A DOG owner is demanding action be taken against illegal fishing after his beloved pet received life-threatening injuries from a fish -hook.

Douglas Love’s three-year-old chocolate Labrador Bella had to undergo vital surgery after accidently swallowing a barbed fishing hook, which had become attached to her oesophagus, and more than two metres of reel.

The incident occurred on August 23 on the footpath next to the Wiltshire and Berkshire Canal, behind Dunsford Close, Kingshill, and after several procedures, Douglas, 35, is now facing a bill of £5,000.

“My flatmate was walking Bella along the lake at a part which has signs up saying no fishing,” said Douglas, a restaurant general manager.

“Because of that she was not on a lead as it should have been safe.

“Bella saw some bread on the ground and rushed to eat it as dogs do but attached to it was a hook and reel.”

Douglas’ flatmate, Miroslav Pesek, 28, cut the reel, which was still connected to a fishing rod but by this point Bella had still managed to swallow much of the wire.

Bella had to undergo several high-risk operations to have the hook removed. She is expected to make a full recovery.

“Bella is like family to me so paying for the surgery was never an issue,” said Douglas.

“I’m very lucky to have a good job and the vet has been brilliant and sorted out a payment plan.

“It was an extremely worrying time though.”

He is now calling for more to be done to tackle the problem of illegal fishing in the canal.

“There are often people fishing along this canal despite signs clearly saying it is not allowed,” said Douglas.

“When you approach they either grunt like they don’t care or sometimes get very aggressive. Something needs to be done to stop this happening again.”

Douglas has written to the council leader asking for more to be done to tackle illegal fishing.

Coun David Renard (Con, Haydon Wick) said: “I have every sympathy with this situation and I will be looking into what more can be done to prevent it.

“Unfortunately, as a council we cannot be everywhere all the time and we do rely on residents to take same responsibility for their actions.”

As the law stands, the police are unable to intervene in illegal fishing because it is the responsibility of the land-owner to report incidents and press charges.

Oliver Gardiner, work party organiser for the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust, said: “We have just put four new signs up telling people not to fish and most people can read and those that do will obey them and others won’t.”