THE FIRST FIRST-HAND REPORT ON THE WORLD SHOW RIOT

By photo-journalist Karl Donvil
More news and a few thousand photos of the full World Dog Show event
in Buenos Aires soon on www.123dog.net

(TDP Quick-Mail link at end) Concerning the gas bomb at the July 2005 World Dog Show in Buenos Aires there are a lot of rumours going around the world. This is what I and other reporters there have experienced and found out.

 No dogs died at all or were harmed by the gas. I don't know about a fight with the judge, but there was a fight between two handlers. There was a lot of panic, but all the people helped each other to bring out the dogs and people. The gas, used by the people does not infect dogs or horses as it is used at demonstrations on the street. I can tell you it hurts a lot to people (to me too), but I could not see any dog with any kind of problems.

All by all there was panic and people rushed out to the streets. Fortunately only 7 people went to the hospital. Many handlers needed to look for the ir dogs, but the committee arranged a rescue area for unidentified dogs and all dogs were found again later. People were really concerned and helped to get the dogs out ASAP and as they did not know who they were lots of dogs were supposed stolen or dead right after the attack. This was a first reaction to many people and handlers, but after some time of looking around and finding their dogs back in the rescue area they were all well and alive.

 The committee took measures against the club and managed to get the judgments to continue after the police declared everything safe again. This took 4 hours.

I must say that this is not a problem of the committee but of only a few irresponsible handlers who can be considered as terrorist. But the Argentina dog show was very good, the people were very nice and the committee very efficient.

They all cried at the press conference and felt so ashamed of what had happened. They worked so hard for two years, especially the last months and were so tired and then this happened. It was very emotional.

This could have happened in every country.

The press had a splendid Press Room available with a big buffet every day and drinks, internet and even lockers! Every day there was a press conference and the interaction with the committee was excellent. Marcella Nestler was indicated to be our Press Officer and was really devoted to her job.

The only minor point was the Main ring that was very long and rectangle and everything happened far away from us while we were sitting on the other hand.  This made it difficult for taking pictures of the dogs while judging. We were allowed into the main ring and the results were every day on internet. An example for many other shows.

Adolf Cabane and myself have had a speech before BIS in order to thank the committee for their efforts for us.

The incident was nothing that the committee deserved and notwithstanding the fact that the incident started already on Saturday, measurements were taken to prevent further incidents as a lot of extra security was provided at the Dogo Argentina ring, but nobody could predict that some unresponsible dangerous man could go so far as to throw gasbombs in a crowded area and create such a panic. Even with 100 security people extra, this would have had the very same reaction.

This was an act of one person and a few of his friends only and we can only hope that justice will be done and that this man will end in jail for many years as this could have resulted in serious casualties and even deads. Find enclosed some pictures of the incident. If you want to use them for any magazine, please be so kind and correct to contact me and respect the copyrights.

Karl Donvil (self portrait at right) karl@123dog.net

www.123dog.net

MORE ON THE DAY AFTER – THE RIOTS IN BUENAS AIRES

Quoting from many different sources coming in to our offices: “This past Saturday the judge of the South American breeds incurred the wrath of the exhibitors from one of the South American countries by not putting up their representative in a particular breed. The losing contingency stormed into the ring and attacked the judge! Security was called and the judge was escorted out for his safety. The following day, yesterday, somebody threw a tear gas bomb into his ring. The militia was called in and the building evacuated, and some people were taken to the hospital. All dogs were removed and put outdoors as well. After a couple hours the show resumed, but the militia remained in charge of security and manned the doors.”

And this forwarded from International Judge Fred Lanting:
“ Yesterday at the World Show in Argentina rabid Dogo fans did not like the BOB selection made by the Judge. They went after him with knives (Saturday the crowd favorite who lost went up to the Judge in the ring and punched him in the nose).  Two men, standing at ringside, threw two canisters of tear gas into the Dogo ring causing panic and many injuries. (The site was set up like The Garden). Many, especially Americans, thought it was a terrorist attack.  You can just picture owners and handlers trying to get to their dogs to get them out of the building. To add insult to injury the police shut the main doors, locking in many people who, in panic and pain, went through the plate glass windows to get air. Many people were taken to the hospital, many dogs went to the vets, some dogs had bad eye injuries as well as lung involvement and a few dogs died at the scene.

“The FCI banned the Argentinean Dogo from shows for two years and took away all awards given during this weekend.  Too little too late, in my opinion.  They were aware of the danger before the show but did nothing about it.  Since the dog is the country's favorite they allowed them to enter for $20.00 per entry instead of $120.00 like the rest of the dogs so over 100 were there. The fanciers are like rabid soccer fans.  The FCI then went on to finish the show after airing out the building late that afternoon (under the threats of more violence) with over half the entry missing, not the proper thing to do, IMO.

We were fortunate, our handler had just returned to the grooming area so was able, with a little help, to get the dogs out without harm to their eyes, nose or lungs, she was not as lucky.”

We are told the judge is himself a Dogo Breeder and president of the Austrian Dogo Club. It seems the judge is back home safely and told another judge that when he announced his BOB, the loser gave an order to his dog to attack the judge who quickly jumped onto the judge’s table to save himself! The foregoing comment sums up the reputation of the Dogo exhibitors. A breed which is encouraged to be unapproachable and cannot be examined by a judge could not be in American or European rings. One has to wonder at the mentality and lack of self-confidence of a group of exhibitors who encourage such behavior, theirs and the dog’s!

From Barbara Bachman, Capri Boxers: “ I received the post from a friend of mine in Boxers, don't know the author.  My handler (Diego Garcia) was there, he said it was very scary.  He was at the Doberman Ring, the Pavilion started filling up with smoke, everyone was running.  They didn't realize it was tear gas, they thought it was some type of terrorist attack. A policeman tried to keep everyone in the pavilion even though it was filling with smoke (tear gas), they pushed him down and kept running.  It sounds like it was a very scary situation!”

The same thread of injury comes through in report after report but photographer Karl Donvil's on-site view through the lens is that when the panic subsided, there were no serious injuries.

And this just in, sums up the whole story, from a non-involved spectator:

From: Alejandro [mailto:alejandromenegaz@ciudad.com.ar] Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2005 1:38 AM
To: Editor@TheDogPlace.org Subject: Bombs in Buenos Aires

Hi.  First i`d like to thanks to Karl Donvil for telling the truth.  Second: I`m not a Dog Show fan.... and I do not like Argentinian Dogos. 

I went with my wife and mi son (of 4 month) to see a relative who works in handling. And to take pictures for a local magazine. On saturday and on Sunday to the World Show in BA.  We were at the Dogo Ring at the same time of the bombs.  Nothing happens with figths, there was no knifes.  We escape quickly, because the gas hurts our eyes.

My wife with my son on her arms, walked to the emergency exit doors and a security woman helped them.  Other people respect them and helped each other to exit.  There was a lot of "brotherhood" between all the people.  Handlers, visitors, friends, police, etc.   The only true is the reality. I was there and the true of the incident is nearly as Karl Donvil said.  Sorry about my bad english.
- Alejandro Menegaz.

If it's too hot to handle, send it to Editor@TheDogPlace.org