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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The best news service every week.

Subscribe for free by clicking here

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.

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

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.”

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 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. 

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

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.”