In This Issue
HOWND to release new natural fragrances for him and her
Pets at Home acquires veterinary referral hospital
Pets at Home shares jump after strong growth figures
Billy + Margot offers support to flood victims
Grove Pet Foods donate to flood victim in Aberdeenshire
Top notch dog food with a proud, regional provenance
Hing Bowls relaunched with new lower pricing
Planning permission granted for new Natures Menu production plant
Get your own copy of Pet Trade Xtra
Petition launched to stop pet shop selling puppies
Charity box and laptop stolen in pet shop raid
Soft chews offer key health benefits to pets
Puppy saved by PDSA vets after wolfing down owner’s hearing aid
PetSafe crowns winner of Pet Hero competition
Johnson's launches One Dose Wormer for Cats
True gentleman’s winning Sweep at Cocker Championships
New research finds significant health benefits from pet ownership
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HOWND to release new natural fragrances for him and her


HOWND are set to add two new long-lasting natural fragrances for male and female dogs to their acclaimed consumer range. Butch Leather Cologne for Man Dogs and Peach Bum Parfum for Lady Dogs will be released on Monday, February 1, in time for Valentine’s Day.



HOWND are set to add two new long-lasting natural fragrances for male and female dogs to their acclaimed consumer range.

Butch Leather Cologne for Man Dogs and Peach Bum Parfum for Lady Dogs will be released on Monday, February 1, in time for Valentine’s Day.

Both products are available in distinctive 250ml ‘bowtie bottles’ and can be used to freshen up a dog’s coat between baths, or as a splash of decadence post cut and blow dry.

The new fragrances also have the Leaping Bunny seal of approval from Cruelty Free International, the only globally recognised accreditation against animal cruelty.  

“Adding innovation and ingenuity to a product category is something we always set to achieve when developing a new consumer offering,” explains Jo Amit, co-founder of HOWND.

“That’s why we’re so excited to about Butch Leather and Peach Bum. They’re both premium quality natural products that bring something new to dog grooming: fragrances for him and her. We know consumers will love to get their hands on these bottles - and we’re sure they’ll love the scents even more.”

Butch Leather is the must-have cologne for discerning man dogs, inspired by the scent of warm soft leather and lush woods. With head notes of vetiver and cedarwood, this scent can lift dogs to new levels of refined masculinity.

Peach Bum is the perfume of love and romance created for lady pooches. It’s a supremely feminine fragrance with heart notes of sweet orange essential oils, jasmine and peach.

Both fragrances are free from harsh chemicals such as alcohol, parabens, soap and dyes. They are safe to use with topical flea products too.

Butch Leather Cologne for Man Dogs and Peach Bum Parfum for Lady Dogs have a RRP of £14 and are available for trade orders.

For further information about HOWND’s range of products, visit www.dogslovehownd.com or call a member of the team on +44 (0)20 3004 5255.

Pets at Home acquires veterinary referral hospital


Pets at Home has acquried Anderson Moores, a specialist veterinary referral hospital based in Winchester, Hampshire...



Pets at Home has acquried Anderson Moores, a specialist veterinary referral hospital based in Winchester, Hampshire.

Based near Winchester, Hants, Anderson Moores has 25 referral clinicians and provides referral expertise in internal medicine, soft tissue surgery, orthopaedic surgery, cardiology, neurology and neurosurgery, diagnostic imaging, dermatology and anaesthesia. Anderson Moores is equipped with dedicated MRI and CT scanners, state of the art operating theatres and a range of other specialist facilities.

Anderson Moores was founded in 2006 by Richard Hoile, Chief Executive Officer, and Davina Anderson MA VetMB PhD DSAS(ST) DipECVS MRCVS, who were joined as shareholders in 2009 by Andy Moores BVSc DSAS (Orth) DipECVS MRCVS and in 2012 by David Walker BVetMed (Hons) DipACVIM DipECVIM-CA MRCVS.

Together they will retain a 25% stake in Anderson Moores, which will continue to operate as a stand-alone brand and business within the Pets at Home Vet Group.

Sally Hopson, CEO of Pets at Home Vet Group said: “We are delighted to welcome Anderson Moores into the Pets at Home Vet Group. Anderson Moores is one of the country’s leading Specialist referral centres and having it as part of our network underlines our commitment to quality as we begin to expand our presence in this segment of the market, following the acquisition of Northwest Surgeons earlier in the year. I am particularly pleased that Richard, Davina, Andy and David have recognised the opportunity to remain as equity partners in the business; this has always been our preferred model.”

