Small animals including reptiles and amphibians, fish, rabbits, guinea pigs, mice, gerbils and insects and spiders, are reported to have died in a fire that destroyed the Pet Safari pet shop at Stephen H Smith's garden centre in Pool Road, Otley.

The blaze broke out late on Tuesday night, 18^th July 2017 and led to fire crews from six stations, being sent to the scene.

Richard Coggill, general manager of Stephen H Smith's told the Bradford Telegraph and Argus: "The pet department, unfortunately, suffered very severe damage.

"This has been a tragic occurrence and catastrophic for the owners, they are devastated."

On facebook a Pet Safari staff member wrote: "We managed to save a few animals but many were lost."

The garden centre re-opened on Thursday, but not Pet Safari.

Read the full story at:  http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/15419723.Fifty_firefighters_tackle_garden_centre_blaze/#

Lily’s Kitchen has joined forces with the UK’s leading veterinary charity PDSA to launch an exciting new activity at KidZania UK in Westfield, London where kids learn how to keep pets happy and healthy.

The new joint-branded Pet Wellbeing Centre at KidZania has been created to educate the next generation of pet owners about animal welfare in a fun and engaging way. The UK is a nation of pet lovers, but PDSA research has revealed that 85% of children have never heard about the five animal welfare needs (environment, diet, behaviour, companionship and health) and just 26% have been taught how to care for pets at school.

The Pet Wellbeing Centre includes role-play situations where children learn about the five welfare needs, including good pet nutrition. They can examine real-life animal x-rays and even ‘perform surgery’ on a poorly pet. 

The activity joins the wide range of 60 careers at KidZania, the ‘indoor city run by kids’, designed to both entertain and educate children. These include being a pilot, paramedic, TV presenter or firefighter. The Pet Wellbeing Centre has been introduced following a survey of children visiting KidZania revealed that 79% wanted to see a veterinary activity within the city. It will be run by a pet wellbeing team, ensuring visitors are aware of the five welfare needs and how they can meet them.

In the UK 51% of households own a pet. There are over 5.2 million cat, dog and rabbit owners (24%) who have done no research before buying their pet, so educating families about pet welfare is a key priority. In fact, 70% of children think that people should take a test before taking on a pet.

UK pet food brand Lily’s Kitchen will focus on providing information on pet nutrition and how a balanced diet is key to a happy, healthy pet. Obesity remains one of the top concerns for vets regarding dog welfare – 35% stated that, if not tackled it would be among the biggest welfare issue over the next ten years. Current scientific literatures suggests that around 40% of dogs and cats are now overweight or obese in the UK so, the activity will help educate kids from an early age.

PDSA, the UK’s leading veterinary charity will educate visitors about the five animal welfare needs and give children a “real-life pet surgery” experience.

Henrietta Morrison, founder and CEO of Lily’s Kitchen says: “Pets are a part of the family, yet when it comes to mealtimes we are woefully unaware of what goes into the food we are feeding them and what constitutes a healthy diet for our pets. What KidZania offers us is the opportunity to teach children and parents about the importance of a good diet for their cats and dogs in the most exciting and interactive environment.”

www.lilyskitchen.co.uk

Nicola Martin, PDSA Head of Pet Health and Welfare says: “We know that for many owners they are not ‘just pets’, but treasured companions and a part of the family. However, our PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report shows that many owners don’t fully understand what their pets need for a healthy, happy life. This is leading to serious pet welfare issues such as obesity, loneliness and problem behaviour. Our partnership with Lily's Kitchen and KidZania will allow us to educate the pet owners of tomorrow on the five animal welfare needs and promote the importance of preventive care for pets.”

@PDSA_HQ

Eddie Kemlsey, CEO KidZania UK says: “We are thrilled to be launching this new veterinary activity for kids. So many of our young visitors have pets they love and we want to educate them on how best to care for them, but in a fun and engaging way.”

KidZania London offers four to14-year-olds more than 60 real life activities. Spanning across 75,000 square feet, KidZania is an amazing indoor city built just for kids!  Blending learning with reality and entertainment, each career at KidZania is developed to teach kids essential life skills including financial literacy, team work and independence.

Designed to empower and entertain kids, KidZania gives children the chance to challenge themselves and explore the world of opportunities. If your child has ever dreamt of becoming a pilot, a firefighter or the next award-winning singer, watch the excitement on their faces as they try out real life activities! The concept effectively gives them their first taste of independence and gets kids thinking about what they might want to be in the future.

For opening hours and to book tickets please visit www.KidZania.co.uk

@KidZaniaLondon / https://www.facebook.com/KidZaniaLondon

   
The launch of Selective Naturals treats has been hugely successful. Now manufacturer Supreme Petfoods is riding the crest of the wave and taking the brand one step further by going grain-free. The move follows feedback from almost 700 owners of small pets who gave the concept a resounding thumbs up, with 93% saying they believed that there was a benefit to feeding grain-free.

