Lily’s Kitchen has refuted claims by an independent pet shop that it puts ‘money before ethics’.

Posh Petz in Peterborough has removed all Lily’s Kitchen products from its shelves, telling customers it had taken the decision because the pet food company was selling its products through major supermarkets.   

In a statement on its Facebook page, Posh Petz said: “When we started our values were: all natural good food and to support brands who in turn supported independent businesses.

“We have maintained our core values throughout but unfortunately Lily’s Kitchen has taken the decision to put money before ethics, and is now selling its brand through all major supermarkets and pet food chains.

“We hope you understand this decision has not been taken lightly and look forward to filling the shelves with more great products.”

But Lily’s Kitchen quickly responded to the claims, pointing out it had been judged to be one of the UK’s top-rated ethical pet food companies.

A spokesperson for the company said: “Many people still like to do their weekly shop in a supermarket and given Lily’s Kitchen’s aim is to improve the lives of dogs and cats everywhere, it wants to also be able to offer its food in places which are dominated by mass market brands, so that customers can choose a healthier option for their pets.   

“To support this goal, Lily’s Kitchen continues to invest in all of its retail partners, big and small. The range Lily’s Kitchen provides for grocery retail is extremely limited compared to the choice it makes available for independent stockists.  

 “In response to Posh Petz questioning our ethics, Lily’s Kitchen has recently retained its leading position as one of the UK’s top rated ethical pet food companies for a ninth year running by ethical consumer comparison company The Good Shopping Guide.

”Lily’s Kitchen was also one of the founding members of B Corp in the UK in 2015 and was the first (and currently only) pet food company in the world to certify as a B Corporation. B Corp is a global movement that is redefining success in business.  Regular companies exist for the interests of their shareholders. B Corps are companies where the interests of employees, communities and the environment rank alongside those of shareholders.”

Ceva Santé Animale (Ceva) achieved growth of 20% in 2017 and broke the billion euro barrier for the first time with sales of €1.1 billion.

Performance was strong across all geographical regions. The global sales are split as follows Europe - 34%, Africa-Middle East-Eastern Europe-Turkey - 19%, North America-Pacific – 16%, Latin America – 15% and Asia – 13%.

In terms of product portfolios, the Swine business recorded the biggest increase (up 66%, representing 16% of sales) due mainly to the acquisition of 4 ex-Merial vaccines. Ruminants sales were up 40%, (20% of turnover) driven by the acquisition of Brazilian firms Hertape and Inova. Companion Animals sales grew 12%, (29% of turnover), with Poultry up 8%, (35% of turnover).

Ceva Chairman and CEO, Dr. Marc Prikazsky delighted with these latest results said: “Our strong growth can be explained largely through our most recent acquisitions, Hertape and Inova in Brazil, but equally the purchase of a number of ex-Merial products and the acquisitions of Ebvac, China, Polchem in India and Biovac, France.

"However, our organic growth was also a driver, achieving an historic 9% increase (at constant scope and exchange rates). This success is due to the hard work of all our teams, in particular those in Libourne, for the smooth integration of these new companies, as well as the R&D, industrial and logistics teams for the development of such innovative new products as Feliscratch by Feliway®, Zeleris® and Smartvac®.”

Dr. Prikazsky adds: “In these times of rapid global change, we need to make the most of our agility to quickly integrate, from today, the new orientations of research in areas such as artificial intelligence, connected agriculture, robotisation, digitalisation, big data, etc. The challenge for the future will be how to integrate these new technologies into our business model. This is a challenge for the agricultural community as a whole, both in France and around the world. In all these areas, once again, Ceva wants to become a first-line reference.”

Along the lines of its investment last year in Applifarm, a Big Data platform for the ruminants sector, Ceva is looking to develop new services, particularly in hatcheries around its vector-vaccine and in-ovo vaccination equipment developed by its French subsidiary, Ecat-iD.

2018 will also see the realisation of three major projects in France under the “Factory of the Future” banner:

• Construction in Laval, Mayenne of a global centre of expertise in companion animals. Between 2014 and 2020 Ceva will have invested €25 million in the Ceva Sogeval Campus (pictured above), with €7.5 million of that going towards the construction of an ultramodern 3600m² campus – including a 1000m² laboratory and Quality Control building (due to open in February 2018).
• Construction of a 2000m² building in Loudéac, Brittany. Ceva has invested €6.8 million in order to integrate a range of dermatological products for Companion animals. In addition to the Feliway® and Adaptil® ranges it will produce the Douxo® range for the European market, with the aim of becoming the world leader in topical dermatology products by 2020 (due to open in May 2018).
• Construction of a 2600m² industrial building in Libourne, Gironde. With an investment of €8.5 million the Group hopes to increase storage capacity for vaccines and, at the same time, improve its logistics (due to open in November 2018). This year, Ceva will also initiate a project to examine how to reorganise the entire Libourne site, which includes its head office, with the aim of improving the work environment and encouraging exchange between different services.

“To maintain its constant rhythm of growth, it is imperative that Ceva continues to invest in the future, in innovation, in new sectors like biotechnology and in R&D – particularly in relation to swine and poultry biology,” explains Marc Prikazsky.

