Eastenders newest addition might be large, slobbering and cuddly but he has sparked cries of hypocrisy by the BBC after it emerged that Gumbo – the St Bernard dog, is in fact the son of two former Crufts champions.
The BBC scrapped its broadcast from Crufts this year after the UK Kennel Club refused to drop from the show 14 controversial breeds linked to genetic disease, including the St Bernard.
But since Gumbo (real name Shamus) made his first appearance on the soap last Thursday night, reluctantly taken in by the Albert Square estate agent Bradley Branning, incensed breeders and owners have lodged complaints with the BBC about the apparent double standards.
The BBC documentary ‘Pedigree Dogs Exposed,’ broadcast last summer, showed competition dogs being bred for their looks rather than health and welfare. It unleashed a furore that led to the decision not to broadcast from Crufts.
While the St Bernard did not feature in the documentary, after advice from a panel of canine experts, the breed appeared in an "at-risk" breeds list.
Speaking to The Times, dog owner Alexandra Bubb said: "The people at the BBC are a bunch of hypocrites. They were not prepared to televise the breed at Crufts and now it's on one of their most popular soaps."
