Pet owners have been urged by the council to stay away from a lake in High Wycombe after a dog suddenly died hours after going for a walk in the area.

12-year-old Border Collie Blade died last Wednesday (June 19) after going for a walk in the Rye and becoming “violently sick” afterwards.

His owner Julian Walters, 62, told the Free Press this week that he was still in a “state of shock”, describing the cause of death as “something toxic that caused (Blade) to haemorrhage”.

Julian said: “I tend to keep him out of the water, but he may have drunk something up by the boathouse. It just happened so quickly. He was fine until about 11pm on Tuesday, then he was gone less than 24 hours later.”

A spokesperson for Buckinghamshire Council has issued a warning to dog owners to avoid the Rye while an investigation into Blade’s death – and the infection of several other animals after visiting the park – is ongoing.

They said: “We are very sorry to learn of this incident and pass on our condolences to the owner.

“We have commissioned an assessment of the water in the Dyke next to the Rye as a result of this and will provide an update when we have the results.

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“In the meantime, we’d advise dog owners to keep their pets on a lead and not let them into the water as a precaution while we investigate further.”

Local veterinary service Vets for Pets, based in Wycombe Marsh, released a similar statement, describing Blade’s death as “very sad” and urging “all our clients to avoid the Rye (and) especially water around it”.

They added: “If you have walked at the Rye recently and your pet is exhibiting any signs of illness, please contact us immediately.”

Dog owners were also told to avoid the Dyke lake at the Rye back in 2021 after hundreds of blue-green clumps, suspected to be harmful algae, appeared on its surface.