Her husband Jeremy said person likely had 'grudge' against Crufts show

One of Jagger's co-owners said the culprit wanted to cause 'total distress'

Entrants said an Afghan hound, shih tzu and a Westie were also unwell

Another Shetland is understood to have been taken ill around same time

She described animal 'vomiting and shaking' in its cage before show

At least six dogs are now feared to have been poisoned at Crufts as the crisis over the death of a prize-winning Irish setter deepened.

The owners of two Shetland sheepdogs also believe their pets were deliberately targeted during the world-famous show after both suffered severe sickness.

And there were reports last night of a West Highland terrier 'on a drip at the vet' and a shih tzu and an Afghan hound seriously ill after the show. One report even claimed a shih tzu had died.

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Dee Milligan-Bott and her husband Jeremy Bott, the co-owner of 'murdered' Crufts dog Jagger, said they are devastated by the 'heinous' crime, but do not believe it was carried out by a fellow competitor

Speaking outside her Leicestershire home today, Mrs Milligan-Bott (left) urged people to unite in finding the perpetrator who killed Jagger (right)

Jagger, who is co-owned by Belgian Aleksandra Lauwers and Leicester-based breeder Dee Milligan-Bott, died in his owner's arms on Friday, after returning home to Belgium

The owners have said they do not believe the poisoning was a targeted attack on Jagger (left and right)

If it is confirmed that the illnesses were the result of foul play, the range of breeds involved means a poisoner, or poisoners, may have been at large over more than one of the show's four days at the Birmingham NEC.

Amid growing alarm among owners, West Midlands Police are now working with the NEC and Crufts to 'secure and preserve' any possible sources of evidence.

But the show's organisers, the Kennel Club, insisted they had yet to receive a single official complaint from an owner – and that there had never been a confirmed poisoning case in the show's 124-year history.

Irish setter Jagger died at his home in Belgium on Friday after apparently being fed poisoned beef cubes. His owners described his death as a murder.

MYSTERY OVER THE CHAMPIONS LEFT DEAD OR IN AGONY Irish setter Thendara Satisfaction, known as Jagger. Three-year-old Irish setter. Owners: Co-owned by Dee Milligan-Bott and her husband Jeremy, of Kilby, Leicestershire, and Aleksandra Lauwers and her husband Willem, of Tongeren, Belgium. Titles: Luxembourg Junior Champion. Sheltie Champion Edglonian Singing The Blues, known as Sid The Sheltie. Eight-year-old Shetland sheepdog. Owner: Debbie Pearson, of Bramhall, near Stockport. Titles: Three times best of breed winner at Crufts. Shetland Sheepdog Myter Eye To Eye, known as Ariel. Six-year-old Shetland sheepdog. Owner: Mylee Thomas, of Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire. Titles: Considered 'top bitch' in the whole breed because she has won 20 'challenge certificates' – more than any living bitch and the second most ever. Thought to have been poisoned the day after Jagger was killed. Mrs Thomas said she thought her dog was deliberately targeted by someone with expert knowledge of the breed. Other victims These are thought to include an as yet unnamed West Highland terrier 'on a drip at the vet', a shih tzu and an Afghan hound that was taken 'seriously ill' after the show. Advertisement

They told how the vet who carried out tests on the dog believed Jagger could have been fed up to two or three poisons, including slug killer, before his death.

Yesterday, another dog owner spoke out about how her prize-winning bitch Myter Eye To Eye, known as Ariel, was found vomiting and shaking in pain shortly before it was due to be judged on Friday.

Mylee Thomas said she was convinced the six-year-old Shetland sheepdog had been poisoned deliberately to boost a rival's chances – despite fellow breeders knowing she was grieving for her husband Peter, who died last month.

Mrs Thomas, 52, took her dog to the on-site vet and after treatment it was able to take part in the judging.

A second Shetland sheepdog, Singing The Blues, which won best of breed at Crufts in 2012 and 2013, is understood to have been taken ill around the same time.

Mrs Thomas, of Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, said: 'To have a top dog and top bitch both targeted in such a short space of time is surely no fluke. Whoever did it, their timing was impeccable, just before the classes were judged. My suspicion is that someone wanted to try and take the competition out.'

If she is correct, it raises the question of whether Jagger was targeted by a separate saboteur. Mrs Thomas believes the poisoner may have struck when she popped to the lavatory, briefly leaving her dog unattended. Thankfully, it recovered over the weekend.

'The vet said we could do blood tests to find out what it was, but that would cost about £1,000 which is a lot of money for me to pay out,' Mrs Thomas said.

'If Crufts really want to get to the bottom of what happened, I think it's their responsibility to pay for tests.'

Jeremy Bott, 66, pictured walking his dogs near his home near Leicester, said he believes the culprit is someone with a 'grudge' against dogs or Crufts

Singing The Blues' owner Debbie Pearson declined to comment at her home in Bramhall, near Stockport, yesterday.

But one onlooker who saw the dog at Crufts said it 'looked really tired'. Singing The Blues still won best of breed after being treated by the on-site vet.

The other rumoured poisonings were aired on social media and discussion forums.

One owner claimed: 'The Irish setter is dead but there's also a Westie that's critically ill and throwing up blood and there's also an Afghan and shih tzu that have become seriously ill... someone has been going around each day poisoning (if they've all been poisoned) the dogs. Which means it's more than likely not one of the show people but some random visitor.'

Another posted on Facebook about a 'Westie… on a drip at the vet, vomiting and blood'.