Davina Anderson said: “We developed Anderson Moores from the very beginning to focus on providing the best care we possibly can for the dogs and cats referred to us. We are very proud of the team we have built here and have many colleagues who have been with us since the early years, continuing to provide consistent standards of clinical expertise and compassion. We have been really impressed by the ability of the Vet Group team to understand our values and ethics and support us in our long term future together.”

Andy Moores said: “While for our clients and our colleagues it will be business as normal at Anderson Moores, being part of the Pets at Home Vet Group provides us with a wealth of resources to enable us to develop and extend the services we can provide.”

 

 
Pets at Home shares jump after strong growth figures
Shares in Pets at Home rose yeaterday after the company announced strong revenue growth with turnover reaching £195.1m in the third-quarter...


Shares in Pets at Home rose yeaterday after the company announced strong revenue growth with turnover reaching £195.1m in the third-quarter.

The Cheshire-based firm saw services growth of 8.5%, driven by strong performance in vet and grooming services.

While like for like merchandising sales grew 1.7% with strength in advanced nutrition, omnichannel and recovering sales in health & hygiene products.

In the trading update for the 12 week period from October 9 2015, to December 31 the retailer opened seven Pets at Home superstores, 15 grooming salons and six veterinary practices.

They are also on track to deliver further roll-out targets of 20-25 Pets at Home stores, five Barkers and between 50-55 vet practices.

Nick Wood, chief executive officer, said: "We are pleased with the improved trading momentum in our Merchandise business, alongside continued strength in our vet and grooming services.

"We are also delighted with our acquisition of one of the UK's leading specialist hospitals, Anderson Moores, which further develops our presence in this important strategic segment of the veterinary market.

"I would like to thank all our colleagues for their hard work through the busy festive period. We look forward to further growth and expansion in 2016."

Shares in the company were up 4.9% at 244.5p yesterday morning after the results had been announced.
Billy + Margot offers support to flood victims

Billy + Margot is offering £60 of free stock to any business that has suffered from the recent floods. The company is also offering extended credit terms for all other stock bought between now and February 15th...


Billy + Margot is offering £60 of free stock to any business that has suffered from the recent floods. The company is also offering extended credit terms for all other stock bought between now and February 15th...

In December 2015, one of the first towns to feel the full force of storm Desmond was Keswick in Cumbria. A local pet shop owned by one of Billy + Margot’s long-standing retailers, Podgy Paws, and located in Keswick High Street, was completely flooded.

The owner, Peter Harper was interviewed on BBC breakfast news on 11th December. He recounted a heart-warming story of resilience, determination and friendship as staff and local people rallied round to help him clear the flood waters and reopen the shop within a few days of the incident.

Marie Sawle, founder of Billy + Margot, was watching the news that morning and found herself reliving her own experience ten years earlier when her house in West Sussex was flooded after many days of torrential rain.

"The damage caused by flood water is immense and unbelievably intrusive. I remember our neighbours frantically helping us to salvage furniture and other belongings but fighting a losing battle as the waters rose.

"We lost personal belongings such as photo albums that had great sentimental value and could not be replaced so I understand the devastating effect of flooding.

"For this reason, we are keen to show our support by making a contribution to any affected pet food businesses to help them during this very difficult time.'

Affected businesses can contact Billy + Margot on 02392 633 855.

 
Grove Pet Foods donate to flood victim in Aberdeenshire
Grove Pet Foods have offered help to an Aberdeenshire pet shop which was turned upside down when intense flood waters demolished a 20 foot wall...
Grove Pet Foods have offered help to an Aberdeenshire pet shop which was turned upside down when intense flood waters demolished a 20 foot wall.

Graham Skene who owns Inverurie Pet Supplies said it was a devastating scene and will cost thousands of pounds to repair.

“We have been continuously pumping flood water away since it hit. I have never experienced anything like it. The water came so fast and was quickly four feet deep and then seven feet. I was luckily able to get out.”

Mr Skene’s stock has been destroyed and it will take a long time to get the shop up and running again. He said: “A 25kg bag of dog food now weighs 50kg, because of the water, so the clear up process is quite challenging.”

Grove Pet Foods, manufacturers of pet food brands, Alpha Feeds and Vitalin, came to the aid of Mr Skene with donations. The company have offered to donate stock of both Vitalin and Alpha Feeds to help Mr Skene with the recovery operation.  