Bring Your Dog To Work Day, founded and organised by multi-award winning ethical pet care brand HOWND, returns on Friday 22nd June.

Now in its fifth year, Bring Your Dog To Work Day is embraced by dog lovers and their employers throughout the UK with thousands of businesses and employees taking part.

The day is much loved by thousands of people in the UK, including high profile celebrities such as Ricky Gervais, the Top Gear team, ITV’s Loose Women, Tennis TV, Shrek the Musical, Coronation Street and many more, all showing their support last year by posting on social media.

There is no doubt that this annual event has captured the imagination of our dog loving nation and has become an highlight in the UK calendar - people really love taking their best friend to work with them.

Jo Amit, co-owner of HOWND and founder and organiser of Bring Your Dog To Work Day, says: “Just interacting with these wonderful animals can help reduce stress levels and blood pressure.

"Taking part in Bring Your Dog to Work Day sure is making bosses around the country more popular with their staff!  I’ve never seen an unhappy office dog, only unhappy employees who have to leave their beloveds at home.

"We love the response the event gets each year – it’s a real highlight for us to see so many happy dogs and owners at work together.”

Bring Your Dog to Work Day has a serious side, as well as being a great day out for our furry four-legged friends.  Every year, it donates the funds raised from business sponsorships and individual donations to animal welfare charities via the official Bring Your Dog To Work Day website.

Money raised in 2018 will go directly to All Dogs Matter, a charity that rescues and rehomes hundreds of dogs each year in the UK. This year, the organisers are also encouraging businesses to come on board as official sponsors and raise funds for their own animal welfare charities too. Bring Your Dog To Work Day’s social pages, as well as the official charity’s, will share all Bring Your Dog To Work Day official sponsors’ in-house fundraising events, competitions and activities in their social feeds.  

In return for a business making a minimum £100 donation, its company logo and website link will be displayed on the homepage, and they will receive a thank you shout out from All Dogs Matter on social media.

It’s a great opportunity to amplify your brand. Last year the hashtag #BringYourDogToWork trended again at number one on Twitter when it reached over 13 million users in one hour.

Sponsorship is open to any business. Previous sponsors have included a diverse range of businesses from across the UK and Europe, with high profile brands from the pet sector, white goods companies, law firms, hospitality, private jet companies, luxury sectors, TV shows, comedians, and more taking part.  HR guidelines and an Info Pack are available to download from the website to help make the day run as smoothly and enjoyably as possible.

A “pooch selfie” of a dog at work in the home or office, in the shop, in the cab of a lorry, or wherever it is safe to have a dog in the workplace, can be uploaded to the “Dog With A Job Hall of Fame” for a minimum £5 donation.  Anyone that donates more than £10 will be automatically be entered into our Bring Your Dog To Work Day annual prize draw with a chance to win £100s worth of goodies from our official business sponsors. See competition page.

Bring Your Dog To Work Day is now recognised as a fun fundraising day for dog lovers but having your dog at work has added mental health benefits too. Many studies have shown that the presence of pets can substantially reduce stress levels in the workplace. Increased job satisfaction and morale have all been reported by employers who have their pets with them at work.

www.bringyourdogtoworkday.co.uk

twitter: @BringDog2WorkUK

Visitors to PATS Sandown next month (March) can expect a busy and exciting show as all exhibitor stands at the two-day event have now been sold.

The Surrey and Esher Halls at Sandown Park in Surrey will be packed with stands showcasing new products. And with the ‘Show Sold Out’ signs being posted already, there will be lots to see and talk about with over 150 companies exhibiting.

As well as meeting up with a long list of PATS regulars, visitors will be greeted by a host of new faces when the show takes place on Tuesday, March 20, and Wednesday, March 21, 2018.

A total of 37 companies will be exhibiting at the Spring show for the first time as they see PATS as the perfect opportunity to showcase their products to retailers and overseas distributors.

Different Dog is launching its home cooked frozen dog food at PATS Sandown. Founder Charlie Thurstan, formerly Head of Food at Pets at Home, said: “We are excited to be making our debut appearance at PATS Sandown. We are bringing the first home cooked frozen dog food to the UK retail market. The food is inspired by the nutritional needs of my own beloved spaniel Crumble.”

Mud Daddy, a portable mud/dirt washing brush, is also new to PATS Sandown. The company’s Rez Gachacr said: “We are really looking forward to the show where we’ll be hoping to sign up wholesalers and retailers to stock our products. Mud Daddy has been well received by pet owners and we want to extend its reach.”

One of PATS Sandown’s most popular features is the New Product Showcase, sponsored by pbwnews, and because of its importance it will be staged in a prominent position in the Surrey Hall’s Brasserie Bar.

The Showcase entries will be judged by a panel of retailer judges for the New Product Awards on the first morning of the show, and the results will be announced and promoted throughout the halls for the rest of the exhibition.

There will also be a full programme of free seminars during both days of the show.

To help make the visitor experience even more enjoyable and rewarding, both the Surrey and Esher Halls have their own entrances and registration points, with visitors benefitting from free show entry, free parking, a free catalogue and many special offers.

