The Armitage Good Boy and Good Girl Advent Calendars are once again proving to be a bestseller this Christmas, according to a nationwide survey...

Weekly analysis of EPOS data from garden centres by our sister publication Garden Trade News has shown that the Armitage Good Boy Dog Advent Calendar has been the bestselling Advent calendar in garden centres throughout October appearing as high as No 13 in the GTN Bestsellers Top 50 Christmas Products Chart. 

And last week the Armitage Good Girl Cat Advent Calendar also re-enterd the GTN Top 50 at No 25.

The chart below of the Top 10 bestselling Christmas Pet Products in Garden Centres last week reveals another Armitage Dog Advent Calendar, the Snowman chicken flavoured treat calendar, as the third biggest selling Christmas Pet product currently.

More information about Garden Centre Bestsellers can be found in the GTN Xtra e-mail newsletter at: www.gardentradenews.co.uk

Top 10 best selling Christmas Pet Products in the GTN Bestsellers EPOS data for week ending 27th October 2019.

Grant Rogers, the Managing Director of 3P Enterprise and founder of the Henry Wag pet accessories lifestyle brand has been awarded Small Business Entrepreneur of the Year at the South West regional Great British Entrepreneur Awards ceremony held in Exeter. The Gloucestershire based business owner will now go forward to the national finals being held in London on 21st November.

The Great British Entrepreneur Awards are sponsored by NatWest and celebrate entrepreneurship in Great Britain through a portfolio of products, events and initiatives designed to support entrepreneurs and their ventures. GBEA's mission is to support connect and encourage entrepreneurial minds in Great Britain. Now in its seventh year, the NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards celebrate the hard work and inspiring stories of entrepreneurs, rather than the business’ balance sheet. It is the first time the Awards have held a dedicated regional final in the South West. The finalists at the South West event, held on 24th October, were selected from an initial entry of over 3000 businesses. The award entries were judged by a panel of successful entrepreneurs and businesspeople from across a wide spectrum of British business including Cath Kidston MBE, Justine Roberts CBE of Mumsnet and Jon Wright co-founder of Innocent Drinks. 

Grant Rogers started his business in 2002, building wooden dog kennels in his garage and a website to sell them from. To grow the business, Grant sourced and imported pet products from US manufacturers and, in 2007, secured the UK distribution rights for the Petmate brand which he began selling to other retailers. In 2013 Grant began developing his own Henry Wag range of pet accessories to develop products to meet the needs he experienced as a dog owner living in a rural location. Grant designed the Henry Wag product range to remove the barriers to a more active outdoor life by offering cleaning and drying solutions for active dogs and their owners and consists of a selection of highly absorbent microfiber towels, drying gloves and absorbent dog coats, car protection and pet travel products.

The award from GBEA adds to an amazing year for the business. The Henry Wag brand won Pet Product of the year at the Petquip trade association awards in September for the Drying range of products, adding to the new products showcase award at PATS Sandown 2019 for the Dog Drying coat. In addition, the brand featured on the BBC's show The Customer is Always Right where the Henry Wag Noodle Glove Towel won over a panel of consumer testers to receive first place and the coveted winner’s trophy.  

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After collection the award, Grant commented, "Winning the trophy was a real surprise for me, especially given the strength of the other finalists. It's great to be recognised by some amazing people on the judging panel, but much of the credit must go to our team, our customers and our suppliers which have made this journey possible. I made it an objective at the start of this year to put our products and business forward for some awards with the aim of raising the profile of the business and achieving some recognition of what we are doing here at 3P Enterprise and in particular with the Henry Wag brand," continued Grant. "If we were to lift the trophy at the national event in London next month it would be an amazing achievement for us all."

Experts in raw, natural and freeze-dried pet food True Instinct, has introduced a ‘High Meat’ kitten product line to its premium range of dry, complete cat food.

High Meat Cat and Kitten offers irresistible dry food, made from the finest cuts of free-range meat, nutritionally blended with 20 superfoods, vegetables, vitamins and minerals. The range is grain, gluten and cereal free with no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives; all complete, balanced and veterinary approved.

Free-Range Chicken for kittens offers delicious high meat biscuits perfectly shaped for young cats, with no added sugar. Made from premium-quality, boneless meat, combined with a select blend of natural fruit and vegetables to provide essential nutrients to support optimal growth and development, strong bones and teeth, and a healthy immune system. High Meat kitten comes in 400g bags at an RRP of £4.29.

Also new to the range are three ‘High Meat’ cat products, which will be replacing True Instinct’s Raw Boost range for adult cats. The range consists of Free-Range Chicken, Turkey with Duck and Salmon and Tuna.

Reported benefits of the nutritious products include muscle mass maintenance, support for cats’ immune system, brain and vision development. The ‘High Meat’ cat range comes in 300g and 1.5kg bags at an RRP of £2.99 and £17.99.

To celebrate the launch of the new products, True Instinct is offering discounts across the range.

True Instinct specialises in a complete and balanced range of natural raw and raw-inspired products. Its varied products offer nutritional, complete and balanced frozen raw, freeze-dried raw, dry and high meat fillets for both cats and dogs.

For more information about True Instinct High Meat cat range please visit https://www.trueinstinct.co.uk  

Retailers wanting to find out more information about True Instinct and its range can emailinfo@naturesmenu.co.uk phone 0800 0183770 or visit trade.naturesmenu.co.uk.

