A FAMILY mourning a much-loved dog believe the modern trend for composting food waste could have been to blame.

Chris and Alison Keers and their children Maddie and Tom are still coming to terms with the loss of three- and-a-half-year-old Jess, a rare Chesapeake Bay Retriever.

Jess died on January 18, eight days after falling ill at the family home in Bishops Cannings.

Mrs Keers, who is clerk to Pewsey Parish Council, said: "She had begun being ill the previous Thursday when it was clear to myself and my husband that she had eaten something which had caused an obstruction.

"Unfortunately the vets did not diagnose it straight away as the x-rays that had been taken did not show anything."

Two days before the dog died she underwent a barium meal test from which vets established there was an obstruction in her stomach.

Jess had surgery the next day and the vets found a small piece of sweet corn cob, about one inch in diameter, blocking her stomach.

"Unfortunately Jess was unable to get her stomach working again," said Mrs Keers.

The vets told her that some natural objects such as sweet corn or a wine cork did not show up on x-rays. Post mortem results showed that the dog died from peritonitis.

Mrs Keers said she and her husband and children were devastated when Jess died although their other dog Megan, an 11-year-old chocolate Labrador, comforted them.

"The children are missing her and Megan is pining for her," said Mrs Keers.

She said it was likely that the piece of sweet corn that indirectly led to her dog's death had been put out on a compost heap or carelessly thrown on to a garden.

It was probable, she said, that a bird had picked up the piece of sweet corn and dropped in their garden where Jess found it and swallowed it."

"I really feel very strongly about this as I can't believe how devastating an obstruction can be."

Jess came from one of the top Chesapeake Bay lines in Europe.

Her aunt is the British breed record holder having won Crufts best of breed three times, best of breed in Europe and is also a Dutch champion.

They had been planning to breed from Jess, whose half brother is currently the Crufts best in breed champion, and to show Jess at Crufts.