Sorry, I don't agree. NO dog with health problems should be given a best in breed award! Especially when those problems are caused by bad breeding practices. It is rather late in the day for Crufts to say they are will be reconsidering their contract with the BBC - NEWS FLASH!! - the BBC had already told them that it is reconsidering its contract with them! And, for them to say the BBC was biased against dogs ( HUH!!!??) and that they, Crufts, were celebrating dogs! What kind of logic is this? The BBC were trying to point out that the standards required by Crufts were instrumental in causing illness in dogs, in some cases and it should be stopped. How is this being biased against dogs? Nobody said that all the dogs at Crufts are ill or deformed! I am sure that most owners are loving, caring and do the best they can for their pets. Some people are rather more keen on the awards than the ultimate health of their dog. I am very pleased to see the BBC is also being supported by the RSPCA and Dogs Trust, which, I see, have both withdrawn support. Healthy, normal dogs should be 'celebrated' by Crufts. Dogs that are happy, well behaved and glowing with health, should win best in breed. Look at the German Shepherd that is considered to be best in breed. It has shorter back legs, than the breed normally had, now. It looks deformed. Why on earth do they want these dogs to have shorter back legs?! Am I misinformed here, but surely they weren't made that way for good reason, their legs were normal so they did not have back problems? To me this is craziness and cruel. Sorry if I have offended people but I feel very strongly about this and I feel I must speak out. If I am proved wrong I will apologise, and if the BBC, the RSPCA and Dogs Trust are proved incorrect in their judgement of Crufts, I will withdraw my comments as well.
Yvonne |