Crufts and it's poor publicity in the past..

After doing a bit of reading into crufts publicity history, i'm beginning to start to change my view on the event as a whole. To begin with I thought it was just some dog lovers meeting up and comparing their dogs..  However, I've started to read more into it, and the publicity scandal in 2008 has really changed my opinions. I'm a massive dog lover, and I've uncovered some articles on news websites such as the guardian which are really tainting how I originally perceived the event.

In 2008, the RSPCA (a charity that I truly respect) stopped hiring a stand at the event after seeing a documentary aired on the BBC, showing connections between the kennel club, and disabilities in dogs which may be due to inbreeding. The show showed that some dogs couldn't even mate or give birth unassisted, which surely contradicts the fact that you breed specifically to make a genetically better dog, not deformed or disabled. This documentary led to the BBC no longer airing Crufts on their channels (a 40 year long connection) and handed the deed over to channel 4. This poor publicity was a massive hit on Crufts, lowering their reputation and stature, as well as diminishing the audience that they could broadcast to.

After this horrible news, here's a picture of a happy dog, not all is bad in the dog world!

I'd like to say it all finishes here, however that article got my quite angry, and intrigued to find out what other things these owners have been up to with their dogs whilst they're out of the arena. An article I found dating from 2011, shows that some award winning dogs who were kept by a mother and daughter, were found in cramped conditions, without bedding or fresh water with 104 other dogs! For some ridiculous reason, these people were still allowed to keep dogs (well not quite 104, but 5 each) after being accussed of 23 different animal welfare offences! Seeing articles like this makes me really wonder if Crufts is so much of a prestigious event, especially as one of their former national champion poodles, worth £5k!! had an ear infection. What are these people?! I thought they were dog lovers, but it doesn't seem like these pair particular love their dogs, or even like them! Here's a picture of me and my dog, showing some love because I'm not such a cruel and ill-mannered person. 

Matthew Weaver. (2008). RSPCA boycotts Crufts in dispute over breeding of 'disabled' dogs. Available: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/sep/16/animalwelfare. Last accessed 5th March 2012.


Daily Mail Reporter. (2011). Crufts-winning mother-and-daughter duo plead guilty to keeping 104 dogs in 'horrific conditions' - but they are STILL able to keep and show the animals . Available: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art. Last accessed 5th March 2012.