Pleasing 4 Pets

After 44 years of dedicated sponsorship, pet food company Pedigree has decided to terminate its support of the Crufts dog show.

TV and media ads for Pedigrees popular dog food often featured prize winning canines from the competition in addition to featuring the slogan “top breeders recommend it”

It is estimated that the move will cost the Crufts organisation a whopping £1.5million per year, and comes following allegations that the dogs involved in the show are enduring a range a genetic diseases as a result of inbreeding over the course of many years.

The Kennel Club who organise the annual event first came under attack in August when the BBC broadcast a documentary claiming that the dogs involved in the show are riddled with genetic health problems after prolonged inbreeding to advance certain physical qualities required by the club.

The documentary featured spaniels with brains too large for the sizes of their skulls and boxer dogs suffering from epilepsy.

British charities The Dogs Trust and the RSPCA immediately withdrew their support of the show after the claims came to light.

The club is said to be reassessing its rules and regulations regarding the criteria for entrants in addition to reworking breed standards, although they remain insistent that Crufts 2009 will go ahead in March as planned.

A spokesperson for Pedigree said in a statement:-

“After careful consideration, Pedigree has decided to withdraw its sponsorship of Crufts.

The Pedigree brand has evolved and we are prioritising initiatives that support the broadest possible community of dog owners such as our successful programme to help homeless dogs - The Pedigree Adoption Drive - and our online service for breeders.

We look forward to working with The Kennel Club on other projects in the future.”

The Kennel Club has insisted next year’s show in March, at the NEC in Birmingham, will go ahead as planned.

Britain’s Got Talents’ finalist Kate Nicholas and her fabulous disco dancing dog, Gin are scheduled to perform in Northampton this coming weekend.

The energetic twosome are expected to make an exclusive appearance at the Pets at Home store at the Riverside Retail Park in Northampton city centre for a book signing on Saturday15th November at 2.30pm.

16 year old Kate will sign copies of her newly published book entitled Kate and Gin, which offers advice to other dog handlers as well as some of Kate’s personal dog training secrets. Kate will also take part in a one hour Q&A session at the store, after which she and Gin will perform one of their infamous dance routines.

The manager of the Pets at Home store in Northampton, Lee Woodward said in a statement:-

“I can’t tell you how much excitement and interest there’s been since we first announced they would be paying us a visit.

They’ve developed a real cult status and everyone is desperate to shake paws with Gin”.

Kate was only 10 years old when she got new puppy Gin. Before competing in the final of ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent the pair had previously competed in the world renowned CRUFTS contest and managed to win a CG certificate at the event, and Kate recently revealed secret aspirations to become a CRUFTS judge.