Protesters have clashed with security guards after they stormed the Crufts dog show tonight and were pulled from the event.
A video shows the violent struggle as a small group of protesters, confirmed as PETA activists, tried to enter the exhibition grounds at the dog show.
Security guards struggled and pulled the activists – but one managed to enter the center square with what appeared to be placards.
Shocking footage shows the violent fight moving into the seating area as a man tried to force a woman to let go of a barrier when she resisted being moved, with shouts of ‘get out’ and taunts 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 being pulled by the neck.
Activists threw a banner reading “boycott breeders” and another activist tried to enter the arena floor with the same message, PETA confirmed.
It comes as an Australian shepherd named Viking has been named best in show at the NEC in Birmingham.
Protesters have clashed with security guards after they stormed the Crufts dog show
Animal rights activists are protesting at the Crufts Dog Show tonight
: Protesters are challenged by security during Crufts 2024 at the NEC Arena
An activist is restrained by security during the Crufts Dog Show tonight
Protesters are cleared from the arena during the fourth day of the Crufts Dog Show at the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre
Security guards fight and pull with the activists – but one manages to enter the central square with what appear to be posters
Footage shows the fight moved into the seating area as a man tries to force a woman to let go of a barrier as she resists being moved, with shouts of “get out” in the background
A small group of protesters try to enter the exhibition grounds 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 past four days to claim the show’s top honors tonight
Those watching the event from their homes wrote on X: ‘I heard some loud shouting in the background in best show at Crufts just now. Protest? Anyone else hear that?’
It is not the first time Crufts has been targeted by activists.
In 2018, the final descended into chaos when an animal rights protester stormed the arena, claiming it promoted ‘dog 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 US chapter said that dog owners cannot be feminists because “if you buy a dog, you are funding sexual exploitation.”
Three-year-old Viking, from Solihull, Birmingham, beat 24,000 dogs from around the world over the past four days to claim the show’s top honors tonight.
Jack Russell ‘Zen’ poses at the trophy presentation after finishing second in Best in Show
A nine-year-old Jack Russell terrier named Zen, from Japan, who previously won the terrier group, was appointed as reserve dog
Viking, co-owned by Melanie Raymond, John Shaw and Kerry Kirtley, was the winner of the pastoral group earlier in the show.
Ms Raymond, a third generation dog breeder who lives just three miles from the showground, said: “We all dream of winning best in show at Crufts.”
Asked if he lived up to expectations, she said: ‘He actually did, I should never doubt him because he always gives me everything and you come in and he’s like ‘yeah come on let’s do this’ .
“So he’s loving every minute of it.”
According to dog welfare and training body The Kennel Club, the breed was developed in America as a sheepdog to work on ranches and is ‘very successful in the show ring’ due to their ‘attractive colors and athletic movements’.
A nine-year-old Jack Russell terrier named Zen, from Japan, who previously won the terrier group, was appointed as reserve dog.
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 the NEC Arena
An activist grabbed the barrier as security beat her hands to force her to let go
Viking the Australian Shepherd claimed honors 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 honors at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Center – after traveling 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’.
Mrs Raymond said the three-year-old viking was a ‘clown’, ‘thinks he’s a mountain goat’, as she told how sitting on a chair with her ‘tummies wagging’ made her laugh.
Viking was chosen as the winner ahead of crowd favorite Zen, a Jack Russell Terrier. The Best in Show reserve had a different kind 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 highly intelligent herding breed with high energy levels. The dogs need as much mental stimulation as physical – which may be why Viking excelled on the Crufts stage, becoming only the second Australian Shepherd to become top dog at Crufts.
Viking succeeds the gun dog Orca, who became the first lagotto romagnolo to win the award at last year’s event. The four-year-old was driven 25 hours across Europe from Rijeka in western Croatia to the world’s most famous dog show.
Viking the Australian Shepherd claimed honors at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Center – after traveling from Solihull just six miles away
Australian Shepherd, ‘Viking’ sits with the trophy tonight
Australian Shepherd, ‘Viking’ sits with the trophy after being named Best in Show
Among the 220 breeds represented at the show was an Afghan Hound that was groomed before being judged by a lookalike owner.
But it wasn’t just the dogs battling it out at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Center (NEC).
Singer-songwriter Chris Amoo and Sting’s dogs battled today. Police frontman Sting’s wife Trudie Styler’s Creena Atticus Finch at Dukesarum was one of nine Irish Wolfhounds the pair entered for the show. But he finished second to The Real Thing singer Amoos Sade Melchior in the Irish Wolfhound Limit Dog class.
Amoo, 71, was a finalist last year with crowd favorite 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 final day of the Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Center in Birmingham, central England, March 10, 2024.