By registering for a trade account, retailers can gain access to hassle-free online ordering, great value freezer deals and point of sale, plus free training and the option to become a qualified Raw Advisor.

Lord Zameer Choudrey CBE SI Pk, Chief Executive of Bestway Group, and Dawood Pervez, Managing Director of Bestway Wholesale, both the parent companies of Bestpets, presented a cheque for £100,000 to charity Save the Children.

The funds were raised through Bestway’s annual Ascot Charity Race Day held in the summer which was attended by over 800 people this year, including Bestpets team members and suppliers and is Ascot’s biggest corporate events.

Over 20 charities have benefited from funds raised through the event since it began in 1994, including Save the Children who first became associated with the Bestway Foundation as the chosen charity in 2004. Save the Children was chosen for a second time this year in recognition of the support the fund provides to children in need of education, health care and economic opportunities across the Globe.

Save the Children’s Partnerships & Philanthropy Director Sayyeda Salam commented on the donation: “We are incredibly grateful that Save the Children was chosen as the beneficiary for Bestway's 2019 Royal Ascot Charity Race Day. It was a huge honour to be invited to be part of this prestigious event for the second time marking Save the Children's 100th year. Thanks to the generosity of Bestway and their guests the day resulted in an amazing donation of £100,000 that will make a real difference to help us support children in the greatest need both in the UK and globally across education, healthcare and disaster relief. We look forward to further building our partnership with Bestway.”

Since 1987, Bestway Group has donated in excess of £14.8M to Bestway Foundation in the UK.  Each year the company hosts a charity race day at Ascot to raise funds for charity and this event is now in its 27^th year. The event was attended by 800 of Bestway’s suppliers, employees, trade press and members of Save the Children; the benefiting charity.

This donation and cheque handover also follows the appointment of Zameer Choudrey to the House of Lords just last month, partly in recognition of his wide array of philanthropic work in the UK and overseas. The Ascot Charity Race Day annual event is just one of the ways that Lord Choudrey and Sir Anwar Pervez, founder of Bestway Group, have supported causes in need.

Lord Choudrey added: “We are delighted to support the work of Save the Children for the second time – made even more special by the fact it’s the charities big 100^th year anniversary this year. The Annual Ascot Charity Race Day is just one of the ways that Bestway Foundation gives back to people in need and we are very grateful to our supplier partners and colleagues for supporting this annual event and donating generously to ticket purchases, the Charity Auction, Tombola and other fundraising activities back in June.”

Pictured (L to R): Dawood Pervez, Managing Director Bestway Wholesale, Stefania Battistelli - Senior Programme Manager, Asia Save the Children; Tim Pinnock – Senior New Business Manager Save the Children; Sayyeda Salem - Director, Partnerships & Philanthropy Save the Children; Lord Zameer Choudrey CBE SI Pk, Chief Executive of Bestway Group, Tamsyn Hanrahan – Head of New Partnerships Save the Children.

The donation of £100,000 will enable Save the Children to support almost 400 children and their parents living in poverty in the UK, by providing the tools to help their learning at home, which they simply can’t afford. This includes educational toys, books, essentials, such as a table or a bed and advice and guidance for parents to engage in their child’s learning.

Dogmatic has been voted Most Innovative Dog Collar Manufacturer in the prestigious LUX Pet Product and Services Awards for the second year in a row.

For more than 18 years Dogmatic has been producing the award-winning headcollar that offers full control but is safe and gentle.

Designer Susan Lewsley has had back, leg and neck pain for 28 years due to disc/nerve problems and arthritis resulting in nine major back operations and two major neck operations plus arthritis in her hands. She has had her spine rebuilt from pelvis to neck.

This meant she could no longer walk or even hold the dogs she had loved and shown for many years, which was an upsetting change in her life. She and her family had kept Dobermanns for 26 years and enjoyed showing them. They were using the known makes of Headcollars but found, not only did they not stop them pulling, they were all rubbing and riding up into their dogs’ eyes and they had even managed to get them off.

As such, Susan and her daughter Zoe worked with a local saddler who created a range of prototypes, which the pair trialled to create a solution that would help Susan to walk her dogs again in comfort.

Over the years the prototype headcollar has since evolved into the present design and the finished product not only is comfortable but does not ride up or go near the dog’s eyes. It works on all breeds/sizes of dog and ensures your dog will immediately follow where you want to lead.

Seeking to build upon the success of the Dogmatic brand, Zoe and Susan will continue to work to ensure that their solution meets the needs of today’s dogs and their owners over the coming years so that they can continue to enjoy safe and comfortable interactions.

Lily’s Kitchen brought to life the ‘House of Treats’, a free and fully interactive pop-up event in London’s Belgravia, where dogs pinching socks from the laundry, leaping into a pile of leaves, and chilling on the sofa while snacking on their favourite treats was not only allowed, but applauded.

The pet food company welcomed over 120 pups from London and across the country to the interactive dream home for dogs designed to bring four-legged friends (and their human family) happiness and joy. Designed to drive awareness and celebrate the launch of the brand’s new Proper Treats range, the event was an instant sell out and resulted in even more pet parents falling in love with the brand.

