THE distraught owner of a dog confirmed as being one of the first victims in the North-East of the disease Alabama Rot has spoken of her family’s grief at the loss of their much-loved pet.

And Jessica Burnip is urging other dog owners to regularly check their pets for the tell-tale first signs of the deadly disease.

Her warning came after Boomer, a three-year-old whippet she has had from being an eight-week-old puppy, was put to sleep after their vet confirmed there was nothing that could be done to save him.

That was only a week after an unexplained red sore was spotted on his stomach a day after he was walked in woodland near the family home in Sacriston, near Chester-le-Street.

Despite being taken for treatment several times, Boomer’s condition continued to deteriorate and different vets were unable to diagnose the exact cause, as Alabama Rot is not known to have previously been detected so far North.

It has only been in the past few days that Ms Burnip has received confirmation from the country’s leading experts in the disease, in Hampshire, that Boomer died from contracting Alabama Rot, for which there is no known cure.

His case is one of 122 reported in the country since 2012, and among ten now confirmed since the start of December.

Ms Burnip said the death of Boomer has devastated her four-year-old son, William, who doted on the loveable whippet.

“It was really hard, particularly with it coming so near to Christmas.

“But it’s only now that tests have been carried out on one of his kidneys and a skin sample that it has been confirmed as Alabama Rot.

“It’s not something I knew about, but I looked it up when Boomer’s condition got worse.

“It was an open wound and looked like an ulcer, at first the size of a 10p coin, all red round it.

“There was nothing we could put it down to. At first, we thought it may be off the new coat he had just started wearing when he was out.

“We can only think it might have been something he picked up from walking in the woods behind Heugh Edge, which we call Daisy Hill Woods.

“They have been doing some work there and some of the machinery might have come from down south, but we don’t really know.”

She said she may contact the wood owner, but it remains uncertain if that it was where Boomer contracted the disease.

Meanwhile, as the family try to come to terms with their loss, Ms Burnip said she could not face having another dog, at the moment.

“No matter how old he was, it makes no odds, three or 13, it’s just heart breaking.”

Experts from the leading group in the field, Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists, said 2017 was the worst year for Alabama Rot in the UK, but that may only be because the disease was less well known previously.

David Walker, considered the leading figure on the disease, said last week: “It is understandably very worrying for dog owners, but we hope the increase in cases is partly due to a higher awareness and understanding of the disease.

“Although the figures have almost doubled since 2016, it is important that dog owners remain calm, but vigilant for signs of the disease, particularly over coming months, as we are now in the peak season for cases.”

He said the first sign of its presence is usually seen as a skin sore which can’t be explained by a known injury.

“Most commonly, these sores are found on the lower half of the leg and appear as a distinct swelling, a patch of red skin, or are open and ulcer-like.

“While there is currently no known way to prevent a dog from contracting the disease, any concerned dog owners should visit www.vets4pets.com/stop-alabama-rot/ for advice.”

Following the first Alabama Rot conference in May 2017 the first stage of research was planned, with findings expected to be published in March.