To wonder why Crufts is still going ahead next week

[ritatherockfairy]

Have seen a few people trying to resell tickets online. I’m surprised it hasn’t been cancelled to be honest. Surely it’s exactly this kind of event that could trigger an outbreak of Coronavirus. It’s ok though as according to the organisers, people travelling from affected areas have been asked to abide by the relevant guidelines.

I'm surprised too. DH said he'd heard that dogs can catch Coronavirus - not sure how reliable that information is (!)

I’m glad we haven’t entered this year. I know some people who have decided not to go as they fall into a vulnerable group. I do too so I wouldn’t want to go.

Crufts is the highlight of my year. If it was cancelled I'd be very annoyed as would other people.
Any disease or infection could be passed to each other at any event. We can't live in a bubble just incase. If it was like the black plague then yes I understand it getting cancelled as many people died from that. However the death toll in comparison for coronavirus is not that high.

The issue is that people fly in from all over the world. For some of us this would be a serious illness. They won’t cancel though. Too much £££ involved.

However the death toll in comparison for coronavirus is not that high

How can you possibly declare that? It’s barely three months since the virus was even discovered, no one can make a statement like that.

FWIW I think large scale events should be cancelled for the next couple of months at least. It seems daft not to tbh.

There has been one case of human to dog transfer. Not sure we are at the stage for cancelling big events, but is something to beat in mind

For everyone:

I can see it’s a tough decision. In some ways it might be easier if we were further into an outbreak - in which case we would have more information on fatality rates, more of transmission etc and it might go ahead. It just seems we are at a very delicate stage in the development of this situation and anything that delays a major outbreak is worth considering. Crufts attracts a huge number of overseas visitors and some will be travelling from high risk areas. A dog trainer friend of mine has already asked people who go to Crufts not to attend classes for two weeks afterwards.

“mode of transmission”

callmeadooctor. Thanks for that post - I’m over 50 but I’ll take it anyway 👍

James Wellbeloved and Royal Canin have pulled out
APDT have pulled out

How many more will I wonder

I mostly watch Crufts for the Flyball and Agility. However, if it ends up that many overseas dogs decide not to travel - or at least, their owners decide not to travel - won't it affect the 'validity' of the main show, because the winning dogs will have been chosen from a much smaller pool? I don't know much about dog showing, it would be interesting to know how this would be viewed by someone familiar with the show ring.

Dogs CANNOT catch the virus. Check WHO for your information and nobody else.

That's good to know, because I doubt my little fella would be very chuffed if I whipped out a sanitiser every time he wanted to sniff a passing bum!

As the government only yesterday that there was no need (at present) to cancel large gatherings, there is no way they can cancel (insurance won't pay out if you choose close - only if official advice compels you to.

It is btw looking unlikely that dogs catch this coronavirus - the latest thinking is that the dog was contaminated, not infected

edition.cnn.com/2020/03/02/asia/pets-coronavirus-spread-intl-hnk/index.html

The government advice at the moment is to carry on as normal unless you have been to an affected area or in contact with a confirmed affected person. They havent started cancelling events yet so I dont see why crufts would be different.

There is A coronavirus that dogs catch, however it is not THE coronavirus and cannot spread to humans.

I certainly wouldn't be choosing to attend something where people will be coming from all over the world tho ugh.

We're going for the first time on Saturday, really looking forward to it.

I've decided that we'll carry on as normal and follow government restrictions as and when they're put in place.

I'm very surprised it's still going ahead, I thought it would have been postponed. Relieved that dogs can't get this awful virus, was so upset reading about people's pets being put down in China

Rabid dogs are responsible for the deaths of an estimated 25,000 human deaths a year. I'm staying away.

It just isn't worth the risk.

^^^ Too many deaths!

I am very conflicted about going. Am due to be going on Saturday and Sunday for the first time this year; with my 2 teenage daughters. DH and DS staying at home.

We live in the South West so I booked early; non-refundable hotel room for 2 nights plus non refundable train tickets. Took out insurance, but it only covers us in case of actual illness.

I’m not particularly anxious by nature but my mother who I see several times a week is frail and has a chronic respiratory disease. One of my teenager daughters is (mildly) asthmatic. As is DH (not so mild). And I’m self employed and can’t work from home.

It is so hard to know what to do. I don’t think we will really relax and enjoy it if we go. But if we stay at home we will be quite disappointed.

I am usually quite decisive, but am really struggling to decide what to do.

Don’t lick anyone while you’re there or sniff their bums and you should be fine. Wash your hands.

We've moved this over to our new Coronavirus topic!