There will also be a wide range of food available from all the various outlets and visitors will receive a free cup of tea or coffee voucher, which will be redeemable all day.

To register for free entry to the show and to view the full list of exhibitors visit www.patshow.co.uk

Opening times

Tuesday 20th March: 9.30am-5.30pm

Wednesday 21st March: 9.30am-4.30pm

Benevo, the vegan pet food company given the highest Ethical Pet Food Company score by The Good Shopping Guide two years in a row, has announced the launch of a new meat-free dog chew in its Pawtato Dog Chew range made from nutritient rich purple sweet potato.

A strikingly unique spin on its first innovative and best selling complementary ‘Pawtato Knots’ dog chews, which are a vegan raw-hide alternative made from 87% nutritious orange sweet potato, blended with rice.

Pawtato Purple Knots have introduced to the world of complementary dog foods, a treat that is not only visually different with it’s deep purple colour but truly ethical and hypoallergenic.

Free from many common allergens such as wheat, dairy and beef, as well as soya, these meat-free treats are an ideal for dogs that suffer from sensitivities.

Director Darrell de Vries said: “Sweet potato is an amazing source of vitamins, minerals and fibre and well as healthy phytonutrients, but we wanted to challenge ourselves to develop a new premium chew through using plants alone rather than additives and our research led us to purple sweet potato. It aligned perfectly with our product range and technology and has raised the bar again for tasty, nutritious and sustainable dog chews.”

Made from only natural ingredients, Purple Sweet Potatoes are high in anthocyanins, the pigment which provides the rich purple colour to the potato. It’s a natural antioxidant, with anti-inflammatory properties, making them an excellent superfood.

A unique range of pet supplements from Higher Nature brings a friendly but expert approach to the pet nutrition market. 

The clean label products are formulated with all natural ingredients and are free from artificial colours, flavourings and preservatives and include easy dose, flavour-free powders to mix with meals.

Higher Nature, a UK company with over 20 years experience in pioneering nutrition, has been successfully marketing pet supplements for over 15 years. 

The company has applied their expert knowledge to this range of supplements, formulated to support all round wellbeing for all breeds of cats and dogs.  The range, which is available now, features useful re-sealable pouches.

Higher Nature recognises that pets are a much loved member of the family, so need to be kept healthy and happy.  Domestication, living environment and daily diet all play a significant role in a pet’s nutrition, however, it may not always be possible for an animal to get all its daily nutrients from diet alone.

The range combines the best from science and nature for pets’ health and happiness, with essential nutrients for joints and muscles, heart and brain, anxiety and stress, a healthy gut, skin care and general all round nutrition.

In support of the charity Blue Cross for Pets, helping unwanted pets find loving homes, 50p will be donated from the every sale of every product in the UK.

Six products make up the new range:

Vitality

Easy dose powder, to support your pet's joint health. Formula includes glucosamine, chondroitin, green lipped mussel and MSM. Mix in with your pet's food. Ideal for working dogs. (RRP £9.95)

Super Omegas

Perfectly balanced blend of fatty acids for a happy, healthy pet. With sustainably sourced fish oil, borage oil and olive oil for all round support. Snip open to mix in with food. (RRP £9.50)

Super Dog

Food state multi for your dog's all round health. Easily digested and absorbed with 46 vitamins, minerals and amino acids. (RRP £11.50)

Calm

Blend of theanine, tryptophan and magnesium to support pets in stressful situations. Perfect for when they are feeling anxious. Sprinkle or mix in with food. (RRP £9.95)

Balance Probio

Blend of 2 probiotics to help digestive health, boosting friendly bacteria and improving gut function. Sprinkle or mix in with food. (RRP £9.95)

Soothe

Topical, natural aloe vera gel to help soothe irritated and itchy skin. Made with whole leaf aloe for optimal benefit. (RRP £14.95)

Kristina Everest, Trade Marketing Manager, comments: “The combination of innovative formulations, easy dose powders and stand out packaging offers something new and unique for retail”. 

The range will be on show at PATS Sandown on 20-21 March on stand T3.

The range will be supported in store with merchandising units communicating the range benefits, as well as national trade and consumer advertising.

For further information visit www.highernature.com.

Herbal experts Dorwest are celebrating their 70^th birthday in 2017 and to celebrate the company have launched the Dorwest Foundation which will give money to charity each year via profits from their all-round herbal health supplement Keeper’s Mix, and celebratory birthday biscuit Tins!

Comments Jo Boughton-White, MD: “We are extremely proud to launch the Dorwest Foundation, we wanted to ensure our 70^th year was not only a time to reflect on our heritage, but also to look to the future and give something back."

They also have an extra 5% off their usual trade discount for all orders placed at the show, which includes the already discounted introductory offer for new stockists. Plus, all orders placed at the show will receive a limited edition 70-year celebratory Tin!

You’ll also be able to find out more about not one but two new products. Neutradog® and the highly anticipated Turmeric Tablets. Neutradog® is a powerful combination of herbs to help reduce odours within the body. Nasty niffs will be banished as this supplement is perfect for older smelly dogs, bitches in season, yeasty skin and those suffering from bad breath. Plus, Dorwest have searched high and low to find a superior source of Turmeric for their new Turmeric Tablets, and they really have set the golden standard. Containing a pure and high potency of Turmeric, this source contains 95% curcuminoids and is renowned for its purity and full traceability to support the body’s natural anti-inflammatory processes.

