ENVIRONMENTAL health and RSPCA officers are investigating the alleged sale of a sick puppy to a Dudley woman after the animal had to be put to sleep just four days after going to its new home.

Distraught Jade Walters, aged 24, who was left in tears - and nearly £1,200 out of pocket - by the demise of Milo, the little Jack Russell, said: "I was sold a dying puppy."

She said she purchased Milo, described as being nine weeks old, from a woman in Pensnett, who had advertised puppies for sale on the internet.

Miss Walters, who works as a freight forwarder in Birmingham, said she paid £180 for the black pup and picked him up from the woman's semi-detached home on Friday night (August 21) - but she realised he was ill almost as soon as she got home.

She kept him on her lap for most of two days but his condition deteriorated through the weekend and she rushed him to the vet's on Sunday (August 23), when he was put an isolation ward, with "barrier" nursing.

But despite specialist treatment, costing a total of £1,000, Milo had to be put down on two days later due to the ravages of canine Parvo virus and a gastro infection.

"I am gutted and didn't eat for two days," said Miss Walters, who reported the matter to the RSPCA and Dudley Council's environmental health department.

She claimed that soon after arriving home on Friday night, she noticed that Milo was not moving much or eating and had diarrhoea, so she phoned the seller to discuss her worries.

"She told me it was normal and the puppy was just missing its mum," said Miss Walters.

"There were other puppies in the house when I bought Milo and I could hear more dogs barking in the back garden."

Milo died at Blacks vets' Dudley hospital after failing to respond to treatment.

Councillor Hilary Bills, cabinet member for environmental services, said in response to a Dudley News enquiry about the case: "We are currently investigating a complaint regarding animal welfare.

"We would always advise people to only buy a pet from a trusted, registered breeder and to check the welfare and health of the animal and its parents.

"The Kennel Club provides a list of assured responsible breeders to help prospective owners.”

RSPCA spokesman Rachel Butler said: "I can confirm that some concerns have been raised about a young dog in the Brierley Hill area and we are looking into them.

"We would ask anyone with information to call the RSPCA on 0300 123 8018."

John O'Flynn, director of Blacks vets, confirmed that Milo had been suffering from Parvo virus, complicated by a gastro-intestinal parasite.

"The puppy was small and underweight and presented as very unwell," he said.

"I can't say how long the puppy had been ill but he had vomited on Friday night and it seems he was unwell from the moment it was bought, although it might not have been as obviously unwell before then.

"We put him on fluid therapy, medication to control the sickness and the parasitic infection and got the test results overnight on Monday.

"Milo had antibiotics and round-the-clock treatment and nursing care and was put in an isolation ward with barrier nursing but - mainly because he was so little and had nothing in reserve to cope with the stress - we had to put him to sleep."

A woman answering the telephone number that Miss Walters said she used to set up the appointment to buy Milo claimed never to have sold any puppies or to have met Miss Walters.

However, the number was advertised on Dogs4Sale UK as having Jack Russell puppies available for £180 each.