Sean Cox of Grove Pet Foods said: “I whole-heartedly feel for Mr Skene and other businesses and families who have been affected by the recent flooding. I am very pleased that we can offer a small amount of help to Mr Skene through our donation of pet food and hope that it can contribute to him being able to rebuild his livelihood.”

For further information on Alpha Feeds or Vitalin visit www.alphafeeds.com or www.vitalinpetfood.co.uk.

Top notch dog food with a proud, regional provenance


The dynamic world of ‘biologically appropriate’ raw pet food just got more interesting with the arrival of ambitious, rural start-up Cotswold RAW...



The dynamic world of ‘biologically appropriate’ raw pet food just got more interesting with the arrival of ambitious, rural start-up Cotswold RAW.

Justifiably proud of its quintessentially English roots, Cotswold RAW has spent its formative months attending regional country shows to get a real sense as to how its next generation ‘raw’ pet food might be embraced by a well-informed foodie community.

The reaction was euphoric, especially regarding Cotswold RAW’s signature sausage format, a particularly proud eureka moment for the fledgling premium pet food provider that has been instrumental in helping both local retailers and consumers fully appreciate the discerning nature of a ‘raw’ based diet that marries the convenience of an easy-to-handle human food format with a nutritionally dense raw ingredient deck.

According to co-founder Chris Brierley: "Our mince range sells fantastically to existing raw diehards and bulk purchasers, whilst our small batch sausage offer is perfectly placed to convert traditional pet food purchasers to our premium ‘raw’ cause."

Although the well-versed arguments surrounding ‘raw’ have been gathering momentum for some while, Cotswold RAW were keen to go the extra yard in its quest to unlock the true ‘healthy living’ potential of a raw pet food.  Cotswold RAW wanted an all-encompassing range, made from human-grade meat and veg, to mirror the traceability of products that residents of their idyllic heartland demand from their food; namely fresh, seasonal and local. 

Cotswold RAW’s clarity of thought even extends to its actual range which clearly distinguishes an 80/20 (meat to veg ratio) Active Dog recipe from their 70/30 Less Active pet range. 

Throw in a thoughtful, small batch mindset, a non-negotiable stance on cheap grain fillers and a strikingly packaged sausage sub-range that offers the independent trade something deliciously distinct from the everyday fare being touted by rival supermarkets and you start to appreciate why Cotswold RAW is really starting to make ripples within the wider raw arena.

"Short-term," Chris concludes, "we’re utilizing social media, quality regional magazines and agricultural shows to build our following and bed down our heartland, becoming the go-to raw guru and displacing some of the image-over-substance designer kibbles that own more shelf space than their quality deserves.  We also have a significant amount of new product in the pipeline, including a working dog ‘Endurance’ portfolio, a bespoke Junior and Senior offer and a second tranche of more indulgent flavours: Duck, Rabbit & Venison."

For now Cotswold RAW remains the archetypal underdog but a dog with an insatiable appetite for future national success.

For more information visit www.cotswoldraw.com
 
Hing Bowls relaunched with new lower pricing
The original and bestselling range of Hing feeding bowls, available exclusively through Pedigree Wholesale, has been relaunched with new lower pricing...

The original and bestselling range of Hing feeding bowls, available exclusively through Pedigree Wholesale, has been relaunched with new lower pricing.

A combination of NEW lower retail price points together with IMPROVED retailer margins, PLUS regular promotional and marketing support means Hing Bowls now offer retailers a fantastic sales opportunity.

New, lower RRPs help drive increased consumer appeal and uplift whilst reduced trade prices make it affordable to stock the full range.

Available in two innovative designs, The Fish Bowl™ for cats and The Bone Bowl™ for dogs, Hing bowls are available in five popular colourways to suit all tastes (red, blue, black, white, pink) and look great in any room. The Bone Bowl™ is available in two sizes.

Both designs feature two long lasting stainless steel bowls within the mold which keep the bowls together as well as being easy to remove for cleaning and topping up. Non slip rubber feet ensure the bowls remain in place.

Improved retailer margins and RRPs mean it’s never been a better time to stock and sell this stylish and innovative range.

If you would like more information about Hing Bowls contact the Customer Services Team on 0115 982 3900 or email sales@petproducts.co.uk.

Planning permission granted for new Natures Menu production plant


The Norfolk-based raw pet food manufacturer Natures Menu has secured planning permission to develop a 10-acre site into a new purpose-built production facility to keep up with the growing demand for its products...