So, pop along to Stand C11 and meet their friendly team, chat over trends and what’s new, take advantage of the discounts and join in the celebrations.

www.dorwest.com email becky@dorwest.com or call 01308 897272.

Intersand are celebrating their 25th anniversary and for this special occasion BSB Products are launching a promotion on all 14kg City Classic litter bags over the coming months.

A toy mouse has been added inside each Intersand City Classic litter bag. The 25th anniversary bags can be easily identified as they have a FREE mouse sticker on the top of each bag.

BSB Products are encouraging people to take a photo of their cat playing with the FREE mouse and post it on the Intersand UK & Ireland Facebook page and they will be entered to win a year’s supply of Intersand litter. *Terms and conditions apply, choice between Intersand City Classic or Odourlock range.

Intersand City Classic litter is made from pure, high-performance clay. It’s an affordable premium litter that delivers quality with no compromises! Preventing unpleasant odours thanks to its unique formula and tiny blue granules. Extra-hard clumping makes it easy to scoop. Produces very little dust, which is better for you and your cat’s respiratory systems.

Intersand City Classic range is available in three fragrances Baby Powder, Lavender* and Unscented in 7kg & 14 kg at SRP £8.99 & £14.99 respectively. *Lavender is only available in 14kg

Founded in 1992, Intersand has made it its mission to “improve and simplify animal hygiene through innovation”. This family-owned business is dedicated to offering the finest quality animal hygiene solutions on the market from its state-of-the-art facilities in Boucherville, Canada. Intersand exports to over 30 countries and is considered to be the world’s leading exporter of premium animal hygiene solutions.

For more information contact BSB Products on 01737 488400 or email sales@BSBProducts.co.uk.

The latest in the highly successful ‘Meet the International Buyers’ events organised by the PetQuip and Gardenex associations will take place at the Federation’s head offices in Brasted, Kent on 1 March 2018.

The pet product buyers that have been invited to one-to-one business discussions with British suppliers are a Slovenian pet retailer with online sales and a Latvian importer/wholesaler looking for pet and garden products.

Representing the gardening industry will be buyers from importers/wholesalers from Denmark, Finland and the Netherlands.

The Slovenian company owns retail pet shops and operates a well-established B2C online store.  The company also acts as an importer/distributor and supplies specialist independent pet shops across Slovenia.  The buyer will be looking for innovative products from the UK and is interested in meeting suppliers of semi-moist or moist food. It is also looking to expand into the reptile and ferret markets.  

The other pet product buyer is a Latvian importer/wholesaler that is already well established in the garden sector but is now seeking to expand into the pet accessory market.  The company will be looking for accessories for dogs and cats, as well as training accessories.

To ensure that you don’t miss out on the opportunity to apply for 25 minute one-to-one meetings with any of the buyers on 1 March, or to find out more about future ‘Meet the International Buyers’ events for both the pet and garden sectors, please contact katie-mai@petquip.com as soon as possible.

In 2018 National Pet Month (NPM) is urging pet owners and pet loving businesses to become Pet Care Aware.

Pet Care Aware is a new initiative to bring pet professionals and pet friendly organisations together to help spread the responsible pet care message throughout the year.

This year’s National Pet Month campaign takes place from April 1 - May 7, encouraging pet fans to learn and talk about responsible pet care and raise money for their favourite UK pet charities.

Now, for the first time, alongside NPM, businesses and organisations are being asked to get behind Pet Care Aware – a new initiative allowing the responsible pet care message to carry on more visibly 24/7, 365 days a year, and beyond the charity’s April campaign month.

NPM has a thriving community of more than 100,000 pet lovers on social media through its family of online channels. On Facebook, for instance, National Pet Month, Park Bench and Scratching Post stay live and regularly updated throughout the year.

The Pet Care Aware brand allows pet-friendly businesses and organisations to carry the supporter logo and have their listing on the NPM/Pet Care Aware website, and also allows larger businesses to target pet fans with their messages through sponsorship packages all year round. Proceeds, of course, go towards supporting and developing NPM’s charity aims.

NPM Chairman Michael Bellingham explains: “National Pet Month is a well-known charity which has been encouraging UK pet fans to raise money for UK pet charities for nearly 30 years, but it has always been about so much more than the campaign month of April. Pet Care Aware allows us to be spreading good pet care messages throughout the year and join with fellow pet friendly organisations to build a pet friendly community to be proud of.”

If you’re in business and would like to support the educational charity aims of NPM, you can join the Pet Care Aware family for just £250. For this you’ll benefit from a year’s listing on NPM’s website with a live link to your website, as well as an exclusive electronic supporter badge for your online channels and a window sticker for your premises.

For those Pet Care Aware family members with a bigger budget you can book bespoke campaigns, from a week upwards, with each one enabling you to put your key messages directly in front of 100,000+ social media followers across Facebook and Twitter. Campaigns can even be built to target dog or cat owners specifically through our engaged Facebook communities.

