Convicted Dog Abuser Wins Crufts

0:00On March 9th, Lee Cox and his four-year-old clumber Spaniel Bruin took home the best-in-show title at Crefs this weekend. It is the first win for the breed in more than 30 years, beating out 18,000 other dogs at the Birmingham event. But Cox also has a conviction from 2001 for causing unnecessary suffering to another dog. That case involved Cox and his business partner, neglecting a retired Spaniel with a badly-infected ear that bled, ulcerated, and oozed pus until it, required surgery. They admitted not seeking proper vet care and using the wrong medication. A court gave them a three-year conditional discharge and ordered them to pay 5,000 pounds in cost to the RSPCA, but no ban on keeping dogs. Dog owners reacted with outrage, calling the win a slap in the face to Crefs's reputation as the top UK dog show. Many expressed shock that someone with an animal welfare conviction could claim the top prize, sparking heated debates online and in the press.

1:02The Royal Kennel Club reviewed the old conviction and deemed it an isolated event. They points at Cox's spotless record over the past 25 years and his success breeding 48 UK champions plus over 250. Award winners worldwide, so no further action was taken. Bruin also claimed the Gundog group earlier in the show, cementing a historic night for clumbered spannules amid the ongoing controversy.