Marketing manager Claire Hamblion says the findings herald exciting times for retailers, “We’ve never seen such strong support for a product proposition and the need is just not currently being met in the UK, If you thought Naturals were good for business, just wait and see what Naturals Grain Free does!”

The company carried out the online survey in July and found emphatic support for the natural category, with 97% saying they would like to feed natural food which they perceived to be food that included grass or hay, wild or foraged ingredients and plain, simple ingredients.

Asked what made a food for their pet healthy, rabbit and guinea pig owners ranked nutritionally balanced, high fibre and natural as their top three but almost a quarter also included grain-free.

Asked what cereals they would look for in a food, an overwhelming 71% said they would choose grain-free. They also explained their motivations for their choice – 50% of respondents felt that this would be less likely to cause health problems in their pets and 35% felt the food would be easier to digest. Overall, 93% said that they believed there would be a benefit to feeding grain-free.

Perhaps surprisingly, almost one third felt that rabbit foods were too cheap and said they would prefer to pay more for higher quality and 52% said there wasn’t enough choice, showing that there is still plenty to play for in this category.

When asked what ingredients they would like to see feature less often, most stated that they would like to see sugary ingredients and cereals banished from their pet’s food.

Claire Hamblion, Supreme Marketing Manager, says the results could not be clearer, “Based on this feedback we’ve developed a food that really fits the bill. Selective Grain Free is fully extruded and respects the natural diet by being rich in tasty Timothy Hay and garden vegetables and contains no corn or wheat. It’s high in fibre and contains vitamins and minerals for nutritional balance with no added sugars or artificial colours.”

The survey also provided useful data on the demographic profile of the typical rabbit and guinea pig owner. The 25-34 age group was most representative, accounting for almost 40% of respondents, while the 35-44 age group accounted for around one in five. Claire says that retailers need to be aware of the high lifetime value of these pet owners, “We noticed a very high level of multipet ownership, with one in three also owning a cat and one in three also owning a dog. This backs up our previous research and highlights the importance of catering for their needs as a one-stop shop for food for all their pets.”

Retailers are advised to get their orders in for Selective Grain Free, which will be the only grain-free rabbit or guinea pig food available in the UK, as early as possible. Claire says production is already gearing up to meet demand at the company’s Suffolk base, “Selective Naturals treats literally flew off the shelves and we fully anticipate that Grain Free could be even bigger. The evidence is there and retailers can feel confident that by making a big song and dance about grain free that they can encourage some really high-value customers through the door. Everybody wins.”

www.supremepetfoods.com

Pet food company, MPM Products, whose products include Applaws and Encore has agreed a 10-year lease at Trident office scheme, Manchester Airport, it has been reported in the Manchester Evening News.

The company, which has offices in the UK, Australia and the US, is relocating from its Macclesfield head base, taking 10,700 sq ft in the 88,000 sq ft Trident scheme, which is owned by Property Alliance Group.

The move comes after the 2016 private equity investment in MPM Products by ECI Partners.

The deal funds international expansion.

Julian Bambridge, chief executive at MPM Products told the newspaper: “Given our significant international footprint, being so close to the airport is another major benefit for us.”

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/business-news/pet-food-giant-moves-airport--13352679

 

The most hotly anticipated event in the groomer’s calendar, the British Dog Grooming Championship, returns on Sunday 29 October, to see who will be crowned ‘Groomer of the Year’. 

The event takes place at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre, and is organised by the British Dog Groomers’ Association (BDGA), the leading UK trade association for dog groomers.

The lead sponsor for this year’s event is Pet Dandy – a leading producer of ‘smart tags’ which help to reunite lost pets with their owners. Pet Dandy’s tags combine affordable and fashionable designs with simple, mass-market technology. They are proving to be particularly popular in the US, and are just starting out here in the UK. Pet Dandy tags are the perfect impulse buy at retail, and are ideally suited to be sold by groomers & walkers.

Each competitor and visitor to this year’s British Dog Grooming Championship will be able to get hold of their own Pet Dandy tag at the show.

One of the key focuses of the British Dog Grooming Championship is learning. The BDGA will be holding a range of top class seminars and demonstrations at the event over three rooms. The programme will be announced very shortly. This year we will introduce an ‘Education Zone’, which will feature information on courses run by PIF along with helpful tips and techniques. We will also have a representative on hand to answer any of your questions.

It’s no secret that groomers love to shop, and the great news is that the British Dog Grooming Championship will provide trade stand opportunities for dozens of businesses.  Last year saw a record number of trade stands with many having already booked to come back this year. If you would like to book a trade stand at this year’s event please contact lisa.pawsey@petfederation.co.uk – but hurry as space is filling up very fast!

Also returning after such a positive reaction last year is the ‘BDGC Bring and Buy Sale’ where you can bring along any spare/duplicate equipment that you wish to sell on the day.

