botts placed a large image of Jagger on their website, his russet coat gleaming, his head held high. The photo was simply captioned: RIP Jagger.
The Botts, who run a dog breeding operation in England, were part owners of Jagger. The dog lived as a family pet with their co-owners in Belgium, where he visited retirement homes so elderly residents could pat him on the head.
For his Belgian owner, Aleksandra Lauwers, the pain was evident in a posting 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," she wrote.
Both families asked the media to leave them in peace to mourn.
"He was a typical Irish Setter, totally trustworthy and so loved," Milligan Bott told the BBC. "We are devastated."
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I hope they catch the prick that did this and put him in public stocks for all to beat and throw rotted food at him! What kind of an asshole does this?
I am literately shaking in rage!
Police in Belgium and Britain are aware of the incident, but authorities said they have not been asked to investigate. The Kennel Club, which organizes Crufts, said it is awaiting a toxicology report on Jagger's stomach contents before deciding what action to take.
The HAVE to open a criminal case on this! Not just for animal cruelty, but these dogs are worth a fortune in stud fees alone! So it has to at least be some form of vandalism or grand theft. There has to be a prison time crime behind this, just like killing a championship racing horse would be.
Yup, pisses me off to no end too Micky---what type of asshole does such a thing?!
;^(
He was a beautiful dog, and this is a terrible crime! I'm very sad that anyone would poison any dog, especially a well-behaved, beautiful dog like this.
I hope they catch who did this and charge them with animal cruelty-- and the Feds get involved, (as in, the FBI-- or its British equivalent), who have vowed to fight animal cruelty.
I agree completely!
That would be Scotland Yard in Britain and I do think this is a case for them if for no other reason the a financial value of the animals alone. To say nothing of the huge black eye it gives to Great Britain if they can't protect the dogs at the most prestigious and legendary dog shows in the country and the world. Why would you want to enter one of your favorite, lovable, to say nothing of expensive, dogs in a dog show where they may be killed? If I was raising show dogs, I'd boycott Crufts until the person who did this is caught and punished. I just wouldn't take the risk with one of my own three dogs.
What kind of a bastard would do this? It is a question as to whether it was a competitor, or a deranged SOB who belongs in a mental institution, or maybe someone who just wants to be the cause of a news story so that his/her sorry life would have something to be notorious for. After all, why should the terrorists get all the news coverage?
Animal cruelty? This wasn't just animal cruelty, it was intentional premeditated murder.
Her Majesty, the Queen is a well known dog lover (Corgis) and is known to be a big fan of dog shows. To have this happen at Britain's most prestigious dog show is something I am sure she has taken serious notice of. I have no doubt that there are already some sort of un-offical and official investigations taking place. Whoever did this will be caught and they will be made to pay.
Simply unbelievable that someone would stoop so low.
I feel the same way, Buzz. I would fight to the death for any one of my dogs...
These dogs are the people's family. What a shame! Scotland Yard is a good place, I'm sure they are doing their best... But they haven't been called in, yet. Croft's needs to make that call, and soon!
But they haven't been called in, yet. Croft's needs to make that call, and soon!
Well, like I said, Her Majesty, The Queen of England, etc., is a big time dog lover and Crufts is a very, very big deal for Great Britain. I have no doubt that she is aware of what is happened and that there are, at the very least, un-offical investigations happening. It's just to big of a black eye for Great Britain. especially among dog lovers, not to do something about it. I also have no doubt the The Kennel Club that runs the show will call for a criminal investigation.
I mean if it had happened at The Westminster's Dog Show we would have a full blown investigation in progress, especially since it crossed international borders. I just want the bastard caught and then turned loose in a bullring full of dog lovers.
Fitting punishment!
I agree with you!
Or in a ring with un-rehabilitated pit bulls.
Rumors that I have seen online is that several other dogs may have been poised also and they are looking at people like animal rights advocates who object to dog shows. I think all dog shows need a lot of extra security until this person is caught...and neutered.
I read in the BBC that 2 dogs are dead, and that several became sick from this... Crufts, in true stiff upper lip fashion, suggested that if the owners hadn't left their dogs unattended, they wouldn't have been poisoned. Boy, that attitude wouldn't fly here in this country.
I'm sure the Queen is irked by it-- she is a good, sweet woman, who loves dogs.