A local dog owner has suffered heartbreak as loved family pet has been poisoned following walk at a local playing field.

A Stamford resident and dog owner was forced to make a traumatic decision this week after their much-loved pet fell ill following a walk at the Borough of Stamford Playing Fields.

At 4pm on 11 September, a local lady was walking her two-year old family dog at the fields, which are also the home of Stamford Rugby.

She said that he was "being his normal self" until, two hours later, Walter was "lifeless on the floor".

He was rushed to the vets, where the team found that he had ingested poison. Unfortunately there was nothing that the team could do for Walter, forcing the family to make the traumatic decision to let their family pet go.

The local lady, and supportive Stamford community, has spread the word on social media, adding that she "would not want to see this happen to anyone else's dog."

Another resident alleged that apples were thrown all over the playing field earlier this week, which "definitely looked suspicious".

As such, residents have been urged to take care when walking their pets in public spaces.