Crufts hit by animal cruelty row over 'deformed' German Shepherd

World-famous dog show Crufts has been plunged into a fresh cruelty row after a "deformed" German Shepherd won best of breed.

Three-year-old bitch Cruaghaire Catoria took the title on Saturday night, but many viewers reacted angrily, pointing out that the dog had an abnormally sloped back and a painful-looking limp.

The Kennel Club received a barrage of complaints after the dog, bred by Susan Cuthbert, from Fyfe, in Scotland, was filmed appearing to hobble around the judging circuit.

Viewers also complained that extended footage of the German Shepherd parade was cut from the Channel 4 broadcast.

Voicing her concerns on the Kennel Club's Facebook page, Rachel Dutton wrote: "Shame on you kennel club for condoning an obviously crippled and deformed German Shepherd dog at Crufts.

"For the poor deformed thing to have been judged best of breed beggars belief."

While Paul Heath‎ posted: "Catoria, the GSD that won best of breed looks deformed and in pain to me. How you could allow her to enter, let alone win is a mystery."

Explaining the editing decision, the Kennel Club said: "In light of the concern over the particurlar dog we made the decision not to further highlight the unsound movement of the dog whilst we discuss ways forward to improve the health of the breed."

The RSPCA also called for urgent action to be taken to address the welfare of animals competing at Crufts, adding that it was "shocked and appalled" by the condition of the German Shepherd.

In a statement, it said: "We would question how the dog had been allowed to have qualified for Crufts. In doing so, this dog, like all Crufts competitors, would have been awarded on at least one other occasion, suggesting this is unlikely to be an isolated incident.

"Fault cannot lie solely with the judge at Crufts but is also the responsibility of those who have previously awarded this dog and enabled it to progress so far in the process to be appearing in the Crufts showring."