The Norfolk-based raw pet food manufacturer Natures Menu has secured planning permission to develop a 10-acre site into a new purpose-built production facility to keep up with the growing demand for its products.

Natures Menu will be making a considerable investment in new production lines, equipment and storage facilities at the new site to make sure it stays ahead of the demand for all of its products, which are seeing sales increases of over 30% year on year in specialist pet channels in the UK and Europe.

Craig Taylor, Managing Director for Natures Menu, said: “We are delighted to gain local support for this exciting project which will help us to develop the existing product capacity and bring new technologies to the specialist pet channels in the years to come.

"Demand for raw complete meals continues to grow and our expert vet team are now seeing increasing confidence from consumers and veterinary colleagues to recommend Natures Menu as the professional choice for raw feeding."

The investment of nearly £7 million in Natures Menu comes shortly after the company announced its joint collaboration with Affinity Pet Care in Spain, owned by Agrolimen who jointly control US-brand Natures Variety.

 
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Petition launched to stop pet shop selling puppies
More than 9,000 people have signed a petition, which calls for Wokingham council to stop a pet store in Hare Hatch, near Reading, Berkshire, from selling puppies...


More than 9,000 people have signed a petition, which calls for Wokingham council to stop a pet store in Hare Hatch, near Reading, Berkshire, from selling puppies.


Vikki Novelle, who started the petition, insists Linton Pets Store on Bath Road purchases dogs from unsafe puppy farms, where bitches and their pups suffer physically and emotionally because they are separated five weeks after birth and the animals are overbred.

But the store owner, who wishes to remain anonymous as she has been allegedly threatened by people backing the petition, is adamant that she maintains safe standards and adheres to all of the conditions of the stores puppy selling licence.

She states that the dogs are bought from licensed breeders and each puppy is assessed by a veterinarian before it is sold.

The council has carried out unannounced inspections of the store over the last few years and says it is confident that the owners are complying with the conditions of the licence.

Ms Novelle said: "Whether farms in the UK or abroad, I don’t believe that any responsible breeder would give stock to a shop.

"It concerns me to think where the puppies come from, their ancestry, potential health problems of the puppies, as well as their parents, the conditions the breeding dogs are kept in to provide the stock and what happens to pups that don’t get sold.

“With the local petition I want Linton not to be issued with a licence to sell puppies. Full stop.”

The pet shop owner, who took over in the summer of 2012, insists that she only buys puppies from responsible breeders and ensures that each puppy is healthy before it is sold.

The store is licensed to sell up to 15 puppies at a time and each time a dog is bought from the store, the customer is given a written contract and a health card which is signed by a vet.

Some pedigree dogs at Lintons are imported from the owner's native Malta and when they are sold the owner says she issues the customer with the pet's passport and a pet travel scheme document.

 
Charity box and laptop stolen in pet shop raid
A charity box containing around £30 plus a MacBook Pro were stolen in a raid on Tails and Scales Pet Centre in Welwyn Garden City, in the early hours of Sunday morning...


The manager of Tails and Scales Pet Centre in the Haldens, Welwyn Garden City has spoken about the burglary which took place in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The front door was smashed and a charity box and a MacBook Pro were stolen at 1.20am on Sunday.

The manager said: “I got a call on Sunday morning. I came down to the shop and the door had been smashed in. I walked through and checked on what was missing.

“We have around 30 or 40 animals - I checked them all, but only some personal belongings were stolen. The charity box was pretty full, it had around £25 to £30 in it.

“We opened on Monday as normal. At first I thought it would be quiet but a lot of our customers are local and they’ve all been very supportive.

“Nothing like this has ever happened before. We’ve never had any problems. The police are still investigating and it’s a waiting game at the moment.”

A 27-year-old man from Welwyn Garden City has been arrested on suspicion of burglary and has been released on police bail until March 3.

Anyone with any information in relation to this incident is asked to contact Herts Police via 101, quoting crime reference B1/16/207.

Pictured: The front door of the pet shop was damaged in the raid.
 
Soft chews offer key health benefits to pets
The Soft Chew Company was recently founded to offer the benefits of a key development in supplements to pet owners in the UK...

Walk into a pet store in the USA and you will find that the healthcare supplement products are increasingly appearing in the form of soft chews. These are a cereal base with a mixture of oils and well established nutritional supplements that use a mixture of flavourings that are particularly palatable to pet animals.

Soft chews are imbued with natural healthcare supplements so that animal owners can promote wellbeing in their pets in a way that the animals will relish, especially animals which tend to resist swallowing capsules or tablets.

