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 The death of three-year-old Jagger rocked Britain's Crufts show,
held annually since the reign of Queen Victoria, and unnerved a
dog-showing world that some fear may have just become too
competitive.
Dee Milligan-Bott, co-owner of Jagger, whose pedigree name was
Thendara Satisfaction, said an autopsy had concluded he had eaten
steak laced with several types of poison that led to a painful death
for the dog on his return to Belgium.
She called on fellow breeders to track down the poisoner.
"I ask you all to unite in finding the perpetrator who did this,"
Milligan-Bott, an experienced Irish setter and Afghan Hound kennel
owner who has officiated at Crufts, told reporters at her home in
central England.
Although she said the autopsy showed the poisoning must have taken
place at Crufts, she refused to point the blame at rivals.
 "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,"
Milligan-Bott said.
"I therefore need you all to know that we can't, and we won't think
this was an act of another exhibitor. If we thought this we couldn't
go."
Jagger died at his co-owner's home in Belgium, and some British
newspapers have speculated that he might have been a victim of
mistaken identity as his half-brother Pot Noodle is another
successful show dog.
Owners flock to a cavernous conference center outside Birmingham for
Crufts, entering their pedigree dogs against 21,500 others in a
series of competitions that culminate in Best in Show.
A Scottish terrier from Russia won that title on Sunday, two days
after Jagger's death.
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The show was founded by Charles Cruft, who worked for a dog biscuit
manufacturer. Winners, which emerge from categories such as toy
dogs, gun dogs, hounds and terriers, often have striking names. A
poodle called Afterglow Maverick Sabre, also known as Ricky, won
Best in Show last year.
The Kennel Club, which organizes Crufts, issued a statement of
condolence.
"The Kennel Club is deeply shocked and saddened to hear that Jagger
the Irish Setter died some 26 hours after leaving Crufts," Kennel
Club Secretary Caroline Kisko said.
"We have spoken to his owners and our heartfelt sympathies go out to
them. We understand that the toxicology report is due next week and
until that time we cannot know the cause of this tragic incident,"
Kisko said.
A Kennel Club spokeswoman said it was unclear where the alleged
incident happened and that until the toxicology report was received
it was difficult to speculate.
In any case, the tabloid Sun reported, "police are following all
leads".
(Writing by Guy Faulconbridge and Michael Holden; Editing by Giles
Elgood)
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