Dima Yeremenko at the Dog Olympix [PHOTOS: MRJCMEDIA]

ORGANISERS of an annual Crufts-style dog show have said they did nothing wrong by allowing the outdoor event to go ahead amid the weekend’s hot weather.

The Town Hall had advised that the Dog Olympix in Whittington Park should not go ahead but Sunnie De Pass, an Archway-based dog trainer, said she felt the pets were never in danger. The event, now in its sixth year, has raised money for a new water fountain in the park.

She has since faced sharp criticism on social media but told the Tribune: “I knew we could achieve another round of fundraising, and I just thought it was all a storm in a teacup and that people didn’t really understand. You know that actually you can work with your dogs until 12 noon – that’s the point we’re trying to get across – but you need to get them out of the midday sun.”

Ms De Pass grew up working on a farm and has more than 40 years of experience working with animals.

Vicky with Collie, Badger

She said she had a vet on standby and four paddling pools to help keep the dogs cool while the more exerting activities were cancelled. The event was shortened to finish at noon to avoid the worst of the heat. She also pointed out that her training sessions, which run all year at the park, have taken place in all weathers with no issues.

The council’s animal welfare team on Saturday asked her to cancel and put out a public statement explaining “the event would not have been safe for dogs”.

It added: “We hope and expect that the Dog Olympix team will comply with our advice, and that any dog-related activities do not go ahead.”

The cast-iron Victorian water feature in Waterlow Park

The event went ahead the following day with around 200 attendees and roughly 10 dogs taking part.

Babs Normile boycotted the event this year, despite her Cavapoochon Nugget, 2, winning the agility competition last year.

“I think everybody would agree it’s a wonderful event – it’s just marred by an incredibly poor decision to go ahead this year, and that’s why I withdrew Nugget,” she said. “Any responsible dog parent would not have taken their dog out in those conditions to go and compete. It’s such a shame because it’s such a nice event. And it’s just so irresponsible. There’s nothing personal in it at all. It’s just a bad decision.”

According to renowned dog behaviourist Louise Glazebrook: “Heat stroke is extremely dangerous and by cancelling events in the heat, the council would be giving a very clear message, that it is not safe or advised to take your dog out in this heat.”

She warned that dogs only have panting as a cooling method as they cannot sweat, making “it very dangerous for a dog to be out and about” in high temperatures.

At a meeting with the Whittington Park Group in June, members voted for a decorative Victorian-style cast iron fountain, to match the one in nearby Waterlow Park.

A spokesperson for Islington Council said: “We politely and clearly advised the event organiser of this, and clarified that we were happy for any non-dog related activities, including stalls, music, and the serving of food, to go ahead.

“Regrettably, however, the Dog Olympix organisers ignored the council’s advice and dog-related activities did go ahead. This is disappointing, and the council is now discussing the issue with the event organiser.”

She said the council was reviewing its procedures to ensure “a similar situation does not arise again”.