A DISTRAUGHT dog owner is warning people to take care while walking their pets after her dog passed away within hours of eating something suspicious on an Orford field.

Linda Owen was walking her 10-month-old German Shepherd, Marley, on a field near Orford Park, known locally as ‘the English Martyrs’, on May 9, when he found something in the grass.

By the time Linda had reached Marley, he had eaten a suspicious object.

Two hours later, Linda said Marley started to walk oddly and his body later went into spasms.

She said: “He wasn’t himself - even his head was jerking.

“We rushed him to the emergency vet but by the time we got him there he was 10 times worse. I have never seen anything like it in my life and I never want to again.”

Linda rushed Marley to Beech House Vets on Wilderspool Causeway but sadly they were unable to save his life.

Linda is heartbroken after losing Marley and still cannot bring herself to move his toys or water bowl.

She wants to warn other owners about the risks of walking their pets in the area and said: “It's torn us apart - for all the people who say ‘it's only a dog’, you’re wrong.

“If you have ever owned a dog, you know they are part of the family, so please take care on that field.”

She is still waiting for the emergency vet’s bill, which she believes will be expensive, but is taking comfort in knowing that they did all they could for her beloved dog.

Police said they have received no other reports of dogs being poisoned in the area.

Dawn Goulden, a spokesman for Harvey’s Army North, a Facebook group that helps reunite lost dogs with their owners, said: “We want to raise awareness so hopefully no other families and pets have to go through this.

“We hope those responsible can be found and stopped before more dog’s lives are lost needlessly.”