Michael adds: “As an educational charity we spend many hours talking to schools, businesses, fellow charities and other organisations about the importance of responsible pet care, using our Top 10 Tips for responsible pet ownership as a great guide to help the country’s pets stay happy and healthy.

“However, there is still a fair amount of misunderstanding about NPM in that we are an umbrella charity that helps showcase other UK pet charities and our work goes on throughout the year. Pet Care Aware offers us the chance to create a wonderful new family of pet care supporters in the veterinary profession and business community, all with the same key aims – to ensure our country’s pets are receiving the very best care possible.

“At a time when our news channels are all too often filled with dreadful stories of pet deprivation and abuse, it’s more important than ever for us to come together as a community of pet lovers to share the responsible pet care message and declare we are Pet Care Aware. We hope you will join us.”

The only month that can’t be sponsored as part of Pet Care Aware is April, which is reserved for National Pet Month sponsors.

For those interested in sponsoring National Pet Month, campaigns start from as little as £500 up to top line sponsorship of £25,000. Once again, this provides an opportunity to get your message in front of NPM’s social media through daily posts, guest blogs and a variety of tailored press campaigns.

NPM is keen to talk to any businesses who would be interested in becoming a National Pet Month sponsor for this year’s campaign or join the Pet Care Aware community. Please email asha@turquoisetiger.co.uk

Outside of April, Pet Care Aware sponsors can take anything from a week’s campaign upwards, and each one can be bespoke to suit - we can even build your campaign to target dog or cat owners.

Pet Care Aware - because we care about pets all year round.

You’d think that the simple, commonsense thinking behind raw pet food – the avoidance of oppressive man-made heat treatment to create a product with superior taste and nutritional integrity, would mean that there’s little to choose between the growing tranche of ambitious raw pet food providers building this super premium pet category and yet you’d be wrong!

Whilst all the leading raw pet food providers are united in their belief that raw pet food is right because it harks back to an age when dogs were happy hunting and scavenging, the underlying motives behind why each business exists varies considerably.

At Cotswold RAW the overarching principle was always one of supporting the rural economy and giving back to a way of life that both founders adore.    

"Our stance is very much one of championing ‘countryside common sense’ and a vibrant rural economy," explains Mark Lewis (Cotswold RAW MD).

"The fact that our location dominates our brand name underlines our affinity to local farming and a rural lifestyle, helping to provide prosperity and real jobs to a region of the country too often overlooked for business investment and government ‘economic resuscitation’ initiatives.  

"The simple truth is that our success is dependent on the uncompromising brilliance of our local farming network because any recipe is only as good as its ingredients."

Cotswold RAW insists on shopping on its doorstep because such a mindset ensures impeccable ingredient transparency and provenance. 

According to co-founder Chris Brierley, "our essential veg (kale, cabbage and carrots) is grown in Chipping Campden, quite literally behind our enlarged production facility, which means zero packaging and waste since the veg pretty much arrives over the fence on wooden pallets. 

"We’re also lifelong admirers of Martin’s Meat’s award-winning, rare breed Longhorn which provides our beef trim, offal & bones whilst our lamb comes from long-standing Somerset partnership whilst our free-range eggs come from the fantastic Cooper’s Hill operation in Gloucestershire."

In essence Cotswold RAW’s unflinching commitment to its local farming community helps explain why it continues to stand proud of the pack.

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Following a record number of nominations for the second consecutive year, Ceva Animal Health has revealed its shortlist for its eighth annual Ceva Animal Welfare Awards.

The awards celebrate the achievements of remarkable people from the farming, veterinary and charity industries, who go beyond the call of duty to better the lives of animals around the world.  Nominations were submitted by friends, family, clients and colleagues.

Spanning six categories, the shortlist for the 2018 Ceva Animal Welfare Awards is as follows:

Chris Laurence Vet of the Year Award supported by Your Dog and Your Cat magazines

• Catriona Wood, RSPCA Harmsworth Animal Hospital, London
• Hannah Capon, Veterinary Surgeon and Founder of Canine Arthritis Management
• Richard Saunders, Veterinary Advisor for the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund (RWAF)

Vet Nurse of the Year Award supported by Agria Pet Insurance

• Zoe Reeve, Veterinary Nurse at Alder Veterinary Practice in Spalding
• Adina Valentine, Veterinary Nurse at the Grimsby Blue Cross Animal Hospital
• Reuben Allfree, Veterinary Nurse at St James Veterinary Group in Swansea

Charity Team of the Year supported by PDSA

• Hero Paws, Kinkardine, Fife
• The Dog Breeding Reform Group, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire
• Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG), London

Charitable Contribution of the Year supported by Blue Cross

• Mark Thorogood, Fundraiser, Committee Member and Shelter Volunteer at Gozo SPCA
• Kay Robinson, Founder of the Tortoise Protection Group, Cardiff
• Naomi and Gary Wordsworth, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home
• Jenny Bunting, BGOA Retired Greyhound Trust, Haywards Heath, West Sussex

Farm Animal Welfare Award supported by R.A.B.I. and NADIS

• Halton Farms Ltd, Congleton, Cheshire
• University of Nottingham Dairy Herd Health Group, Sutton Bonington Campus, Leicestershire
• Richard Vecqueray, the Evidence Group, Penrith, Cumbria

International Cat Care Welfare Award

International Cat Care will be choosing the winner of this award from its extensive membership base.  The winner will be announced at the awards’ ceremony.

