Crufts viewers praised winning owner Yvette Short for shielding her beloved pet as the dog show’s finale was thrown into chaos last night.
Animal rights activists evaded security and ran across the arena floor just moments after whippet Collooney Tartan Tease had been crowned Best in Show.
Champion Tease briefly seemed alarmed by the interruption as he was being prepared to receive the winner’s trophy, flinching and lifting his right leg defensively.
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It was the first indication – followed by boos and a shriek from the 9,000-strong audience at the NEC in Birmingham – to those watching at home the ceremony was not going according to plan.
Yvette was then seen pulling her two-year-old champion protectively towards her as guards bundled over a protester in the background of the shot.
Lifting Tease up, Yvette quickly moved away from the arena floor invasion to give viewers a brief glimpse of a demonstrator being tackled by several members of security before TV cameras turned their gaze away from the commotion.
Commenters on social media certainly approved of her instincts, dubbing Yvette queen of the ‘dog mamas’.
Oooo drama at the end of #Crufts 👏👏 to the Whippet mama who kept a firm grip on her dog and went to run, to be fair if they tried it with the Akita doubt there would be much left of them 🤔😂
— German Shepherd Rescue Elite ( GSRE ) (@gsrescueelite) March 11, 2018
Whippet Mama gets top marks on Mothers day for protecting her bubba at Best in Show during pitch invasion! #Crufts
— Jo (@CrystalnVanilla) March 11, 2018
What a good doggie mama protecting her baby! Madness at #crufts https://t.co/gOUxgTZn71
— Seainin Watters (@seaininwatters) March 11, 2018
With the winner’s trophy swiftly whipped away from the podium, presenter Clare Balding was left scrambling as the placard-waving demonstrators were escorted from the show floor.
However, the usually unflappable Clare inadvertently began speaking into a muted microphone for a few moments as she tried to restore order to the broadcast before being handed another, functioning one.
A Crufts spokesperson said two intruders had scared the dogs nearby and put the safety of both dogs and people at risk in a “hugely irresponsible way”.
“Our main priority at the moment is the wellbeing of the dogs that were in the ring, who are looked after by their owners and show officials,” he said.
PETA have since claimed activists were protesting against breeding practices.
BREAKING FOOTAGE: Animal activists storm arena at #Crufts “Best in Show” to protest against extreme breeding 🐶👊 pic.twitter.com/j4NJrGkKNd
— PETA UK (@PETAUK) March 11, 2018
The tide of Twitter opinion, however, is not with the protesters.
Peta gets off on being hated. They don’t want to change minds, they want to provoke an angry reaction because that reaction makes them feel morally superior. What they do is hugely damaging to the animal welfare movement. #Crufts
— Will McLeod (@WillMcLeod99) March 12, 2018
What a bunch of idiots, take your protests to puppy farms or dog fighting rings, not Crufts where it’s a celebration of those who love dogs. #peta #petaatcrufts #crufts #crufts2018 #Crufts2018bestinshow
— Lucie Adkins (@RoanCocker) March 12, 2018
During the earlier stages of the event, some viewers tweeted claims the event is “cruel” and a “Victoria sideshow of lifelong suffering” which should be taken off TV.
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