Crufts inquiry in dog dope claim

Crufts are investigating a claim a dog was drugged at the event

Owners of a dog tipped to win a prize at Crufts claim their dog was drugged by saboteurs.

Organisers are now investigating the allegations made after Doberman Kerri became sluggish around the show ring in Birmingham.

Kerri was taken to the show's vet, Trevor Turner, who says the dog showed signs of being doped.

Mr Turner said: "She showed signs of sedation, but there is no evidence to prove this."

Kerri's owners, Clive and Nancy Evans, from Tewskesbury, Gloucestershire, have been exhibiting their Dobermans at the event since 1982

They have won the Best of Breed category twice and Kerri was favourite in the Open Bitch category.

Mr Evans said they feared sabotage after a threatening letter was sent to them two years ago.

He said: "We believe someone is trying to knock us off the top of the ladder.

'Treated seriously'

"It is absolutely disgusting someone could do this to an animal."

Only one case of an animal being drugged has been reported at the show in the past 20 years.

Crufts spokesman Phil Buckley said: "If this claim is substantiated it would be a disgrace and treated very seriously by the Kennel Club."

The claim will now be investigated by the Crufts Show Committee.