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| Crufts poisoning claims: 'Up to six dogs' attacked, says Kennel Club | Crufts poisoning claims: 'Up to six dogs' attacked, says Kennel Club |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Kennel Club - the organisation which runs Crufts - has confirmed it is looking into reports that up to six dogs were poisoned at this year's show. | The Kennel Club - the organisation which runs Crufts - has confirmed it is looking into reports that up to six dogs were poisoned at this year's show. |
| The claim comes after an Irish setter called Jagger died when he ate beef laced with poison at the prestigious Birmingham event. | The claim comes after an Irish setter called Jagger died when he ate beef laced with poison at the prestigious Birmingham event. |
| The Telegraph has published claims from other exhibitors stating their dogs were sick after the show. | The Telegraph has published claims from other exhibitors stating their dogs were sick after the show. |
| The club said anyone who had endangered a dog's welfare could be prosecuted. | The club said anyone who had endangered a dog's welfare could be prosecuted. |
| 'Just rumours' | 'Just rumours' |
| According to the newspaper, several other dogs including a West Highland white terrier, an Afghan hound and a Shih Tzu were also sick after the show at Birmingham's NEC. | According to the newspaper, several other dogs including a West Highland white terrier, an Afghan hound and a Shih Tzu were also sick after the show at Birmingham's NEC. |
| Mylee Thomas's Shetland sheepdog, Myter Eye to Eye, is thought to have been poisoned the day after the Irish setter was killed. | Mylee Thomas's Shetland sheepdog, Myter Eye to Eye, is thought to have been poisoned the day after the Irish setter was killed. |
| Mrs Thomas told The Telegraph: "The setter was poisoned the day before my bitch and I don't think there is a link between the two. | |
| "I think that one (Jagger) was someone who had randomly targeted them because a lot of people don't agree with Crufts." | "I think that one (Jagger) was someone who had randomly targeted them because a lot of people don't agree with Crufts." |
| The Kennel Club said no other dog owners had contacted them to report suspicions of poisoning. | The Kennel Club said no other dog owners had contacted them to report suspicions of poisoning. |
| It said it was looking into the reports, but stressed no formal investigation had been launched. | It said it was looking into the reports, but stressed no formal investigation had been launched. |
| Competition ban | Competition ban |
| Crufts judge Patsy Hollings said the poisoning allegations were "extremely distressing". | |
| "It's a dreadful situation. It sounds as if some crank got in," she said. | |
| She said the number of different allegations made it unlikely a competitor was behind the attacks, because owners of different breeds only attend on certain days. | |
| "The security is very tight but over 150,000 members of the public attend Crufts," she said. | |
| "As with any exhibition, there is always a chance somebody can get somewhere you wouldn't expect them to. | |
| "If you had MI5 there you would still struggle." | |
| A representative added: "With regards to speculation about any other incidents involving other dogs, we must stress that these are, at this stage, just rumours. | |
| "There are any number of reasons why a dog may display symptoms such as sickness and should a dog fall sick, there are vets at Crufts who will examine the dog in question and file a report." | "There are any number of reasons why a dog may display symptoms such as sickness and should a dog fall sick, there are vets at Crufts who will examine the dog in question and file a report." |
| "As with any international competition, rumours of sabotage do occasionally surface. | |
| "This, of course, is not in the spirit of competition and will not be tolerated. | "This, of course, is not in the spirit of competition and will not be tolerated. |
| "Anyone caught attempting to deliberately sabotage another competitor's performance, particularly if a dog's welfare is put at risk, will face severe disciplinary action, which could include a ban on competing at all Kennel Club licensed events. | "Anyone caught attempting to deliberately sabotage another competitor's performance, particularly if a dog's welfare is put at risk, will face severe disciplinary action, which could include a ban on competing at all Kennel Club licensed events. |
| "Furthermore anyone who puts a dog's welfare at risk could face prosecution under the Animal Welfare Act." | "Furthermore anyone who puts a dog's welfare at risk could face prosecution under the Animal Welfare Act." |
| No vets have raised concerns about poisoning and there have been no official complaints from any other owners at Crufts, she added. | No vets have raised concerns about poisoning and there have been no official complaints from any other owners at Crufts, she added. |
| The new claims come as petitions have been launched calling for strip Rebecca Cross, owner of the Best In Show winner Knopa of the title, amid allegations she lifted the dog by his tail and neck. | |
| One petition has attracted more than 80,000 signatures. | |
| However, Ms Hollings said Ms Cross was "a very caring owner". | |
| "That dog has been looked after fantastically and was in wonderful condition and she wouldn't do anything to the detriment of the dog," she said. |