AN EVESHAM woman is 'heartbroken' after her dog died from rat poisoning, taking away the last memory of her dad.

The vet who treated the dog for rat poison said deaths from poisoning are 'very rare'.

The 29-year-old said she was 'heartbroken' by the loss and said Alfie had comforted her since her parents' death.

"My mum died from septicaemia in 2014 and I bought the dog for my dad, so he had some company," she said.

"But my dad died two months after I gave him the dog. Alfie was the last memory I had of him.

"Whenever I was down he picked me up. My little dog was so full of energy."

Alfie died on Sunday, August 7, and became ill when walking in the field near Fairwater Close, behind the Northwick Hotel.

"He was sick twice and his walking slowed down. He went floppy and did a little moan. His heart rate went funny too," she said.

The owner took Alfie to Martin & Carr Vets, in Pershore, at 9pm and headed home to return the next day, but the dog died an hour later.

Alfie's owner decided to take her other dog, Jack, to the vets afterwards, to make sure he was okay. The combined visits cost the Evesham woman £618.

The owner said she borrowed money from her brother to pay the vets and would do anything for her dogs.

Eliza Brassington, a vet at Martin & Carr Vets, said: "Death from rat poison is very rare. We only have one around one every six to 12 months.

"We treated him on our main suspicion of rat poison and gave him vitamin K.

"We put him on fluids to try and resuscitate him but he lost too much too quickly."

It usually takes two days before dogs show any signs of rat poisoning, the vet said.