Owners who fail to take action to prevent dog attacks by condoning threatening behaviour - such as allowing their pet to snarl at strangers - could face fines or have their animals seized.

Authorities including the police, council officials and landlords will be able to issue community protection notices to force owners of unruly dogs to tackle their behaviour.

New measures also mean owners could be made to attend dog behavioural classes, keep their dog muzzled or on a lead and have their animals neutered or microchipped.

Owners who fail to comply with an order will face a £100 on-the-spot fine or criminal prosecution, with a maximum fine of £2,500 or £20,000 for businesses using guard dogs.

Fines could be imposed if owners fail to control their animals when let loose in a park, or if they allowed their dogs to chase cats to the point where neighbours were forced to keep them indoors, for example.

Animal welfare minister Lord De Mauley said: "Police and local authorities will now have more powers to demand that irresponsible dog owners take steps to prevent attacks before they occur. This is on top of the tougher prison sentences we introduced earlier this year for owners who allow their dogs to attack people and assistance dogs.”

As part of changes to the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, prison sentences for owners of violent dogs were extended.

They now face a maximum of 14 years for a fatal dog attack, five years for an injury and three years for an attack on an assistance dog.

A wallaby orphaned as a baby has been nursed back to health with the help of Royal Canin's Babydog milk.

After being reared on the Babydog Milk - designed for puppies whose mothers can't produce enough milk - Colin the wallaby has gone from strength to strength and has made the transition to solid foods.

Jan and Stuart Oates reared Colin after his mother's death, and Jan says: "It was a challenge, but he is such a character.  He really thrived on the Babydog Milk, and in fact loved it so much that weaning took a while.  He now eats a bird seed and rabbit flake mix, with exotic fruit, saffron cake and even crisps every now and again.  We are so grateful to Royal Canin for their help, because Colin was quite poorly before we got him onto the right milk.”

Royal Canin retail marketing manager Gemma Duffield says: “We were delighted to be able to help, and are delighted that Colin has done so well.  Feedback in the past has told us that other species have thrived on Royal Canin too, including meerkats, fox cubs and hoglets (baby hedgehogs).”

With bonfire night fast approaching, the RSPCA has issued advice on how to keep pets relaxed at this time of year.

Some tips to help pets feel safe include:

• Using a Sounds Scary! CD to help dogs learn to be less afraid of loud noises.
• Use pheromone diffusers that can help dogs and cats feel calmer.
• Provide constant access to safe hiding places.
• Close windows and curtains and turn on the radio or TV to help mask the sounds from outside and ensure your pets are better able to cope.
• Don’t show anger towards your dog or cat if they appear frightened – this will only convince the animals that there really is something to be afraid of.
• If your pets live outside partly cover the cages, pens and aviaries with blankets so that one area is well sound-proofed. Make sure your pet is still able to look out and provide extra bedding for small animals so they have something to burrow in.
• Always speak to your vet or animal behaviourist for further advice.

The RSPCA's Chief Vetenary Officer James Yeates said: "Countless pet owners will be dreading the run up to bonfire night because of the distress it causes to their animals.

“But there are ways to help your pets get over any fear they may have. Planning ahead and speaking to your local vet about the options available is a great start. Firework phobia is a treatable condition, pets do not have to suffer in misery every year."

Show oganisers should be vigilant and give plenty of notice to people in the area and refrain from setting off fireworks too close to places where animals are, such as farms or zoos.

All bonfires should be checked for wildlife before being lit and should be built near to the time of lighting so there's less time for wildlife to use them as hiding places.

To celebrate the work of resuce centres across the UK, Lily's Kitchen are launching their 'One-for-One' advent campaign.

From the 1st to the 24th December, for every tin of Three Bird Feast sold on lilyskitchen.co.uk, a wholesome meal will be donated to either cats or dogs in need.

Customers can nominate charities that inspire them, and food donations will be sent out daily throughout December.

Henrietta Morrison, founder of Lily's Kitchen, said: "It's really important for us - especially working in the pet industry - to give extra support to all those animals in need at this time of year. We've taken inspiration from our advent calendar to support a different charity each day throughout December.

"We also wanted to find a way to support the smaller charities who don't get the benefit of high levels of publicity and support, but are just as deserving."

Lily's Kitchen has been the UK's number one ethical pet food company since it lauched in 2009 and is the only company to achieve a 100% score in the Ethical Good Shopping Guide.

Dogs will yet again have the chance to visit Santa, have a photo taken and receive a present as Santa Paws is returning to the Manchester Betty & Butch boutique store on the 6th and 13th of December.

With all proceeds going to charity, the event was the first of its kind when it began in 2011. 

General Manager Angel Moore came up with the idea just a week after opening the store: "Being a new business, we had no idea what the initial turnout would be, but by 10am we had a queue around the corner of the shop! 79 dogs visited Santa that day and loved it."

The event was such a success that Betty & Butch were inundated with requests for more days in the run-up to Christmas, so in subsequent years have been running two weekends of Santa Paws.

Each year has been bigger than the last, and most recently the store was turned into a Santa's Grotto with a professional photographer in attendance.

Betty & Butch partner with a different animal charity every year, and rotate just before Christmas to give a much-needed boost to funds.

"Each branch that we open in the future will work closely with charities local to it," says Angel. "We do this for our love of dogs and its very important to us that we continue to help local charities."

This year, all proceeds will go to the Society for Abandoned Animals, based in Stretford, Manchester.