In addition to the scheduled categories, the judges have granted one additional award in special recognition of an individual’s lifetime commitment to animal welfare.

The shortlist for each award was decided following a day of deliberations by a panel of esteemed judges chaired by retired veterinary surgeon, Chris Laurence MBE FRCVS.  Chris has a wealth of experience in animal welfare; he is chairman of the Animal Welfare Foundation, the Canine and Feline Sector Group of the Animal Health and Welfare Board and BVBA (British Veterinary Behaviour Association) and before retiring he was chief veterinary officer at the RSPCA and veterinary director of Dogs Trust. He is also involved in a number of charities and is a trustee of the Pet Blood Bank and the Bella Moss Foundation.

Chair of the judging panel, Chris Laurence, says: “Judging the ever-increasing number of nominations takes a lot of work, just to read them all let alone deciding who should go forward as a finalist.  The standard of nomination improves every year and each is an inspiration to the judges because of the selfless effort put in by each nominee to improve animal welfare, often in the most difficult circumstances.”

Cuneyt Seckin, managing director of Ceva Animal Health, adds: “Year-on-year we are amazed and humbled by the individuals and organisations who dedicate their lives to enhance and improve animal welfare both in the UK and abroad.  We are delighted to be able to honour these people, while highlighting their important work to a wider audience.”

Winners will be revealed and presented with their awards during a glitzy ceremony held in Birmingham ahead of BSAVA Congress on 4th April 2018.  To find out more about the awards visit www.cevawelfareawards.com

In response to Labour's animal welfare plan, which proposes to give tenants the default right to keep pets unless there is evidence the animal is causing a nuisance, Richard Lambert, CEO at the National Landlords Association (NLA) said:

“Around half of landlords say they are reluctant to allow renters to keep pets due to a perceived added risk of damage to the property, and the increased costs of repair the end of a tenancy.

“You can’t take a blanket approach to keeping or refusing pets. The NLA has consistently supported schemes that encourage landlords to take on pet owners, such as the Dog’s Trust’s ‘Lets With Pets’, but landlords should have a right to refuse permission so long as they justify their decision. For example, common properties in the PRS, such as high rise flats or those without gardens, may simply not be suitable for keeping some animals nor beneficial to their welfare.

“However, tenants who keep pets do tend to stay for longer periods of time, and there are a few simple steps that landlords can take in order to mitigate the perceived increased risks, such as by inserting specific clauses and policies into their tenancy agreements”.

The study of 17 research papers by academics at the Universities of Manchester, Southampton and Liverpool, concludes that pets can help people manage their long-term mental health conditions.

Published in BMC Psychiatry, the study reviewed papers on the impact of animals including cats, dogs, goldfish, hamsters and finches on their owners with mental health problems

The team searched 9 databases and looked for unpublished literature which identified 8,145 articles which were screened for inclusion. 17 articles were included in the final review.

The studies found that pets helped the owners to manage their feelings and provided a powerful distraction from the stress of having mental health problems.

The animals were seen as being non-judgemental about their owners and helped alleviate loneliness.

And some pets were seen as helpful in terms of encouraging physical activity such as walking the dog but also allowing them to engage socially with other pet owners.

Even the hamster owner said that merely cleaning its cage and feeding the animal gave her a purpose.

However, though the benefits were clear, some of the qualitative data identified negative aspects of pet ownership as well.

Dr Helen Brooks from The University of Liverpool said: “This review suggests that pets can provide benefits to those with mental health conditions.

However, further research is required to test the nature and extent of this relationship and the range of roles and types of support pets confer in relation to mental health.

Pets by provided acceptance without judgement, giving unconditional support, which they were often not receiving from other family or social relationships.”

Dr Kelly Rushton, from The University of Manchester said: “We feel that pet ownership has a valuable contribution to mental health, so should be incorporated into individual care plans of patients.

“This sort of intervention also offers an opportunity to involve patients in their own mental health service provision through open discussion of what works best for them.”

One of the studies included in the review was their own NIHR-funded study from 2016.

Mr Johnson’s has launched price marked promotional packs of 2.25kg packs of Supreme Rabbit and Supreme Guinea 2.25kg.

This is great opportunity to increase sales or start stocking these best-selling pre-packs. Available from Monday 19^th February.

• Mr Johnson’s Supreme Rabbit 2.25kg price marked @£3.25
• Mr Johnson’s Supreme Guinea 2.25kg price marked @£4.55

Available now from leading wholesalers while stocks last.

For more information please contact Mr Johnson’s on 01476 577670.

The Hokamix crew will be on stand 4-62 at Crufts dispensing help and advice on how to keep dogs in great condition the natural way….and giving 10% off all purchases.

Hokamix has become a password to good health by complementing RAW and complete diets - just like the wild dog adapts his food to requirements in nature supplementing with Hokamix herbs can prevent or improve many ailments.