Nature’s Energy Soft Chews for animals offer health support for; dog and cat joints, cat bladder function, hairball relief in cats and a multi-vitamin for ageing and sick dogs.

  • The products are presented in eye-catching convenient re-sealable sachets containing 30 chews.
  • The chews are flavoured using natural ingredients, are low in calories and have a low allergy potential.
  • Easy to feed with one chew per day per animal being a common feeding amount.

The Soft Chew Company was recently founded to offer the benefits of this key development in supplements to pet owners in the UK. Already they have established national distribution through key suppliers and are listed on several pet oriented websites.

"We have ambitious plans to use this flavouring system to support pet healthcare and improve owner convenience,” says Director Niall McFerran. The company is seeking to expand the offering and customer accessibility in the near future.

For more information contact The Soft Chew Company on 01347 293150 or at sales@thesoftchewcompany.co.uk

 
Puppy saved by PDSA vets after wolfing down owner’s hearing aid
A livewire puppy from Dundee - who is fascinated by her owner’s hearing aids – was rushed to PDSA after swallowing one whole...



A livewire puppy from Dundee - who is fascinated by her owner’s hearing aids – was rushed to PDSA after swallowing one whole.

Domino the Labrador has mischievously tried to get her paws on owner Norma McKenzie’s hearing aids several times before. But this time it ended in near-disaster when she managed to pull them out of their hiding place and chew them up before gobbling one down.

Stunned Norma, who requires hearing aids for occasional use, said she returned home to find six-month-old Domino chewing on one of her aids, with no trace of the other one.

The 63-year-old quickly realised what had happened and rushed Domino to PDSA’s Dundee Pet Hospital in Hawkhill, where vets gave the cheeky pup medication to induce vomiting.

Norma said: “The injection did the trick and within five minutes Domino had brought up all the different bits of the hearing aid, along with the battery! We also discovered that she’d swallowed bits from a comb, the jewel from a hairclip and even been munching on prawn crackers!”

PDSA Senior Vet Andy Cage revealed that it‘s common for dogs to swallow strange things, especially when they’re puppies. But he says it’s important to keep potentially harmful objects out of a pet’s reach.

He said: “There is a medical term for pets eating strange objects – pica.  Dogs, especially puppies and younger dogs like Domino, use their mouth to investigate objects, as well as to eat. Sometimes when doing this a dog will swallow an object by mistake.

“Thankfully Norma brought Domino straight to the hospital which meant we were able to take action before it caused any serious damage.”

Vets warned that the hearing aid could have caused a tear or fatal blockage in Domino’s digestive system. The battery could also have burned her stomach lining and led to serious, even fatal, complications.

Norma, from Charleston, Dundee, said that the hearing aids weren’t the only objects Domino has taken a fancy to over the past few months:

“The one day I found her with a pair of my glasses and one of the lenses was destroyed. She’s also chewed the side of my coffee table. I heard that putting mustard on it would stop her but she actually enjoyed it and licked it all off!

“I know she’s a puppy and they do like to explore things but I’m now being a lot more careful where I put things, especially when I get my replacement hearing aids.”

PDSA vets say training pets from a young age can help to curb their temptation to chew objects, and they can learn basic commands like ‘drop’ and ‘leave’. For general advice please visit www.pdsa.org.uk
 
PetSafe crowns winner of Pet Hero competition
International pet product expert PetSafe has crowned its pet hero after a nationwide search for the UK’s most heroic hound...
International pet product expert PetSafe has crowned its pet hero after a nationwide search for the UK’s most heroic hound.

Mugly, a Chinese crested dog – previously awarded the title of World’s Ugliest Dog – scooped the award after beating off nationwide competition from nearly 100 other entrants including Lucie, a support dog who provides day to day support to owner, Alex, who has autism, and his wider family.

As a reward Mugly and his owner will enjoy a holiday in a pet-friendly cottage, courtesy of Sykes Cottages, as well as a years’ supply of PetSafe® toys.

The Pet Hero campaign was also rolled out internationally in France, Australia and Canada, and attracted hundreds of entries from irreplaceable pets across the world.

UK winner Mugly is a well known face on the charity circuit, and raises money for a variety of charities including Guide Dogs for the Blind, Many Tears Animal Rescue, The Chinese Crested Club of GB Rescue and Cinque Ports Rescue.

He is a certified Pets As Therapy dog and makes regular visits to adults with learning difficulties and sensory issues.

