A HEARTBROKEN dog owner has put out a warning to other families after she claims her dog was poisoned in Southend.

Lisa Coote, 51, from Southend, has been left devastated after her three-year-old dog Bridget died after “consuming poison”.

The mum said her husband had taken Bridget out for a walk in Jones Memorial Ground like usual on Sunday morning and Bridget was her “happy” normal self.

Lisa said: “Less than an hour later, my son found Bridget extremely salivating and having seizures.

“My son said it was so scary but tried to keep her comfortable while my husband contacted the vets.

“She was admitted, and they did lots of tests to check various things such as epilepsy, as she was only three, but the results confirmed she wasn’t.

“It was then that they suspected toxicity and continued their tests. The vets then said she had been poisoned.

“Her head was swollen, she was having constant seizures and green diarrhoea, which is what happens after ingesting rat poison.

“There was a glimmer of hope as she recovered well after anaesthesia but unfortunately, she took a turn for the worse again and despite the nurses’ help, went into cardiac arrest.

“She endured a whole day fighting for her life, scared, not knowing what she had done wrong.”

Lisa wants to put out a warning to other dog owners in the area to be aware of what their dogs are eating.

She said the whole family has been left completely heartbroken.

Lisa added: “My family and I are completely heartbroken – totally devastated.

“It is the worst news, and no furbaby or family should have to go through this ever.

“The people that have done this are pure evil. I will never understand why somebody would purposely leave what we now know is rat poison out where dogs are walked.”

James Courtenay, councillor responsible for public protection, said: “This is very rare, but of course it is concerning to hear.

“It is upsetting and distressing for the owner, and I am so sorry to hear this.

“We don’t want residents as a whole to be concerned. But it is something we will take on board and see if there is anything we can do to ensure this doesn’t happen again.

“My thoughts are with the owner.”