Protesters have entered a tussle with security guards after they stormed the Crufts dog show tonight and were dragged out of the event.
A video shows the violent struggle as a small group of protesters, confirmed to be PETA activists – tried to get onto the showground at the dog show.
Security guards wrestled and pulled at the activists – but one managed to get onto the centre space, holding what appeared to be posters.
Footage shows the violent brawl moved into the seating area as a man tried to force a woman to let go of a barrier as she resisted being moved, with shouts of ‘get out’ and jeers heard in the background.
She and a man were then forcefully moved by security – with the man being carried by his arms and legs and another pulled by their neck.
Activists dropped a banner that read ‘boycott breeders’ and another activist attempted to get onto the arena floor with the same message, PETA confirmed.
It comes as an Australian Shepherd named Viking has been crowned best in show at the NEC in Birmingham.
Protesters have entered a tussle with security guards after they stormed the Crufts dog show
Animal rights activists protest during the Crufts Dog Show tonight
: Protesters are challenged by security during Crufts 2024 at NEC Arena
One activist is restrained by security during the Crufts Dog Show tonight
Protesters are removed from the arena during the fourth day of the Crufts Dog Show at the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre
Security guards wrestle and pull with the activists – but one manages to get onto the centre space, holding what appear to be posters
Footage shows the brawl moved into the seating area as a man tries to force a woman to let go of a barrier as she resists being move, with shouts of ‘get out’ heard in the background
A small group of protesters try to get onto the showground at the dog show
Viking, co-owned by Melanie Raymond, John Shaw and Kerry Kirtley, was the winner of the pastoral group earlier in the show
Three-year-old Viking, from Solihull, Birmingham, beat 24,000 dogs from around the world over the last four days to claim the show’s top honour tonight
Those watching the event from their homes posted on X: ‘I heard some loud shouting in background in best of show in Crufts just now. Protest? Anyone else hear it?’
Three-year-old Viking, from Solihull, Birmingham, beat 24,000 dogs from around the world over the last four days to claim the show’s top honour tonight.
Viking, co-owned by Melanie Raymond, John Shaw and Kerry Kirtley, was the winner of the pastoral group earlier in the show.
It’s not the first time Crufts has been targeted by activists.
In 2018, the finale descended into chaos when an animal right protester stormed the arena, claiming it promoted ‘canine eugenics’.
And campaign group PETA took their opposition to dog shows a step further – claiming it is ‘anti-feminist’.
A blog post on the website of PETA’s American branch said dog owners can’t be feminist because ‘if you buy a dog, you are funding sexual exploitation.’
Protesters are removed from the arena during the fourth day of the Crufts Dog Show
A protester is challenged by security during Crufts 2024 at NEC Arena
Viking the Australian Shepherd claimed the honours at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre
by Andy Dolan
Last year’s winner came from the other side of Europe. But tonight’s Best in Show at Crufts lives just down the road.
Viking the Australian Shepherd claimed the honours at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre – having travelled from Solihull just six miles away.
Co-owner Mel Raymond sobbed as she told host Claire Balding ‘we all dream of winning Best in Show’.
Ms Raymond said the three-year-old Viking was a ‘clown’ ‘thinks he’s a mountain goat’ as she told how makes her laugh by sitting on a chair with his ‘bum wagging’.
Viking was picked out as winner ahead of crowd-favourite Zen, a Jack Russell Terrier. The Best in Show reserve had a different sort of journey to the championship – having flown 14 hours – or 5,900 miles – from his home in Japan to take part.
Australian Shepherds are a very intelligent herding breed with high energy levels. The dogs need needs just as much mental stimulation as physical– which might be why Viking excelled on the Crufts stage, becoming only the second Australian Shepherd to become top dog at Crufts.
Viking succeeds gun dog Orca, who became the first lagotto romagnolo to scoop the prize at last year’s event. The four-year-old was driven 25 hours across Europe from Rijeka, Western Croatia to the world’s most famous dog show.
Viking the Australian Shepherd claimed the honours at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre – having travelled from Solihull just six miles away
The Australian Shepherd, ‘Viking’ sits with the trophy tonight
The Australian Shepherd, ‘Viking’ sits with the trophy after being announced the Best in Show
Amongst the 220 breeds represented at the show was an Afghan hound being groomed ahead of judging by a lookalike owner.
But it wasn’t just the dogs battling it out at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre (NEC).
Singer-songwriters Chris Amoo and Sting’s dogs battled it out today. Police frontman Sting’s wife Trudie Styler’s Creena Atticus Finch at Dukesarum was one of nine Irish Wolfhounds the couple entered at the show. But he finished runner up to The Real Thing singer Amoo’s Sade Melchior in the Irish Wolfhound Limit Dog class.
Amoo, 71, was a finalist last year with crowd favourite Paris, another Irish Wolfhound.
The 70-year-old won Best in Show with an Afghan hound in 1987.
An Afghan hound is groomed before being judged on the last day of the Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, central England, on March 10, 2024.