Dogs of all shapes and sizes took centre stage as they journeyed through five dog-themed spaces each designed to match one of the new Proper Treats flavours, including:

• Petflix & Chill – The ultimate doggy den where four-legged friends could relax on the sofa, watch canine-friendly films and chomp away on their favourite telly treats.
• Put a sock in it – A specially-created laundry room featuring socks, socks and more socks!  Socks in the washing machine, socks in the laundry basket and strings of socks on washing lines. We dared those cheeky woofer’s to pinch a few!
• Tummy Time – This mini dog spa offered proper pampering for pets and featured doggy bath robes and slippers, a puppy-massage bed, and an expert dog masseuse. Canine visitors could take their pick of paw, tummy, back or hot bone massages.
• Bubble Bath – Bath time is fun time, and this bubble and ball-filled bathtub made the dogs want to dive right in. Shower caps and squeaky rubber ducks were included.
• Bark in the Park – Dogs enjoyed an autumn wonderland equipped with a wheelbarrow full of Proper Treats! Pups were encouraged to jump, dig and roll in a pile of leaves to their heart’s content.

Due to popular demand, Lily’s Kitchen extended the event and released additional bookings which sold out again within hours. Walk-ins were also welcome and many keen pet owners showed up to join the fun, nearly doubling the number of dogs who attended.

Comments Henrietta Morrison, Founder of Lily’s Kitchen “Our dogs are more than just pets, they’re an intrinsic part of our families, which is why we created a house that was specially designed to bring them lots of fun and happiness. It was quite a bold idea, and some people thought we were mad, but we’ve proven as a nation of dog lovers, we love to treat them and will go the extra mile to bring joy to our four-legged family.”

“We’ve been blown away by all of the interest and positive feedback from both the event and our new range of Proper Treats. The house was a wonderful way for us to connect with pet parents and it truly brought our Proper Treats to life in a very special and unique way. From dogs in the lounge watching squirrel movies on ‘Petflix’ to rollicking in the soft play bath with bubbles, the event left dogs to their own devices and allowed them to enjoy little moments of joy with their human family… and we all certainly enjoyed watching them get stuck in with many hilarious antics.”

A professional photographer onsite took photos of canine guests in each room which were specifically constructed to be highly Instagrammable, and blue-toothed them to guests for social sharing using the hashtag #lilysmoments.

Doggie houseguests also got to take home the new range of Proper Treats to carry on the experience at home. Packed with proper meat and made to a grain-free and gluten-free recipe, the five delicious flavours which launched this month, includes Chomp-Away Chicken Bites, Scrumptious Duck and Venison Mini Sausages, The Best Ever Mini Beef Burgers, The Mighty Duck Mini Jerky and Simply Glorious Chicken Jerky.

Hill's Pet Nutrition has introduced a fresh new look for Hill’s Science Plan dog and cat range. The updated range has a fresh new look with the same great nutrition and is available now.

A new pack design makes it even easier for pet parents to identify the variety of products available. The new design offers an updated look, with a strong pet image focus on the pack, perfectly suited to engage and connect with consumers. The update includes simplified, easy to understand, product names to improve readability as well as new kibble shapes1 which are reflected in actual size on the packaging, essential, particularly for smaller breeds. To make the shopping experience even easier, clear flavour profiles and breed sizes are included on all bags.

The harmonised product range will also be in new optimised bag sizes[1] for more convenient feeding for pet parents. Small and Miniature and Mini dog foods have been combined into a new Small & Mini product, designed to cover the needs of all small dogs under 10kg.

Hill’s Pet Nutrition believes that lifelong health starts with science and through decades of understanding pet biology Hill’s knows what dogs and cats need to live a long and healthy life. The biology-based nutrition of Hill’s Science Plan has an optimised selection of ingredients and nutrients that gives pets exactly what they need at each life-stage.

For more information including the full product range and benefits visit: https://www.hillspet.co.uk/science-plan/new-look.

Wiltshire-based raw pet food manufacturer, Poppy’s Picnic, marked its third birthday last month by holding a tea party with the residents of Dauntsey House Care Home in Devizes.

Residents of the care home were treated to a slice of intricately designed birthday cake featuring the company’s CED (Chief Executive Dog) Poppy, a Miniature Schnauzer, enjoyed lap cuddles with Poppy herself, and had chats with the Poppy’s Picnic team.

Poppy’s Picnic has had a long standing relationship with Dauntsey House, having previously held a summer tea party for residents at its Houndquarters. Some of those that attended the first gathering remembered the visit fondly and were glad to see Poppy and team again.

Poppy’s Picnic Founcer, Dylan Watkins said, “We couldn’t think of a lovelier group of people to share our birthday cake with. We’d be nothing without the support of our community and it’s important to us to give back. Some of the residents had close relationships with their own pets and miss them greatly. They really appreciated the opportunity to not only talk about their memories, but to experience the joy of having a dog at their feet and in their lap again. We were more than happy to share the joy, and the cake!”

In three years Poppy’s Picnic has firmly put Melksham on the map. Dylan and his team have appeared on Dragons’ Den, This Morning and Couples Come Dine with Me. The company has won multiple national awards from the likes of NatWest and Rural Business Awards. Its five star food has led to a large and loyal following. Next up for the company is a move to eco-friendly packaging and a new local production facility that will enable them to extend their ranges.  

