SADIE the yellow labrador cross, whose photo appeared in the Echo last week, has died after being bitten by an adder.

Now Sadie's distraught owner is warning people to watch out for snakes when taking their dogs for a walk.

Two-and-a-half-year-old Sadie, owned by Patricia and Bryan Willis, was bitten by a snake in a car park at Wareham Forest just moments after getting out of the car at around 12.45pm on Sunday.

The couple rushed former rescue dog Sadie to the vets immediately but despite their efforts she died hours later.

Mrs Willis, 62, of West Way, Broadstone, said: "We went to Wareham Forest because we thought there wouldn't be many tourists there.

"We hadn't even started the walk. I was waiting for my husband who was getting his brolly from the car.

"Sadie had gone over to the bracken and she squealed and I thought she had stood on a twig."

The couple realised that Sadie had been bitten in several places by an adder and immediately put her in the car and rushed to the vets.

The youngster was put on a drip and then transferred to the out-of-hours emergency vets.

The couple later collected Sadie and stayed up with her all night but she died in the early hours of Monday morning.

Mrs Willis added: "Her breathing became laboured and rapid. We tried to look in her mouth but her jaw was locked.

"At 5.30am she stood up and then she just collapsed.

"We both got her into the car but she had died.

"She was such a big heavy dog and such a young dog. She was so affectionate.

"When we first got her she was just a bag of bones. All we knew about her was that she was picked up roaming around in Romsey.

"We had only had her 13 months.

"I just want people to beware.

"We can't believe we've lost her."

  • Last month, 10-year-old Mollie Hawker spent six days in hospital after being bitten by an adder on Turbary Common in Bournemouth.