LONDON -- It's been a long time coming for Scottish terriers, but Knopa turned around a 86-year losing streak by taking "Best in Show" on Sunday at Crufts.
With her impressive eyebrows, McVan's To Russia With Love, aka Knopa, beat off almost 22,000 other dogs at the world's largest dog show to become top dog at this year's event in Birmingham.
Congratulations Knopa, Best in Show winner 2015!! pic.twitter.com/Qnd6mQbsUo— The Kennel Club (@KCLovesDogs) March 8, 2015
The five-year-old Russian dog won the terrier group Saturday before advancing to the final, where she faced off against six other dogs.
Dublin, a flat-coated retriever from Sweden, took the reserve spot, coming in second.
Dublin, the flat coated retriever is the reserve winner in #Crufts2015 #BestInShow. Such a happy dog. pic.twitter.com/CiIrYwyNrw— Long Paws (@LongPawsPets) March 8, 2015
However, there was a dark cloud hanging over the 123-year-old show. An investigation was launched Sunday after claims that one of the dogs who competed died after being poisoned.
The Kennel Club, which runs the show, said it was "deeply shocked and saddened" upon hearing reports that three-year-old Irish Setter Thendara Satisfaction, known as Jagger, had been poisoned. The setter's co-owner told the publication Dog World that the animal collapsed upon returning to Belgium after competing.
Kennel Club Secretary Caroline Kisko said the dog died some 26 hours after leaving Crufts and "that the toxicology report is due next week and until that time we cannot know the cause of this tragic incident."
The club has been in touch with the owners and has offered sympathies.
Additional reporting by The Associated Press