PetSafe International Marketing Director, Angela Critchley said: “We’re passionate about great pet products, but we are also passionate about animals themselves, and we thought this campaign was a good way to highlight the real difference that pets can make to their pet owners and the wider community."

 
Johnson's launches One Dose Wormer for Cats
Johnson’s has announced a major addition to its bestselling range of wormers with One Dose Wormer for Cats...


Johnson’s has announced a major addition to its bestselling range of wormers with One Dose Wormer for Cats, which is suitable for adult cats and also kittens from six weeks of age.

One Dose Wormer for Cats & Kittens is a premium product which is veterinary strength to kill both Roundworms and Tapeworms. 

Like all Johnson’s products it is available over the counter AVM/GSL. It is exclusive to the pet trade and will not be supplied to supermarkets or various retail discount outlets.

Johnson’s One Dose Wormer for Cats & Kittens contains small tablets which are film coated to assist easier dosing and are highly effective in a single dose against common types of Roundworms and Tapeworms. 

The tablets should be give directly to the cat, or can be disguised in tasty food and are suitable for regular worming 3 or 4 times a year as recommended by Veterinary Surgeons. 

An attractive Counter/Shelf display box is available, strongly branded in striking yellow and blue, to match the individual cartons, giving great on-shelf impact. 

RRP £6.99 Trade  £ 23.28  per pack of 6.

For more information call 0121 378 1684, email info@johnsons-vet.com or visit www.johnsons-vet.com

 
True gentleman’s winning Sweep at Cocker Championships
CSJ were thrilled to hear that the recent Cocker Spaniel Championships were won by a user of their food...
CSJ were thrilled to hear that the recent Cocker Spaniel Championships were won by a user of their food.

The news came in an email from Jane Stenner who said: Thought you might like to know that a friend of mine called Richard Preest, who regularly feeds CSJ dog food, has just won the Cocker Spaniel Championships with a dog he bred himself. FT.CH. Centrewalk Sweep is out of FT.CH Orgest Yfwr x FT.CH. Centrewalk Daydream. 

"Richard is an amateur trainer and a true gentleman of the sport!”

Ceri Rundle, CSJ’s owner, said: "Richard has done so well and we would love to send him and Sweep a big congratulations."

 
New research finds significant health benefits from pet ownership
As many struggle to combat the post-Christmas come down and tackle the ‘January Blues’, new research conducted by leading online pet healthcare site MedicAnimal has demonstrated the huge impact of pet ownership on our health...

As many struggle to combat the post-Christmas come down and tackle the ‘January Blues’, new research conducted by leading online pet healthcare site MedicAnimal has demonstrated the huge impact of pet ownership on our health.

MedicAnimal’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Andrew Bucher, says that the health benefits of pet ownership are not only physical, but also extend to mental health. MedicAnimal’s research shows that humans have a strong emotional connection to their pets and that they have tangible benefits to our mental and psychological wellbeing.

The survey measured responses of over 2,200 respondents, all of whom own one or more pets. Key findings:

  • 98% of dog owners, 96% cat owners agreed that their pet was a member of the family;
  • 84% dog owners felt that having a dog helps them have more positive relationships with other people;
  • 64% of people feel more confident meeting new people if their dog is also present;
  • 73% strongly believe their dog is good for their mental health;
  • 62% of people strongly view their dog as a source of emotional support;
  • 78% of people believe their cat intuitively understands how they are feeling;
  • 86% of people think that owning a cat has made them a happier person.

While there are multiple benefits of pet ownership, such as companionship and reducing stress, it has been proven that having a pet makes us live longer and animals can be useful in predicting seizures, reducing blood pressure and cholesterol, and even monitoring their diabetic owners’ blood sugar levels.

Andrew Bucher, Chief Veterinary Officer at MedicAnimal, said: “Britain has long been touted as a nation of animal lovers, which was confirmed last year when we spent a record £6 billion on our pets, but these findings demonstrate how important our pets are to our physical and mental wellbeing.

“It will come as no surprise to pet owners that our animals are good for us. However, the results of this survey really do highlight the extent to which humans depend on their pets to give them confidence in their relationships with other people and in maintaining strong mental health.

“January may be cold, dark, wet and depressing, and Blue Monday the most depressing day of the year, however, the love, partnership and affection we show our pets is very much a two way relationship. They bring us so many benefits and it’s important we remember to repay them by treating them well and caring for their needs just as though they were a member of the family.”

 

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