For further information on Poppy’s Picnic visit: www.poppyspicnic.co.uk

Essential Foods has launched its new Highland Living range, which is free from white potato as well as chicken, grain and rice, and is looking to expand its stockiest network.

Natasha Bujnoch, UK Country Manager for Essential Foods, said: “The Highland Living range is made with a whole 79% of fresh and dried Norfolk Black Turkey, Aberdeen Angus beef, pigeon/partridge/duck, egg and Scottish salmon. It is UK sourced, of course, as well as being produced here.

“Highland Living is a Behavioral Optimizing Foods (BOF) just like the rest of our meals. BOF ensures the stability of your dog’s sugar levels. 

“At Essential Foods we have achieved just that with our life-changing and award winning foods, and the results with BOF are breathtaking.

“Serving Essentials positively will affect the mental balance of your dog. Some report seeing a dramatic transformation in the behaviour, others note a smaller change – however, improvement is always recorded.”

Highland Living is available in 3kg bags (RRP: £13.98) or 12kg bags (RRP: £55.95)

Essential Foods is currently expanding its stockist network. If you’re interested get in touch by email service@essentialfoodsgb.co.uk or call 075 0000 6358. Visit www.essentialfoodsgb.co.uk

Award-winning pet accessory company, Dogrobes is set to launch a new 2020 calendar which it hopes will help to raise vital funds for a new pioneering charity that provides assistance dogs for families where a person has a diagnosis of dementia.

The company will also be supplying one of its practical dog drying coats to every dog that qualifies as a Dementia Assistance Dog once they have completed their training.

The Dementia Dog Project is a collaboration between Alzheimer Scotland and Dogs for Good, combining professional expertise to pilot and develop new services for people living with dementia. The project is funded by charitable donations and explores how trained dogs can help people live well with dementia - both at home through their assistance dog programme, and to promote independent living through their community dog therapy programme.

Dementia Assistance Dogs receive two years of specialised training and are then placed full time at home, where one person is living with an early stage diagnosis of dementia and lives with their full-time carer. Following a successful match to an applicant family, the charity then tailor the dog's skills to their specific needs, providing highly tailored assistance to help support their daily routine of waking, eating, taking medication, exercise, socialisation and sleeping patterns.

Margaret Reynolds, owner of Dogrobes decided to get involved in the Dementia Dog Project following the death of her father who suffered with Alzheimer’s. She saw how much her Toy Poodle, Missie had helped him through the difficult days and the project struck a chord with her.

She said: “I knew Dogrobes could make a difference to the day-to-day lives of the carers and the dogs and we wanted to help. Using Dogrobes would save the carer time drying the dog and cleaning up the wet, muddy shake off, as well as providing a talking point. Plus the dogs would be warm and dry in no time!

“We have now provided all the Dementia Assistance Dogs with Dogrobes but when we found out the future of the project was at stake due to lack of funding, we knew we had to do more. So, we have made The Dementia Dog Project our charity of the year for 2019/20 and decided to produce a charity calendar to raise even more funds. We asked our customers and followers to send in photos of their dogs for a competition and the winning dogs are featured on each page of the calendar.”

Fiona Corner, Project Manager for Dementia Dogs says: “Daily routines can be a secure anchor for families as the condition progresses; the dog acting as a household reminder can really help take some weight and worry off partners and carers. We have also seen how the dog can help families start each day with a smile, and help them cope and feel more resilient to the daily challenges associated with living with dementia. We are absolutely delighted to receive this generous support from Dogrobes which will help to keep this worthwhile and vital project going.”

The Dementia Dog Project is currently being piloted in central Scotland and three other areas in England (Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire and Oxfordshire).

The Dementia Dog calendar is A4 (page a month), made from quality, heavyweight paper with a sturdy card backboard and features 26 winning dogs. The cost of £7.95 (2 for £14) includes post and packing. All profits* will go to The Dementia Dog Project. The calendar is only available from Dogrobes http://bit.ly/Dogrobes-2020-Charity-Calendar or by calling 0800 151 3188. Dogrobes are hoping to raise thousands of pounds for the charity and by all accounts it’s going to be a sell-out!

* £5.50 from every calendar sold. The only costs deducted are for design and print, post and packing.

Pictured: Nadia Sutherland (Dementia Specialist), Fiona Corner (Project Manager)  and Margaret Reynolds Owner of Dogrobes with Assistance Dog Alex.

Global pet product expert, PetSafe Brand has announced it is introducing three new dog and cat toys to its popular Play & Challenge range in time for pet Christmas gifting season. 

The additions highlight the business’ continued focus on both the category and pet tech and include the first electronic dog toy since the Automatic Ball Launcher, the new Ricochet Electronic Dog Toys.

Every Play & Challenge toy is designed to redirect bad behaviours like chewing and jumping into positive play, keeping pets busy while also challenging them mentally to keep them actively engaged and alert. The toys are suitable for all pet ages and come in a range of sizes.  

The following new additions are available to consumers this month from the PetSafe Brand website and other selected retailers:

For dogs:

Ricochet Electronic Dog Toys, RRP £34.99 – an innovative addition to the range, these two electronically paired, Bluetooth enabled toys offer an irresistible squeaking sound. As the dog plays with the first toy, the second toy squeaks, with the sound alternating between each toy. The game stimulates dogs’ hunting instinct and continues as long as they play, automatically shutting off after 30 minutes.