The Hokamix vet explains…

“The arrival of complete feed in the 1980s brought a lot of convenience to dog owners. But unfortunately the quantity of health ailments connected to food, like extreme moulting or itching, increased also. Food manufacturers try to imitate natural food to anticipate pet requirement.

"But still, despite great care of manufacturers, food connected ailments occur frequently because different nutrients – even in qualitative good ingredients – get lost during manufacturing, or their chemical form changes during the production process (e.g. heating), this may lead to no or difficult absorption in the body of your pet.”

The combination of 30 different herbs in Hokamix has a threefold action to:

• Cleanse the body
• Support optimal metabolism and digestion
• Complement deficiencies in the food

So take advantage of the knowledge of the experts (and 10% off!) on stand 4-62.

Leading Sussex-based raw food specialist Wolf Tucker is set to launch its new cat food recipe called Tiger Tucker.

Wolf Tucker only uses 100% natural ingredients, human grade meat and vegetables sourced from UK suppliers.

The food is made specifically in small batches to maintain the consistency and quality synonymous with the Wolf Tucker & Tiger Tucker brand and the meat used is ethically sourced from Defra approved farms. The food is free from artificial colourings, fillers and preservatives.

The new Chicken and Beef recipe for cats contains 40% Ox Heart 40% Chicken Carcass 15% Chicken Gizzards 5% Chicken Liver Kelp and Salmon Oil. It provides the correct amount of protein, vitamins and minerals to ensure that a cat or kitten maintains a healthy weight, coat and joints whatever its age or activity level.

The ingredients in the recipe have been specially formulated to cater for the needs of a cat. Taurine which is important for a cat’s eyesight is naturally occurring in the meat content of the food. Flax  oil provides the essential fatty acids and omega oils that help to protect the joints and provide a glossy coat and healthy skin.

Kelp is a natural source of nutrients that help to promote a healthy thyroid and is a good source of Vitamin B which helps the cat’s metabolism and provides energy. It also contains Vitamins C and E, magnesium, boron and calcium. Chicken  carcass is a great source of calcium for healthy teeth and bones.

Tiger Tucker is available to buy in 400g convenient BPA free tubs.

Mandy Maidment, Co-founder of Wolf Tucker, said: “We are very excited by this new edition to our range. More and more cat owners are now seeing the benefits of switching to a raw food diet and we believe that this new recipe contains the right balance of healthy ingredients to ensure a long and active life for a cat.”

For further information visit: www.wolftucker.co.uk

Thanks to CSJ dogs can get an energy boost when at shows, working, training or exercising with a new recipe fruit and herbs snack bar.

CSJ’s nutrition experts developed Fruit’n’Mutt knowing that dogs using sustained energy sometimes needed help and ‘extra oomph’.

The crunchy energy bar is convenient to carry and enables the dogs to have a tasty snack part way through their activity without loading them down with bulk or spoiling their feeding regime – it can even be fed as a post-exercise meal when fed within 30 minutes completion of the task.

Easily carried in a pocket to break a chunk off when needed dogs love the taste of the naturally healthy ingredients including jumbo oat flakes, honey, cranberries, devil’s claw root, curcumin and blackcurrant.

Visit www.csjk9.com or call 01745 710470.

With fascinating sponsored speaker sessions, advice and information for practices and some great prizes to be had, Silver Sponsors of SPVS/VPMA Congress 2018, Agria Pet Insurance, had something for everyone attending this year’s event.

Held at Celtic Manor Resort, Newport, between 25-27 January, Agria’s popular speaker sessions were:

• Defining and Transmitting Your Practice Values with Cathie Gregg, and
• Learning from Excellence with Catherine Oxtoby & Carolyne Crowe

The specialist vet team on the Agria stand chatted to delegates about how Agria works with practices – from helping veterinary staff with a claims team of whom 90% hold a veterinary or animal-related qualification, to offering clients up to five weeks free Agria puppy and kitten insurance.

Visitors to Congress were given exclusive access to Agria’s special offer of six months’ half price lifetime insurance – the only type of insurance Agria provides. Lifetime only helps eliminate clients’ confusion about their policy and enables their pets to access the most appropriate treatment, reassured by Agria’s track-record of paying 9/10 claims without quibble.

As well as enjoying a fascinating programme, there were some great prizes to be won at Congress this year. Congratulations to Nikki Deane from Independent Vet Care who was the lucky winner of Agria’s on-stand prize draw and won a fabulous luxury hamper.

And as for the highly anticipated Exhibitor Competition, Agria’s question; ‘Which breed of dog was the most popular in the UK in 2017?’ was correctly answered by Amanda Philo from Avon Lodge Practice. Her answer; ‘French Bulldog’ put her into the running to win a set of small animal veterinary scales and she was drawn to take them back to her practice. Well done Amanda!

Janet Hughes, Head of Veterinary Business at Agria, said: “The SPVS/ VPMA Congress is always a great start to the year. As ever, we were delighted to be a part of an event attended by a whole host of influential names in our industry, sponsor some incredibly insightful speaker sessions and spend time with veterinary professionals to discuss the unique ways that Agria works alongside practices. All in all, a fantastic event!”

