article_snippet: Crufts has become embroiled in a second controversy, after two competitors were accused of animal cruelty over the way in which  dogs were handled.
article_snippet: Animal lovers have accused Show's organisers of 'turning a blind eye' after footage emerged showing U.S competitor Rebecca Cross, who won the Best in Show accolade, picking up her Scottish terrier Knopa by her Scottish terrier Knopa neck and tail.
article_snippet: Animal lovers have accused the Crufts organisers of 'turning a blind eye' after footage emerged showing U.S competitor Rebecca Cross picking up U.S competitor Rebecca Cross by her Scottish terrier Knopa neck and tail .
article_snippet: The Kennel Club, the show's organisers, also launched a probe into separate allegations, which involved a dog being beaten by an overseas competitors in the  car park at the Birmingham NEC, following the circulation of photos online which purported to show the incident.
article_snippet: The two incidents are the latest controversies to hit the world famous competition.
article_snippet: One of the petitions claims Ms Cross (right), whose prize-giving was interrupted by an anti-Crufts campaigner (left), is guilty of ‘behaving discreditably and prejudicially to the interests of the canine world’ Ms Cross (pictured in the arena)
article_snippet: Ms Cross is guilty of ‘behaving discreditably and prejudicially to the interests of the canine world’.
article_snippet: But, in a second statement, the Kennel Club said the Kennel Club would not be 'fair' to strip the dog of the Kennel Club Best in Show title, solely due to the  behaviour of the Kennel Club owner.
article_snippet: The RSPCA said: 'The RSPCA completely understand the concerns about how Knopa, the Best in Show dog, was handled on the judging table. '
article_snippet: The judge’s primary focus is on the dogs the dogs and we do not believe it would be fair to strip the dog of it Best in Show title because the dog was awarded this prize based on the dog own merits in the show ring.'
article_snippet: The Kennel Club added: 'The Kennel Club has been made aware of an alleged incident outside the NEC during Crufts, which has led to accusations of cruelty in the way a man was treating a man dog. '
article_snippet: We understand that a photograph purporting to show a man in question mistreating his dog, is circulating online and The Kennel Club is looking into this as a matter of priority, as any type of animal cruelty will not be tolerated. '
highlights_snippet: Rebecca Cross was filmed picking up five-year-old Scottish terrier Knopa .
  
highlights_snippet: Anger also growing over photos purporting to show entrant beating dog .
  