Ribinator Treat-holding Toy, RRP from £6.99 – this treat-holding toy is tough enough to hold up to even the most determined chewers. Each of the toy’s rounded rubber tubes features a Treat Meter™ that can be filled with treats pet owners already have at home such as sticks, dry treats, moist treats and kibble. Treats such as peanut butter and soft cheese can also be spread to the exterior of the toy or owners can decide not to add any treats at all, although they do make the toy even more enjoyable. Available in three sizes, this toy is guaranteed to give dogs hours of fun.

For cats:

From late November 2019: PetSafe™ Peek-a-Bird™ Electronic Cat Toy, RRP, £29.99 – this automated, motion-activated cat toy features an irresistible feather teaser that peeks out and shakes and then disappears. The toy has a Play All Day mode where its motion sensor will awaken the toy if a cat walks by and the toy automatically wakes up every two hours for unexpected fun.

Rob Steele, Marketing Manager, PetSafe® Brand, said: “Play & Challenge continues to be a central focus for our business and we’re constantly looking for ways to innovate to help engage and stimulate pets in new and exciting ways. We’re so pleased to be launching these three new products and are looking forward to hearing the feedback they receive from pet owners.”

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A dog owner was left "crying her eyes out" after being told her pet dog might have to be put to sleep, after eating a bone she bought him from a bargain store.

Emma Porcu, 30, told the Liverpool Echo she bought her dog, Toro, the bone as a treat but claims the three-year-old's health dramatically deteriorated hours after he ate it.

She claims after taking him to the vets  for x-rays she was told splinters from the bone had became stuck in his intestine and it would be too dangerous to operate on.

To read the full story click here

FirstVet (www.firstvet.com), the Swedish startup which provides pet-owners with on-demand video consultations with local, qualified veterinarians, has closed an €18.5M Series B funding round led by London-based OMERS Ventures, which earlier this year launched a €300 million fund aimed at European technology startups. Early-stage venture capital firm Creandum (early backers of Spotify), which previously led FirstVet’s Series A, participated.

The funding will enable FirstVet to expand its service globally, with the company looking to launch in other markets, such as the United States, Germany, and France. In addition, FirstVet will continue to develop its product and introduce new features to improve the experience for pet owners and vets alike, such as new automation tools and integration with clinics’ existing systems.

This latest round of financing, which will see OMERS Ventures’ Principal Henry Gladwyn assume a board position, takes FirstVet’s total funding to-date to €24.5M.

Founded in 2016 in Stockholm, Sweden, FirstVet is revolutionising pet care through the facilitation of on-demand video consultations with highly qualified, registered veterinarians. With a presence in five markets (the United Kingdom, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and its native Sweden), FirstVet has more than 200,000 registered users and has helped over 150,000 pets since launching in 2016.

FirstVet has successfully increased efficiency within the veterinary industry by being the first independent point of contact for pet owners who are worried about their pet’s wellbeing. Through partnerships with over 20 major insurance companies across all markets, including with Bought By Many in the UK, the FirstVet service is free-of-charge for millions of pet owners, and helps to address the issue of widespread veterinarian shortages. There are currently 150 veterinarians on the platform, with this number growing continually.

“FirstVet is the first truly neutral stakeholder in the world to coordinate pet care. In what is a highly privatised industry, our reliable service provides value to the entire sector, and we are growing at an incredible rate,” says FirstVet CEO and co-founder David Prien.

“We’re hugely excited to partner with OMERS Ventures as we have been actively looking for a partner which not only shares our core values but who can support our long-term vision to improve the animal care process for all stakeholders. Being the VC arm of the OMERS pension plan means that OMERS Ventures operates with a long-term vision of value creation, and has a fantastic track record in partnering to transform great companies into market influencers. Together we can continue implementing our ambitious plans while simultaneously improving the global veterinary industry.”

FirstVet is passionate about improving the vet industry, and holds a unique position in which it delivers value to all key stakeholders: pet owners, veterinarians, clinics, and insurance companies:

• For pet owners, FirstVet helps to reduce stress, time, and unnecessary travel and money. Opening hours fit around their busy lifestyles, while consultation rates are, on average, 60-70% cheaper than the starting fee for a physical veterinary consultation. FirstVet has a customer satisfaction rate of 99.4%.
• FirstVet presents a new, flexible, and well-compensated way of working for veterinarians, allowing them to meet pets in their home environment, and at times that fit around their own schedules.
• FirstVet acts as an increasingly important and natural supplement to clinics, which benefit from higher-quality referrals so that they can focus their care on pets that require urgent attention. Insurance companies are given insights into the care process and costs.

“At OMERS Ventures, we invest in and partner with the best and brightest entrepreneurs and teams in tech to build a prosperous future, so FirstVet is the perfect fit for us,” comments Henry Gladwyn, Principal at OMERS Ventures. “It’s rare for a startup to provide genuine value to the entire ecosystem in which it operates, with FirstVet quickly becoming an irreplaceable service for pet owners, and a trusted partner for vets, clinics, and insurance companies. FirstVet has ambitions to become the global leader in on-demand video veterinary appointments, and we are delighted to be on board to help them achieve this goal.”

“FirstVet’s success, evidenced by its fast growth and user love, is the result of the company’s ability to provide an exceptional and much-appreciated service to pet owners,” says Staffan Helgesson, General Partner at Creandum. “FirstVet is already conquering the Scandinavian and UK markets and we’re thrilled to continue to be part of their journey.”

