Another year has passed for the most famous dog show in the world, Crufts. A huge congratulations is in order for the Best in Show Winner, Scottie Knopa.
The Scottish Terrier is the first to break an 86-year losing streak, with handler Rebecca Cross very nearly didn’t make the prestigious show due to transportation problems.
According to Dogs in the News, Ms Cross said “I can’t believe it, I am in complete shock. I almost didn’t make it, my flight was delayed, and I thought I wouldn’t make it in time.”
“Knopa is one in a million. She was Best of Breed here in 2013 and it’s been a really wild ride. It hasn’t sunk in yet, I really can’t believe it. She was supposed to retire today so this was her retirement show.”
Drama at Crufts
As if there wasn’t enough drama at the world’s biggest dog show, a protester ran on stage during the big moment of Knopa being awarded the Best-in-Show prize. A barking mad demonstrator, holding a sign saying “Mutts Against Crufts” was quickly challenged and removed by four security guards; allowing Rebecca and Knopa to enjoy their victory.
Barking Mad: A Protestor Tries to Overshadow Best in Show Winner Knopa. Source: Getty
Among a record 21500 dogs attending the show at the Birmingham NEC were pampered pooches wearing ankle warmers, bibs, body warmers and even curlers.
Yorkshire Terrier in Curlers and Nightie
Unfortunately this year’s show wasn’t without tragedy as a prize winning Irish Setter, Thendara Satisfaction, known as Jagger, died on Friday amid fears that the Irish Setter was poisoned.
Owner Dee Milligan-Bott believes her prized pooch must’ve been poisoned at Crufts the previous day. Ms Milligan-Bott wrote on Facebook that apparently the autopsy had found “two or three different types of poison stuffed in cubes of beef in Jagger’s stomach”.
Thendara Satisfaction, known as Jagger came second in her class for Best Dog. Source: Telegraph
The show runners, The Kennel Club, said it was “deeply shocked and saddened” upon hearing reports that three-year-old Jagger had been poisoned. Ms Milligan-Bott told the publication Dog World that the animal collapsed upon returning to Belgium after competing.
Two other dogs have been taken ill with suspected poisoning prompting a police investigation and manhunt.
Kennel Club Secretary Caroline Kisko said Jagger died some 26 hours after leaving Crufts and that they have “spoken to his owners and our heartfelt sympathies go out to them. We understand that the toxicology report is due next week and until that time we cannot know the cause of this tragic incident.”
A spokesman from West Midlands police said: “If an alleged crime has taken place then we would investigate. We have no knowledge of a report to the police at this point.”