On 8th August our family pet Labrador Jess escaped at 6.45pm, which at first didn't concern us too greatly as our gardens are quite large and a two year old Lab can find plenty to do in seven acres.

However, we became worried when she didn't come back after calling and whistling and searching for her for over three hours when normally she would return after a few minutes.

She finally returned at 10.50 pm when we realised something terrible had happened to her. We called the vet, it was obvious that she had been poisoned, she was blind and she couldn't stand and her heart was racing. The vet confirmed my worst thoughts and she died in the early hours of the morning.

She had, as the vet said, been poisoned deliberately by someone and hopefully that someone is reading this letter and if they feel proud of themselves then they should see what effect the death had on my two sons of 5 and 6 ½ because they are still crying 6 weeks later. Jess was a lovely friendly dog and she died prematurely at the hands of someone that others regard as a human?

Ashley Fordham