Crufts controversies revealed: Poison, chewing gum and animal cruelty allegations
CRUFTS dog competition has become mired in controversy this week after a dog died after allegedly being poisoned - but this is not the first time the prestigious contest has faced a scandal.
Here Express.co.uk takes a look at the darker side of the competitive canine world.
Dirty tactics
But the competitive dog world has regularly experienced poisoning scandals.
In 1993, a prize-winning Italian maremma was allegedly fed poisoned beef at Crufts.
Several other competitions around the country also saw animals poisoned, including the Midland counties championship and a show in Leeds.
Other dirty tactics allegedly used have included sneaking sedatives into dog's food or water, as well as sticking chewing gum in animals' fur to ruin a glossy coat or giving it a sly trim.
Judge targeted
The 2004 contest took a particularly dark turn when leading figures in the competitive canine world received poison-pen letters about Best In Show judge Joyce Mann.
Although she received backing from many, Ms Joyce said that she felt compelled to step down.
Owners' criticism
Rebecca Cross was lambasted for picking the canine up by its tail, with a petition to strip her of her Best In Show award gathering more than 70,000 signatures.
Other dirty tactics allegedly used have included sneaking sedatives into dog's food or water, as well as sticking chewing gum in animals' fur
Animal rights protest
Animal rights activists also made an appearance at this year's show in protest against perceived animal cruelty.
A student - named only as Luke - ran onto the show floor at Birmingham's NEC Arena clutching a sign reading "Mutts Against Crufts" as the Best In Show trophy was awarded.
Animal charity PETA said of the incident: "For every dog you see paraded around at Crufts, there’s a story you don’t see – the chronic, painful health problems that pedigrees often endure from generations of inbreeding and being bred for unnatural, exaggerated characteristics.
"Someone has to raise their voice for these dogs – and as judges announced the Best in Show winner at the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre, one gutsy activist did just that!
"Many bulldogs, pugs, Pekingese and other brachycephalic (flat-faced) dogs cannot even breathe properly – let alone go for a walk or chase a ball without gasping for air – because of their unnaturally shortened airways.
"Almost all pedigree dogs suffer from abnormally high rates of disease and have much shorter life spans than their mixed-breed cousins do."
RSPCA
In 2008 the RSPCA announced that it would no longer run stalls at the competition because of fears over inbreeding.
Chief veterinary adviser for the RSPCA, Mark Evans, said: "Dog shows using current breed standards as the main judging criteria actively encourage both the intentional breeding of deformed and disabled dogs and the inbreeding of closely related animals.
"There is compelling scientific evidence that the health and welfare of hundreds of thousands of pedigree dogs is seriously compromised as a result.
"From a dog health and welfare perspective, such shows are fundamentally flawed and do our much-loved pedigree dogs no favours.
"Intentionally breeding deformed and disabled animals is morally unjustifiable and has to stop."
BBC boycott
The BBC stopped broadcasting Crufts - its last transmission of the show was in 2008 - over similar animal welfare concerns.
The Kennel Club, which runs the competition, said the decision followed "disputes" over the inclusion of certain breeds of pedigree dog.
The Club complained to regulator Ofcom after a BBC investigation found that dogs competing in Crufts suffer from genetic diseases due to extended inbreeding.
This year's contest was shown on Channel 4.