Discount pet store Pet Hut opened its doors in Essex this week, bringing 30 new jobs to the area.

The store was officially opened on Tuesday (October 21st), with mayor of Basildon, Mo Larkin, cutting the ribbon.

Pet Hut - part of the Poundstretcher chain - replaces the former curtains and carpet retailer, Paul Simon, at Pipps Hill Retail Park in Basildon.

Stocking a variety of food and accessories for pets, including cats, dogs and rabbits, the store is located next to sister shop Poundstretcher.

Following the success of Pet Hut sections in Poundstretcher stores, bosses announced plans to open 50 standalone shops.

Tracey Lawledge, store manager, said: “We’re delighted to have opened a fantastic new store for the people of Basildon. Poundstretcher has built an incredible reputation for value and choice since 1981, and it’s hugely exciting to now bring Pet Hut to the shoppers of Basildon.

“What’s equally exciting is the team we have in place to serve Basildon’s customers – we’re extremely pleased to have been able to bring together the kind of staff who are united in putting the customer first.”

Puppy owners and their four-legged friends are invited to a weekly 'Puppy Hour' session at the Woburn Sands Pets Corner Store at Frosts Garden Centre.

Every Tuesday, beginning at 9:30am, Pets Corner experts will be instore with tips and advice.

The session, set up specifically for puppies, also gives owners and their animals the invaluable opportunity to socialise.

Collette Burston, store manager, said: “Puppy Hour was created as we often get new owners coming into our store with a long list of questions and queries about how best to look after their new canine family member.

"Having a designated hour each week, just for puppies and their owners, seemed the perfect answer.

“Local puppy owners can come along and speak to our various experts about everything, from which bed to buy to what food to use. Then, as all puppies will be together with their owners, they can socialise, play and enjoy plenty of cuddles.”

Lucy Ross, head of training at Pets Corner said: “Socialisation is a key process a puppy must undergo to ensure it is happy and confident in its environment. We recommend that owners encourage puppies to be involved in pleasant social interactions including those with other animals. Careful exposure to different situations will also help, for example with traffic, crowds, travelling and household appliances.”

Any visitors attending with their puppies are entitled to 10% off all products purchased in-store during Puppy Hour. (Puppies must be less than 12 months old).

The Ark Hedgehog Heroes BIG Giveaway has captured the nation’s imagination and generosity in an unprecedented way.

Members of the public have been invited to vote for their local hedgehog carers who dedicate their time to caring for sick and injured hedgehogs. 

Ark Wildlife have over £2,500 of specialist hedgehog food to donate to all the carers nominated, and over 10,000 votes have already been cast. The carer with the most votes overall will also receive a gift pack worth £500.

The even runs throughout October and aims to help carers and raise awareness of the plight of hedgehogs at this time of year. Autumn orphans - vulerable baby hedgehogs too small to survive in the wild - add to the number of animals already in care, making it the busiest time of year for those looking after them.


Sean McMenemy, Director of Ark Wildlife, said: "We’ve been proud sponsors of the Ark Hedgehog Heroes BIG Giveaway since its inception and we know from all the letters we receive what a huge help the donations make at this busy time of year.

“As well as financially helping the carers, last year’s event reached over 100,000 people and resulted in hundreds of additional orphaned hedgehogs being brought in to care - young hedgehogs that otherwise would not have survived."

There is still time to vote for a carer or charity of your choice - voting closes October 31st.
                                                                                                                                                                                      

Pets at Home are hosting a series of free pet safety workshops for children in stores across the UK.

The 'My Pet Pals Activity Club' provides children with the opportunity to learn more about how to keep their pets safe this winter.

The workshops will give children hands-on experience of looking after small animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs, as well as advice on how to protect them from harsh weather.

They will also have the chance to learn about how reflective materials work and how to keep their cats and dogs visible during dark evenings with the help of fluorescent coats and collars.

Staff will be on hand to offer information on how to help pets and wildlife cope with Bonfire Night, and as well as completing quizzes and entering colouring competitions, all attendees will receive a certificate and a My Pet Pals promise card for their participation.

Mike Imm, a Pets at Home store manager, said: "As the nights draw in and the temperatures start to drop, just like us, many pets require extra special care to keep them safe and healthy. These workshops will not only be really helpful to children who want to learn about pets, but they’re also a fun and free way to spend half term.

“Pet welfare is extremely important to us at Pets at Home, so we want to equip children or, potential pet owners with as much knowledge as possible about responsible pet ownership.”

The Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association has welcomed new guidance to the pet industry on invasive species from the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD), and says the sector has already been doing much of what's recommended for more than a decade.

The CBD, which has 190 member countries, has issued voluntary guidelines to countries to help them manage risks associated with non-native animals, flora and fauna introduced through the pet sector.

The guidance also urges countries to work in partnership with their pet industries to achieve its goals.

OATA's Chief Executive, Keith Davenport, said: "For more than a decade pet trade associations and their members have been addressing the issue of invasive species by practical actions both on their own and in co-operation with governments. These were highlighted in brochures and a special side event held at recent CBD meetings attended by staff from OATA, PIJAC USA and PIJAC Canada.

"It’s good to see this international convention recognising that the pet industry is not just talking about taking action or deciding plans but has been leading the way in raising awareness that pets should never been released to the wild to its hundreds of millions of customers across the world.

The work of the pet industry was also recognised by Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, who said: “I am grateful for the campaign and wish to work hand-in-hand with the pet industry as an important partner for achieving Aichi Biodiversity Target 9 on invasive alien species.”