Further details about the 2017 British Dog Grooming Championship, including competitor information; and seminar and visitor ticket prices, as well as sponsorship and trade stand information, are available from www.petfederation.co.uk; or by telephoning 01234 273933. 

The Premium Pet Grooming brand Charlie And Friends launch their Pet Care products using natural, organic and clinically proven active Prebiotics for healthy skin in pets as well as other clinically proven actives to provide protection against microorganisms on pets.

These products will also soften, soothe and calm sensitive, irritated, dry, itchy and flaky skin as well as controlling odour.

The all natural and organic Pet Grooming Products consist of Prebiotic Luxury Pet Conditioning Shampoo to moisturise, soften and shine.

• Prebiotic Luxury Pet Odour Control Shampoo to deeply cleanse and control odour.  
• Prebiotic Luxury Pet Muscle Ease Shampoo to ease aches and pains in your pet.
• Prebiotic Luxury Pet Grooming Foam, waterless shampoo. Prebiotic Luxury Pet Odour, Bacterial Control Spray, instantly freshens up your pet, home and kills germs.
• Prebiotic Luxury Pet Rescue Balm, a multifunctional pet balm and Prebiotic Luxury Pet Minor Pain Relief Balm, a gentle pain relief.
• Prebiotic Mane, Tail & Hoof Grooming Balm, horse grooming balm.
• Prebiotic Pet Muscle Ease Cooling Gel, to cool pet’s sore muscles.

All the products are professional and multifunctional, gentle, effective and safe for pets.    

Available at www.charlieandfriendsproducts.com and selected grooming boutiques nationwide.

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Ashleigh Butler, the owner of Pudsey, who won Britain's Got Talent in 2012 announced yesterday that he had died.

On Instagram she posted: "I can't honestly believe I am writing these words. My handsome man is gone and I don't know what to do without him."

"My heart is broken and I don't know how I'm going to get through this. It hurts so much that my handsome man has gone and I don't know how I'm going to get through this. It hurts so much that my handsome incredible Pudsey Bear will never be by my side, where he belongs again."

"We only had 11 years together, but they were the best years ever. He was my one in a billion dog that will never be replaced," she said.

Pudsey is thought to have died after having acute leaukaemia. It's reported he was put to sleep.

Ashleigh and Pudsey rose to fame in 2012 winning the public vote of Britains Got Talent.  They went on to perform for The Queen at the Royal Variety Performance.  Then came Pudsey the Dog: The Movie - which featured the voice of David Walliams.

The last time Pudsey competed was at Crufts earlier this year.

MyPetPeople.co.uk, the new website from the Pet Industry Federation (PIF) signposting trusted pet businesses to pet owners, is delighted to announce its sponsorship of the 2017 Dog Friendly Awards.

The annual 'Dog Friendly Awards' recognise, celebrate and reward those businesses and places that go the extra mile for dogs and their owners. DogFriendly has been helping businesses to open their doors to responsible dog owners and giving their members access to the largest, and most up-to-date database of dog friendly places to visit since 2003. The website has 100,000 registered visitors and 40,000 businesses on its site.

MyPetPeople.co.uk is a new website from PIF, which provides pet owners with details of members in their area through a search facility to help users locate their nearest PIF business quickly and easily. The site enables PIF members to showcase their fantastic services to the public, whilst adhering to codes of conducts to ensure that customers have complete trust in the service they are receiving.

Nigel Baker, PIF CEO, commented: ‘The Dog Friendly Awards are an amazing fit for PIF’s new MyPetPeople website. The Awards celebrate our devotion to dogs by highlighting the best dog friendly places and businesses and MyPetPeople taps into our desire to do the best for them, by providing a valuable source of information for pet owners looking to find services for their pets. MyPetPeople is therefore thrilled to be supporting the 2017 Dog Friendly Awards.’

Dog Friendly Founder, Steve Bennett, commented: ‘The Dog Friendly Awards is one of the biggest highlights in our calendar and is our chance to thank the businesses who embrace owners sharing experiences with their dogs. We know these businesses have benefited greatly from the awards previously and that our customers love to be able to be involved in promoting their favourite places. As dog owners word of mouth is one of the most important factors in choosing here to go and where to stay and we see this every day with our members active involvement in providing reviews for both website and magazine.’

The awards are based completely on public nominations, with dog owners (and non-dog owners) voting for their favourite dog friendly places. Votes can be cast by visiting www.dogfriendlyawards.com where voters can choose from a category and simply click the relevant vote button. If their favourite location is not listed, voters can enter their details by clicking the add button on the homepage. The closing date for nominations is 30 September 2017 and the winners will be presented with their awards at The Excel, London during Eukanuba Discover Dogs on 21 October 2017.

PIF members get a free listing on the MyPetPeople website. To find out more about how to become a PIF member and about the range of services that pet businesses have access to, visit www.petfederation.co.uk; telephone 01234 273933;  or email info@petfederation.co.uk