Leading pet food brand, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, will be returning to the London Vet  Show this year, offering veterinary professionals the opportunity to learn about their brand new product, Prescription Diet Gastrointestinal Biome.

The London Vet Show will be at EXCEL London on 14th and 15th November 2019. The two-day event will feature more than 200 internationally-renowned speakers, delivering 100+ hours of accredited CPD, as well as providing vets from across the UK the opportunity to have some fun heading into the festive season. 

Hill's Pet Nutrition is focused on the gastrointestinal microbiome this year, and has launched the revolutionary Hill's Prescription Diet Gastrointestinal Biome with ActivBiome+ technology. Hill’s nutritionists and veterinarians are at the forefront of pet GI microbiome research, and after many years of work, have developed a formula that uses the power of the pet’s own microbiome to support digestive health and well-being. Visit them at stand F25 to learn all about Hill's Prescription Diet Gastrointestinal Biome with ActivBiome+ technology. There is also the opportunity to take part in an interactive photo experience and win prizes including high-street dinner vouchers, cupcakes and Hill’s branded soft toys. 

During the show visitors can also join Andrew Kent, European Veterinary Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine, as he takes a look at the role GI microbiome plays in normal gut function, and what happens when patients develop gastrointestinal disease. The informative talk will take place on 14th November, 1pm-2pm at the RVC Clinical Theatre 3.

The London Vet Show, in association with the Royal Veterinary College and the British Veterinary Association is a two-day conference-led exhibition for veterinary professionals, offering world-class CPD and access to Europe’s largest veterinary exhibition of over 450 leading suppliers. 

Trade associations from across the globe have issued an open letter to the CITES Secretariat expressing their concern about the rushed timetable and lack of robust inquiry being proposed to study the trade and conservation of marine ornamental fish.

Ornamental Fish International, the Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association, the European Pet Organization and Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (USA) have banded together to highlight their areas of concern over what is being proposed by CITES. 

The open letter, which has also been sent to a wide variety of interested companies, academics and non-governmental organisations across the world, outlines the main concerns with the approach being advocated by CITES, which would see background studies into trade completed within a matter of months with a workshop then scheduled by the end of next year and proposals to reach the Animals Committee by mid-2021.

“The global ornamental aquatic industry is eager to support the recently agreed CITES initiative on the conservation of and trade in marine ornamental fish. We can help to provide the provision of good quality, up-to-date baseline data that is not currently available,” said OATA’s Chief Executive Dominic Whitmee.

“This will help ensure effective and well-considered solutions to support a long-term and sustainable future for the industry. We are concerned that this valuable opportunity could be lost if the process is hurried as is being suggested. We could not support this as it risks poorly considered outcomes that do not deliver truly sustainable conservation solutions. We believe that, as the global authority on fisheries management, United Nations FAO should be integral to delivery of this initiative.”

The open letter states: “The global trade is highly complex, made up of an enormous number of very small, widely dispersed artisanal fisheries across many countries, trading in over 2000 species from a wide variety of habitats, through numerous small and medium sized businesses via complex supply chains. It is low impact, low volume and high value. When managed well it can provide a net biodiversity and economic gain in some of the world’s poorest countries. This small scale and the diverse nature of the trade can mean that, whilst there may be questions over the sustainability of stocks in some areas, it does not necessarily mean those issues exist elsewhere for the same species. The task set by COP18 is therefore a huge endeavour and we must not underestimate the substantial effort that will be required from all parties involved if we are to achieve useful and beneficial outcomes.

“However, from information presented to and comments made during COP18, it is clear that there is a deep lack of understanding of the marine ornamental fish trade.

“We do not believe that rapidly prepared background studies, as has been proposed, will be able to demonstrate an accurate picture of the global trade. Official data does not contain sufficient depth to identify species in trade and is often inaccurate. For example, it suggests that Spain is a major exporter of marine ornamental species when in fact there is little to no trade from there - possibly a case of incorrectly recording marine food fish as marine ornamental fish. This data cannot therefore be relied on to provide a good baseline to describe the global trade.

“Data from academic/scientific reports is, on the whole, out of date (by 15-20 years) and does not accurately reflect current trade patterns. The results from these studies are often based on incorrect assumptions about the trade and unsound data extrapolations, ultimately resulting in outcomes that do not reflect the real world trade (which changes according to changing demand) and in misleading or inappropriate conclusions.

“We cannot support any approach that prioritises administrative expediency over good baseline data and a constructive approach to decision-making. We do not therefore support it.”

However, the global trade bodies do welcome the idea behind the proposal – to build a better understanding of the trade in marine ornamental fish, provided it is done well using reputable and independent organisations experienced in doing this kind of research. The open letter adds:

“We are keen to identify outcomes that can secure a long-term sustainable trade and, as we have stated both at the COP and since, we are eager to work in partnership with key intergovernmental organisations, such as the UN’s Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO), WCMC and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to ensure this. We therefore offer our support and cooperation and the input of our member businesses to work with these organisations and CITES in defining a trade data collection method that can engage, and be supported by the global industry and ensure the delivery of sound baseline data for future decisions.”

Read the open letter in full here.

