A "beautiful little" husky died horribly from suspected poisoning on Saturday amid fears a dog hater is killing canines in the area.

Dog owners are being asked to remain vigilant in Ewell after the husky died frothing at the mouth and in great pain despite efforts to save it.

UPDATE: Vet believes my husky Maggie was NOT poisoned, says owner

Blair Morrison, from Plough Road, saw women gathered around the dog on the grass while driving along Longmead Road to Sainsbury's at 6pm.

His wife Hayley Morrison said: "He drove [the owner] and her daughter and the husky to the nearest emergency vets in Reigate as the poor husky was foaming at the mouth and clearly in lots of pain.

"The husky died of poisoning - suspected to be left around that area by someone who hates dogs."

Down at Longmead Road a driver told Mr Morrison that another dog had been poisoned at the same spot a couple of weeks ago.

Mrs Morrison said: "This is so unbelievably sad. The lady and her daughter were obviously so upset as they had recently lost their previous dog.

"I want to let people know that this is happening and to be vigilant when walking their dogs, especially around that area."

Mr Morrison said the mother and her about 16-year-old daughter got the "beautiful little dog" from Battersea Dogs Home about five weeks ago.

He said: "The horrfic pain it was in was horrible to witness and you wonder who might do that. It's massively worrying to know it's happening in your area.

"You feel a bit helples. The likelihood is someone is going around poisoning animals and it could happen to anything or anyone."

He said Priory Vets in Reigate confirmed the husky was poisoned, but an employee at the vets told this newspaper today: "We are not able to comment at all because of data protection."

Sheila Carlson, who has represented Court Ward on Epsom Council, said she has not heard anything about suspected poisonings in the area but would be warning pet owers.

Ms Carlson said: "Obviously it’s something that I would be appalled to hear. I have a great deal of sympathy because pets are part of your family and if that happens you would be devastated."

She said it is impossible to know at this stage whether poison was left by someone "being malicious" or if a substance like rat poison was left out for another reason.

She said: "In the meantime we will be recommending that dog owners don’t let them off the lead to roam and keep a close eye on what they’re eating when out and about."

Veterinary surgeon Johnny Kriek, from Kriek and Gibson Veterinary Surgery in Banstead, said they have recently seen cases of Rhododendron poisonings and chocolate poisonings around Easter.

But Mr Kriek said: "There's been nothing that serious in our area. All I can suggest is it's a chemical of some sort if they have gone so quickly."

Jennifer Gilbert, who used to live in West Hill and set up a Romanian dog rescue in Surrey, now spends most of her time doing rescue work in Greece.

In response to the poisoning, Ms Gilbert said: "That’s awful. Hopefully it’s an isolated case. It’s very rare in Epsom. I have not heard of any other poisonings in the area.

"It’s a bit alarming. It’s very common in Greece where it’s a way of getting "rid of pests" as they say, but we have not seen it here very often."

A spokeswoman at the RSPCA said: "We are very sorry to hear about the death of this dog - which must have been really upsetting for the owner.

"The RSPCA is always deeply concerned to hear about suspected poisonings. Animals, and especially dogs, are often extremely curious and will be drawn to food.

"Ingesting just the smallest amounts of some substances can lead to kidney failure and death."

Anyone who suspects their dog has been poisoned should immediately take it and a sample of what it has eaten to the vet.

Anyone with evidence to support allegations that someone is deliberately poisoning should call the RSPCA national cruelty line on 0300 1234 999.

Do you know more? Please email alice.foster@london.newsquest.co.uk or call 020 8722 6337