Choo-tai of Egham
 Champion Pekingese dog and Best in Show Crufts Winner Choo-Tai of Egham | |
| Species | Canis lupus familiaris |
|---|---|
| Breed | Pekingese |
| Died | 1913 |
| Title | Best Champion at Crufts (1913) |
| Predecessor | Ch. The Pride of Sussex (St. Bernard) |
| Successor | Sh Ch. St. Blaise (Greyhound) |
| Owner | Miss Violet Ashton Cross |
Choo-tai of Egham, was a Pekingese dog that won Best Champion at Cruft's dog show in 1913 before he was poisoned to death later that year.
Show career
Choo-tai of Egham was owned by Miss Violet Ashton Cross, and lived with her at Lea House, Egham.[1] At the Aylesbury and District Canine Society Show in October 1912, Choo-tai was named the best Pekingese in a category sponsored by the Pekingese Club of Great Britain. He was subsequently named the second-best dog in the show of any variety.[2]
The dog was named the Best Champion at the Cruft's dog show in 1913.[3] The dog was well known for being named the best dog in a variety of shows across the country, during the course of his two-year-long show career it won more than 200 prizes. At one point, Miss Ashton Cross refused an offer of £1,500 to purchase him.[1]
Death
At the Southampton dog show in 1913, Choo-tai was again named the best dog in the show. Choo-tai's caretaker, Miss Ashton Cross, got a warning before the show that Choo-tai might be poisoned. After the dog show judges had finished their evaluation, Choo-tai returned to his pen and became sick over the following days. He died three days afterward.
In the aftermath of Choo-tai's death, suspicions arose that someone had planted a poisonous piece of liver in Choo-tai's pen. A toy spaniel was also killed in a similar manner at the show.[4] Ashton Cross placed a £100 reward for information on Choo-tai's death.[1] A doctor said that it would have taken a skilled practitioner to apply the correct dosage of poison.[4]
References
- 1 2 3 "£2,000 Dog Poisoned". Auckland Star. Vol. XLIV, no. 141. Paperspast. 14 June 1913. p. 17. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
- ↑ "Aylesbury & District Canine Society". The Bucks Herald. No. 4, 203. British Newspaper Archive. 5 October 1912. p. 10. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
- ↑ "Catalogue: Cruft's 1913" (PDF). Cruft's. The Kennel Club. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
- 1 2 "Poisoned Pet". Nottingham Evening Post. No. 10, 811. British Newspaper Archive. 6 May 1913. p. 5. Retrieved 6 March 2015.