Russian dogs absent as Crufts returns

Birmingham (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Tens of thousands of dogs and their owners — minus Russians — flocked to the world’s biggest dog show on Thursday, as Crufts made a comeback after a two-year absence.

Before the global coronavirus outbreak and as Britain prepared to depart the European Union following Brexit, the most recent edition was published in March 2020.

This time, the four-day festival is marred by the invasion of Ukraine because organizers The Kennel Club forbade Russian owners and their dogs from attending.

As a sign of support, several owners wore ribbons with the Ukrainian flag’s primary colors of yellow and blue.

Sara Davies, 63, from northeast England, who is attending Crufts for the first time with her black German shepherd, Laxi, said, “It’s my way to indicate I’m thinking of the Ukrainians.”

“Really, it’s revolting. I can at least go about my regular business normally. They cannot; “As Laxi laid at her feet, she spoke to AFP.

The decision of the Kennel Club affects 51 dogs who were scheduled to compete in the show, which was originally staged in 1891, as well as roughly 30 Russian owners and breeders.

It said, “It is with a heavy heart that we have decided not to accept exhibitors from Russia to compete at Crufts 2022 in view of the quickly shifting circumstances.

“Our friends in Ukraine, along with their dogs, are in dread for their lives, and we will take whatever action we can to help them in any way we can.”

It is donating £50,000 (60,000 euros, $66,000) to help partner organisations in Ukraine, Poland and Hungary help breeders, owners and their dogs affected by the conflict.

‘A little bit of joy’

Despite the conflict in Ukraine, the chief executive of The Kennel Club, Mark Beazley, said Crufts was “a little bit of joy in some pretty sad days for the world at the moment”.

Lockdown restrictions, which forced last year’s Crufts to be cancelled, increased stress and isolation for both humans and their four-legged friends.

Reference: https://dogforms.com/2022/08/07/russian-dogs-absent-as-crufts-returns/