Animal charities have lodged complaints with Channel 4 after the winner of Crufts best in show, Lee Cox, was found to have a previous conviction for animal cruelty. The RSPCA and Peta are calling for 'extreme' dog breeds to be barred from prizes and for full vetting of competitors.
Cox and his four-year-old Clumber spaniel Bruin won best in show at the prestigious competition. It later emerged that Cox had been convicted in 2001 for keeping a spaniel with a chronically infected ear that required surgical removal. A court heard that when an inspector visited his kennel in Somerset, dogs were covered in dirt and there was a strong stench from waste and overflowing drains.
The RSPCA has urged the dog show to stop featuring animals with extreme features such as flat faces, wrinkly skin, short or missing tails, and protruding eyeballs, which can cause significant welfare problems including breathing difficulties, eye conditions, and spinal issues. Peta has asked Channel 4 to pull the show from air entirely.
Lauren Bennett, a dog welfare expert at the RSPCA, said the winning dog's breed had become 'extreme' compared to images from 1900, often suffering from eyelid conditions and spinal problems due to their long backs and short legs. She added that celebrating such breeds at the world's largest dog show 'normalises and glamourises features which severely impact their welfare'.
The Kennel Club confirmed Cox's conviction but described it as an 'isolated incident 25 years ago', noting his 'unblemished record' since. Channel 4 stated it has no influence over judging but covers the ongoing debate on dog welfare. The BBC stopped showing Crufts in 2008 over similar concerns, with Channel 4 taking over in 2010.