The nail-biting and long-anticipated final of CSJ’s ‘A Way with Dogs’ sheepdog trial Series 2 hits the airwaves on Thursday morning 7^th November on www.youtube.com/c/CSJSpecialistCanineFeeds  

Showing three world-renowned handlers and their amazing dogs fighting it out in the beautiful Welsh countryside to win the prestigious title of ‘A Way with Dogs’ Champion 2019 and much prized trophy this is gripping viewing for everyone interested in dogs.

Winning through from amongst fifteen acclaimed handlers from as far afield as the USA the eventual three finalists were:

• Aled Owen with his dog Llangwm Cap
• Neil Gillam with his dog Sweep
• Ricky Hutchinson with his dog Jock

Videos of the 5 qualifying trials with 15 runs and 2 double gather Semi-Finals with 6 runs have been released at 2 weekly intervals during the summer, starting with group 1 on 1^st August.  There is full information about the series and people involved plus fascinating in-depth interviews with each contender discussing their background in sheepdogs (and sometimes revealing training secrets!) with the well-known breeder and enthusiast Paddy Fanning on www.awaywithdogs.co.uk

Country-loving TV presenter Bryony Billson introduces the episodes and competitors with sheepdog trainer and handler Mike Northwood giving insightful and unbiased observations during each run.  Then it’s time to see the scores from experienced judges Andy Jackman and Sue Main, both of whom have judged all over the world and … in the final … the announcement of the ‘A Way with Dogs’ 2019 Champions.

Ceri Rundle, CSJ’s founder said, “My husband Phil and myself are delighted to have been able to put something back into the sport I grew up with and love.  Series 1 was so popular that we were inundated with requests for this second series and we were thrilled to have been able to attract such a stunning group of world-class challengers for the title.  We wanted to engage viewers with in-depth details of the courses and explanations of how the dogs were directed by the handlers plus how and why points are lost so that people new to the sport as well as seasoned owners could see how the clever dogs and their skilled owners work in close partnership against often difficult surroundings and awkward sheep.”

She added, “We would like to thank all those who have made this venture such a success - the competition between entrants was intense but the camaraderie and respect for each other was fantastic and we hope visitors to our YouTube channel www.youtube.com/c/CSJSpecialistCanineFeeds and website www.awaywithdogs.co.uk will enjoy the information and films including now the exciting and hard-won final as much as everyone who was involved has – my father H. Glyn Jones would have been very proud.”

2019 has been a tough year for Wildlife Rescues with so many hedgehogs in particular needing care. Many are now closing their doors to new admissions as they are full to the rafters and need lots of food to feed the hungry hogs.

Brambles Pet & Wildlife regularly do Giveaways on Facebook for Rescues to win hedgehog food but we would like to ask the public to do all they can to support their local Wildlife Rescue. A great website to find your local Rescue is https://helpwildlife.co.uk/ which is very easy to use.

Supplied photo courtesy of Bernie’s Hedgehog Rescue

Brambles Pet and Wildlife Ltd

www.bramblespaw.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/BramblesPAW/

https://twitter.com/BramblesPawLtd

https://www.instagram.com/bramblespaw/

hello@bramblespaw.co.uk

Mikki has launched a ‘sales promotion’ on its grooming products to support the Company’s independent retailers.  In addition to offering special discounts and some free products, the deal includes a newly created ‘self selection’ freestanding display unit. 

The unit which displays nineteen of the brand’s best selling grooming products features a planogram alongside barcodes and product codes for easy re-ordering. The unit is further enhanced with a ‘self selection’ header which aids consumers in choosing the right product to match their pet’s breed and coat type.  

www.mikkipet.com

The cause of a cat’s mystery paw pain has been revealed – after 5cm-long sewing needle was removed by vets at PDSA.

Seven-year-old Kedah from Chingford Mount was rushed into Ilford PDSA Pet Hospital after his owner Natalie Hillier (35) spotted him limping across the living room.

Natalie said: “Kedah is usually a very lively and energetic cat, so I knew something was wrong as soon as I saw him limping.

“I suspected he might have got something stuck in his paw. I was really worried because Kedah was clearly in pain. I knew I had to get him to see a vet quickly.”

Kedah was examined by PDSA Vet Grant Hampson, who noticed a metallic object had penetrated the poor cat’s foot. Grant gave Kedah pain relief and used forceps to remove the object – which turned out to be a sewing needle that had narrowly missed Kedah’s tendons.

Grant said: “Kedah was incredibly calm during the procedure. We managed to extract the needle without any issues, but it’s amazing how close Kedah came to suffering a serious injury. If the needle had hit a major artery or vein, he would have needed surgery, or if Natalie had waited to bring him to the vet an infection could easily have developed and there may have been some long-term damage. Fortunately, because of her quick action, we were able to remove the needle quickly without the need for major surgery under general anaesthetic.”

Natalie added: “I am so relieved that Kedah is okay. He made a speedy recovery and is now back to his usual, bouncy self. It was horrible seeing my beloved cat in pain. I’m now very careful to make sure the sewing kit is packed away when Kedah is around and that all needles are accounted for.

“The world needs more people like the vets at PDSA. Kedah received first class care and I cannot praise them enough.”

Grant is one of nine newly qualified vets whose roles are kindly being supported thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery this year. Through PDSA’s dedicated Graduate Scheme, these vets gain valuable experience and skills, enabling them to prevent suffering and save pets’ lives in their local communities. Over the last seven years, players of People’s Postcode Lottery have raised more than £8.5m in ongoing support for PDSA.

