Crufts is no longer Crufts.
It is now to be called DFS Crufts. DFS stands for "Discount Furniture Store" -- its new corporate sponsor, now that both the BBC and Pedigree dog food have bowed out (along with Hills dog food, the RSPCA, Dogs Trust, and several others).
Crufts is also going to be back on television, albeit in seriously reduced circumstances. Instead of being on BBC1, it will be shown on "More 4," a niche digitial television station, and instead of the excellent camera work and editing done by the BBC, the videography will be done by a company called "Sunset+Vine" -- a "pay to shoot" outfit employed by The Kennel Club this year to film Crufts and put it on Youtube.
Is The Kennel Club still paying Sunset+Vine to do the filming, and is it giving the video tape to "More 4" to show for free? Hard to say, but it sure smells like it.
What is clear is that larger and more respected venues like Sky Television and Animal Planet will not touch Crufts, which is now seen as a canine freak show for people whose personal need for ribbons and rosettes far outweighs their concern for canine welfare and health.
If you stand for dogs, you can no longer be seen standing at Crufts!
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