To find out more about what Agria can do for your practice, Agria’s Business Development Managers are always able to provide further information. Find out more at: www.agriapet.co.uk/veterinary

A garden centre in Wales has been named as having the Greatest Festive Pets Team for its outstanding display of Christmas pet products and services.

The Old Railway Line at Brecon, Powys, took gold at GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards, sponsored by Gardman, which were presented during Glee at Spring Fair held at the NEC Birmingham this week.

The judges said: "The Old Railway Line has a Christmassy welcome for pets at the front door, a team leader who is knowledgeable and friendly, a very Christmassy pet department and a lovely pet friendly cafe. 

"It's no wonder pet owners in the area flock to The Old Railway Line Garden Centre just as this owner and his dog, who always travels in the sidecar who were coming for pet food supplies and to have a coffee in the pet cafe (see picture below).

"The judges had no doubt in announcing Sarah and her team as The Greatest Pet Christmas Team for 2017."

A silver award was presented to Planters Tamworth and bronze to Frosts Woburn Sands.

A former Barclay Bank in Gloucester has been turned into a pet store.

Angell Pets has moved from its Southgate Street premises in the city to the bank building in Hucclecote.

The Barclays branch in Hucclecote closed in June 2017 as part of a nationwide programme aimed at reducing the number of branches.

According to pet shop owner Richard Angell (right) it took seven people to shift the vault door (pictured below) of the bank.

The premises benefits from a large car park, making costomer access to the new pet store a lot easier.

The deal to obtain the premises was brokered by property consultancy Bruton Knowles.

William Matthews, from Bruton Knowles’ Gloucester office, said: "We helped owner Richard Angell move to the previous location at Southgate and were happy he called us back for this new move to Hucclecote."

For more information about Angell Pets visit www.angellpets.co.uk

Pictures from Angell Pets' Facebook page.

Award-winning product, Pawsecco Wine For Dogs and Cats from Woof & Brew, is proving to be a big hit with giftware retailers attending the massive Spring Fair exhibition at the NEC Birmingham this week.

Pawsecco, which won a New Product Award at PATS Sandown in March, has been a big talking point on social media with owners tweeting about the popularity of the product.

And Pawsecco, and its fellow Wood & Brew product Bottom Sniffer beer for dogs, also appeared on The Apprentice on prime-time BBC1 last year.

Its popularity is continuing with giftware retailers particularly interested in the product on the Wood&Brew stand at Spring Fair.

Steve Tearle, national sales manager at Woof & Brew, said: “It’s the first time the company has exhibited at Spring Fair but the show has been excellent as far as we are concerned.

“Visitors to our stand, particularly from giftware outlets, can see how our Woof & Brew products could do well in their stores.”

Sales of Pawsecco had been excellent in the run-up to Christmas, proving it was a perfect gift for the dog or cat in a family.

Steve Bennett, co-founder of Woof & Brew, said the company was delighted with the response to Pawsecco, and its sales performance had exceeded expectations.

“We will have dispatched more than 250,000 bottles in the build up to Christmas,” said Steve.

Sales of Pawsecco, which is available in White and Rosé, are now running neck and neck with the Woof & Brew’s other big seller - Bottom Sniffer.

The company has a special Valentine's pack, which is Pawsecco and Truffles, and it was examples like this that grabbed the attention of Spring Fair visitors.

Recent research conducted by online florist Eflorist into behaviour around Valentine's Day gifting revealed an increase of bouquets being delivered from pets to people and even people to pets.

Eflorist CEO Laszlo Varga states: "Most people think Valentine's Day is a time when people buy flowers for their other half, but over the past few years, we’ve noticed an increase of deliveries being sent to, or on behalf of a pet. Living proof that it’s not just romantic love that is celebrated at this time of year.”

However, if you are planning Valentine’s flowers to celebrate your furry friend, bear in mind that some flowers and plants can be toxic to animals.

“We frequently have customers enquiring as to whether our bouquets are pet-friendly,” says Laszlo, “and we believe it’s crucial to point out the hazards of particular flowers to domestic animals.”

With this in mind, Eflorist has teamed up with animal welfare charity Blue Cross who have some valuable tips about pets and petals…

“Blue Cross is warning pet owners that some flowers and plants can be deadly to our four-legged friends so to take care if flowers are in the house or garden. Among the most common toxic plants are lilies which can cause kidney failure if eaten by cats. The pollen can rub off easily onto a cat’s fur when they brush past. If they lick just a small quantity it can be very dangerous and a vet should be contacted immediately. African daisy, calendula and nasturtium may be safer alternatives to add to your bouquet.”

Caroline Reay, Blue Cross Vet, says: "A nice bunch of flowers can really brighten up your home, but there are certain plants and flowers that can be harmful, even fatal, to pets. Lilies can be extremely dangerous, even in tiny amounts or by picking up pollen on fur, and should be avoided all together. Other plants such as tulips, amaryllis and begonias can also be a threat if consumed by your dog or cat.

"If you're thinking about sending a bouquet or plant to a pet owner, it’s worth doing some research to make sure the flowers are pet-friendly. If you're worried your pet has eaten something it shouldn't, seek veterinary advice immediately."