I am going to have a moan.

I was very dissappointed yesterday that when we were placed in the pedigree champion stakes that we were told that the prize was not there.

I know pedigree have their own problems however we paid for the stakes classes and if pedigree had not honoured them then in my opinion it should have been done by the dog show society as they were quite happy to take take the stakes money to pay for these classes.

When I enquired with the treasurer I was told basically nothing to do with them.

I have entered quite a few more of the classes for what is basically nothing now.

Latest Press release from the KC from this  it would seem that it is Pedigree that is still responsible for the stakes classes.

Yes I noticed that however the secretary said they hadnt heard anything since they packed up on Friday and the representive hadnt come down to present the winner.  I feel a letter coming on :)

Don't think you can blame the Club society really.  It is Pedigree's fault and as they are still a business they should still continue what they have been confirmed to do.  Think they are totally wrong in pulling out in the way that they have.  Surely they must be contracted in some way?

No I dont blame the society as such however they get the money for the stakes classes which would have more than covered the prize money by the amount that were in there so therefore in my opinion they should have given the prize winners in the prize in the abscence of pedigree not honouring their agreement.  The prizes are quite clearly stated in their schedules.  £15 is a lot of money to have won and not get! I have spent about another £20-30 on stakes classes for the rest of the shows I have entered and I am not in slightest bit happy that it looks like we wont get anything even if we do win.

The whole thing seems a total mess on the part of pedigree.  I have decided to contact them direct though.

makes you wonder who they are going to get to man the stand at crufts!!!???

But doesn't the pedigree Stakes Money go to pedigree?  That was something I heard, but never comfirmed.

There isnt prize money on offer in these stakes, it is product vouchers. Vouchers that can be cashed at the pedigree stands at shows.......... First the Society knew about all this was when the pedigree team took their stand down just before the show. It is pedigree that have broken heir part of the contract with exhibitors here, not the show. What will happen for the rest of the year who knows. I feel most sorry for the pedigree staff who got the boot, puts not getting abit of food for free in perspective

I am fully aware it is only a product voucher having been placed nearly every time we have entered however in the abscence of said voucher then it should have been cash. 

Yes I feel sorry for the staff who may or may have not lost their jobs the same as I would anyone who loses their job however there have been redundancies at my place of work but I still wouldnt be happy if I didnt get paid!  I am afraid in my opinion the two are not connected.

The reason pedigree have taken the decision is because people are not buying the product I assume although I did used to spent money and use their gravy bones big style for baiting my dogs.

>The reason pedigree have taken the decision is because people are not buying the product

I wonder if posters on so many dog fora saying "Steer clear of Pedigree, the food's rubbish" could have had something to do with that?

Can the voucher not be used for mail order?

It seems vouchers are to be posted to winners, they arrived half way through Welsh Kennel.

Think we can only speculate as to why they have withdrawn from shows. Sales at shows have been down, in part because they havent had the stock there to seel with no lorry, the reason for that is the amount of money shows have been charging them. There are so many knock on effects

....and may be the cost of fuel has proved the last straw.

Now I know more details regarding the Pedigree Dog's Exposed TV programme I feel this explains a great edal of why Pedigree have pulled all sponsorship!!!!  Or am I just being cynical?

I think so.  This is not the first bit of adverse publicity pedigree dogs have had, there is generally a fair smattering every March.  As I said in the other post the recession looks like a much more likely cause to me.

I am sure this negative publicity has played a large part. When the move away from Champs shows etc was announced I said to OH that this would be a step by step progression for Pedigree to discontinue their Professional range, ever the cynic :-) I just didn't think they would do it quite so quickly!   I wonder if the KC are looking for a new Crufts sponsor? Not that I am offering!

i heard a rumour :) that the big finals this year will be held in a village hall with a "bring a bottle".....

:-D

Perhaps I could sponsor that! :-))

I too think it economic, Pedigree started pulling out at the end of last year and this must be a continuation. They used to support dog shows all over the world but now seemed to have taken the commercial decision to go for the pet market which will mean shedding loads of staff and those who ran their dispersal centres in favour of supermarkets, less profit per unit but a huge cut in staff.