PDSA have produced a pet first aid guide with lots of helpful information and advice. You can get a free copy of the guide, and sign up for PDSA Pet First Aid courses, by visiting: www.pdsa.org.uk/firstaid

Wilsons Pet Food is excited to launch their brand new campaign, Wilsons to the Rescues, at the National Pet Show on 2-3^rd November.

Having produced pet food for over 150 years, this Scottish-based company produces nutritious and delicious Cold Pressed and Raw Frozen dog food, largely made using local sourced produce. Now, their new campaign aims to help feed dogs in rescue centres across the UK.

For every bag of Wilsons Pet Food sold, they donate another 2.5% of the volume of the bag to charity PLUS they are also giving their customers the chance to get involved by voting for the Rescue Centre they want their donation to go to.

For example, with each 10kg bag that is bought, 250g of Cold Pressed dog food will be donated – that alone is enough to feed a medium sized dog for a day!

Wilsons will be launching their new campaign at the National Pet Show this weekend and will be supporting two charities who are also attending the event, Birmingham Dogs Home and Greyhound Trust Hall Green, along with a Rescue Centre close to their Cold Pressed factory, Perthshire Gundog Rescue SCIO.

“Birmingham Dogs Home is thrilled to be one of the three chosen charities to benefit from the ‘Wilsons to the Rescues’ campaign and know that our homeless dogs will truly benefit from this amazing opportunity.” – Jilly Rivers, Fundraising Co-ordinator.

This campaign isn’t just about promoting nutrition, but also about helping to raise awareness of national and local Rescue Centres by giving them a platform to share their stories and the amazing work they do on a day-to-day basis.

Dan Griffin, Head of Sales at Wilsons Pet Food, says: “After joining the pet industry earlier this year, I was amazed at the amount of pleads of support we received from Rescue Centres across the UK. As a pet food company, I feel it is our responsibility to ensure that dogs, whether they have already found their forever home or not, have access to the highest level of nutrition. Forming Wilsons to the Rescues has been an exciting project and we’re so proud to be able to give something back.”

Visit Wilsons Pet Food on stand D340 at the National Pet Show on 2-3^rd November to find out more and to place your vote, or you can visit www.wilsonspetfood.co.uk.

Spa booking service, Spabreaks.com, is looking for the paw-fect critic to review dog-friendly spa hotels in the UK - and their humans will enjoy a free holiday too with all expenses paid.

The lucky winner will enjoy three 4* spa hotel stays, experiencing the luxuries the UK’s best spa hotels have to offer - from gourmet dog dinners to gift bags full of treats and toys.

Is your dog up to the job? Furtunately the application process is surprisingly simple. Humans will need to snap a pawsome photo of their dog, upload it to Instagram and simply tag and follow @Spabreaks and use the hashtag #PamperedPooch2020.

The winning critic’s humans will be asked to post snaps during their stay and write reviews for Spabreaks’ blog covering important canine criteria such as: dog enjoyment, practicality, local walkies and nearby dog-friendly amenities.

Abi Selby, founder of Spabreaks.com, said: “As the owner of two wonderful dogs, I can attest that finding a hotel that truly caters for your pup isn’t an easy feat. But there are some top quality dog-friendly spa hotels in the UK - and who better to review these places than the dogs themselves? Many owners, myself included, see our dogs as part of the family and, just like anyone else, we don’t want to leave one of us behind.”

Entries close on 30th November.

Full terms and conditions apply, to find out more please visit: https://www.spabreaks.com/hottub/2019/10/wanted-a-pampered-pooch-to-review-spa-hotels-across-the-country/

Leading Yorkshire-based pet accessory company, Collared Creatures has introduced a fashionable range of Harris Tweed collars for dogs.

Collared Creatures has been creating exquisitely designed handmade dog collars for over 6 years. They have spent many years sourcing the finest fabrics and fastenings to ensure that all their handmade dog collars are comfortable, durable and pleasing on the eye.

All of the handmade dog collars use 100% wool fabric that is hand-woven on the Isle of Harris in the outer Hebrides. The dog collars are available with an alumax clip, buckle or martingale style. All collars are lined inside with Kona Cotton fabric and have a strong webbing core inner for strength and durability and are fitted with a welded stainless steel D ring.   

The last three years have seen Harris Tweed remain "on-trend" and a regular feature in both High Street stores and on catwalks in couture collections and the increase in popularity has led to the training of a new generation of weavers to meet production demands.   Harris Tweed is used by many well-known clothing and footwear brands and is used to make hand bags, purses and other fashion items. New markets are emerging within the BRIC nations and more traditional markets are reviving in the USA and Europe as well as East Asian countries including South Korea. Sales forecasts are optimistic for the cloth. The Collared Creatures Harris Tweed dog collars are therefore the perfect pet accessory to complement the currents trends in fashion and should be an attractive option for pet and gift retailers to stock. They are available in an attractive range of colours and designs to fit any size of dog.

Collars can be gently machine washed, its advisable to place in a washbag or pillow case and tie up, to stop the metal hardware banging on the drum, stretch out to shape and dry naturally.

Available in Christmas Check or Christmas Dashes Designs with matching bow tie (optional).

For further information please visit: www.collaredcreatures.com