Last night, the Kennel Club was understood to be examining the allegations.

Jagger died at his co-owners Aleksandra and Willem Lauwers' home in Tongeren, Belgium, on Friday night, the day after he competed at Crufts and came second in his class.

Myter Eye to Eye: Her owner believes she was deliberately targeted - she was found vomiting and shaking in pain shortly before it was due to be judged on Friday

Singing The Blues with owner Debbie Pearson - one onlooker who saw the dog said it 'looked really tired'

A post-mortem examination found meat cubes laced with poison in his stomach.

Yesterday co-owner Jeremy Bott, 66, of Kilby, Leicestershire, said the meat was 'like steak' and had been sewn up with 'two or three types' of poison inside.

He and his wife Dee Milligan-Bott, 56, do not believe it was a targeted attack on Jagger by a rival dog owner but the work of 'somebody who has a grudge against dogs or Crufts show.'

In Belgium, devastated Mrs Lauwers, 34, vowed to return to Crufts next year to compete in memory of her 'murdered' pet.

To have a top dog and top bitch both targeted in such a short space of time is surely no fluke Mylee Thomas

She said: 'I don't want to see tighter controls, having the dogs meeting the public is a big part of these dog shows. To the person who has done this I would say: I hope you can sleep well knowing you have killed my beautiful child. He was our love, our family member and the very best friend to our son.

'We are still in shock. My son is devastated. He does not know how somebody could be so cruel. Why would anyone want to cause Jagger such a slow and painful death?'

Mrs Lauwers said she realised something was very wrong when Jagger's jaw dropped and he started to tremble after they returned to Belgium on Friday evening.

'The vet arrived very quickly, but it was too late. Within 15 minutes Jagger was dead,' she said.

Belgian police are awaiting results of toxicology tests.

Yesterday a Crufts spokesman said: 'The facts surrounding Jagger's sad death are still being established and we must stress that any other unsubstantiated rumours about dogs being poisoned are just that. We can confirm that no vets have raised concerns about poisoning and there have been no official complaints from any owners at Crufts 2015.'

She added: 'As with any international competition rumours of sabotage do occasionally surface. This of course is not in the spirit of competition and will not be tolerated.

'Anyone caught attempting to deliberately sabotage another competitor's performance, particularly if a dog's welfare is put at risk, will face severe disciplinary action, which could include a ban on competing at all Kennel Club licensed events.

'Furthermore anyone who puts a dog's welfare at risk could face prosecution under the Animal Welfare Act.'

We are still in shock. Why would anyone want to cause Jagger such a slow and painful death?' Aleksandra Lauwers

Under the Welfare Act 2006, someone who poisons an animal can go to prison for up to 51 weeks and be fined £20,000.

West Midlands Police said: 'The force has not been approached by police in Belgium or the dog owner. If, following toxicology results in Belgium, the force is formally asked to conduct inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the death of the animal, an investigation will take place.'

Yesterday, Mrs Milligan-Bott addressed the media alongside her husband Jeremy outside their home in Leicestershire.

She said: 'I would like to thank everyone from around the world very much for your overwhelming support, messages and kind words.

'We always knew our breed and the world of dogs was amazing but your support over the last few days has been truly humbling.

Jagger took part in the competition on Thursday and achieved second place in his class at 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 added: 'I need you all to know that 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 of breeding and showing beautiful dogs would have been a complete waste.

'So I ask all of you to unite in finding the perpetrator who did this, and let's continue to produce and breed our gorgeous dogs who we are all so proud of.'

Mr Bott added: 'Crufts is the best show in the world, and we will certainly be back again next year to compete.

'This one isolated incident will not spoil our enjoyment to show and compete with our lovely dogs. Please let us now grieve the loss of our dog Jagger.'

Ms Lauwers also said she would attend next year's show to avenge Jagger's death - but admitted that reports of further alleged poisonings were 'worrying'.

She said: 'I do not know the owners of the other two dogs that were apparently poisoned.

'But it is very worrying if Jagger was not an isolated incident.'

She and her husband Willem also made an on-camera statement concerning the dog's death.

A post-mortem examination found Jagger had eaten beef lined with up to three types of poison, including what was believed to have been slug killer

Because of his pedigree, success in shows and value as a stud dog, he could have commanded a price of up to £50,000, experts said

The couple informed TV crews gathered outside their home in Belgium that they had taken comfort from messages of support from well-wishers around the world.

Speaking in English, Mr Lauwers said: 'We want to bring to everyone's mind the horrible crime that took place which resulted in the death of Jagger.

'We do not want to think this was an act of a fellow exhibitor. Hopefully Jagger was just the wrong dog on the wrong place on the wrong time.

'We ask you all to unite and concentrate on identifying who may have done this.'

Meanwhile, animal rights charity PETA said Jagger's death showed how dogs 'always pay the price for breeders' sick pursuit of the perfect dog'.

A spokesman said: 'It's common in the cut-throat world of dog breeding for dogs to be killed or abandoned if they don't match the Kennel Club's arbitrary breed standards.

'It's reported that Jagger the Irish setter was worth in the region of £50,000, which just goes to show that dog breeding is big business.

'And it should hardly be surprising, then, that he may have been deliberately poisoned to eliminate him as competition.

'The twisted business of dog breeding is dangerous and deadly, and whether it's dogs born with difficulty breathing or unable to give birth naturally or a 'show dog' maliciously taken out of the competition, it's always the dogs who pay the price for breeders' sick pursuit of the 'perfect dog'.'