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Hill’s Pet Nutrition is recalling certain packs of cat food pouches because there are high levels of iron present in the pet food as a result of an error by an ingredient supplier.
The Food Standards Agency has warned pet owners: "Your cat should not eat an affected product. The FSA is issuing this product recall notice because we are responsible for animal feed regulations and the enforcement of pet food labelling through local authorities."
 The products concerned are:
Science Plan Feline Adult Light Ocean Fish
Pack size: 12 x 85g
SKU code: 2109PA
Expiry date code: July 2017
Science Plan Feline Mature Ocean Fish
Pack size: 12 x 85g
SKU code: 2110PA
Expiry date code: October 2017
Science Plan Feline Adult Light Favourite Selection Multipack 4
Pack size: 12 x 85g
SKU code: 2119V
Expiry date code: April 2017 and July 2017
Science Plan Feline Mature Adult Favourite Selection Multipack 4
Pack size: 12 x 85g
SKU code: 2120V
Expiry date code: August 2017
 Prescription Diet Feline c/d Stress Reduced Calorie Chicken 4
Pack size: 12 x 85g
SKU code: 2742U
Expiry date code: September 2017
Science Plan Feline Young Adult Sterilised Cat Multipack 4
Pack size: 12 x 85g
SKU code: 3766V
Expiry date code: June 2017 and October 2017
Hill’s Pet Nutrition has started a recall of the affected products in all countries where they have been placed on the market, including a recall from pet owners, distributors and wholesalers, in local language on its country websites. This is as a precautionary measure following an error by an ingredient supplier, which resulted in 85g pouches being manufactured incorporating high levels of iron, some of which were packed into multipacks with unaffected products.
In a statement the company said:"Hill’s Pet Nutrition is voluntarily recalling specific manufacturing batches of the single- serving cat food pouches identified by date codes listed below.
"Due to an error by an ingredient supplier, the products contain high levels of iron. Iron is an essential nutrient in a cat’s diet but too much iron may cause digestive upset, including diarrhoea and vomiting, and have more serious health effects.
"The issue in the United Kingdom is limited to the products and date codes listed below. No other date codes of these product or other Hill’s products in the United Kingdom are affected by the recall. If you have purchased the recalled product, do not feed it to your cat, and consult your veterinarian in case of concern. "Also, if you have purchased any of the below listed products with the specified date codes, please return it to the place of purchase for a full refund under Hill’s 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
"The recalled products should have been removed from store shelves so that what is currently available on shelf is safe to feed as intended. If your product of choice is not available, store personnel can suggest a suitable alternative product or you can contact Hill’s at 0800 282 438 or email: HillsUKCustomerservices@hillspet.com for advice. At Hill’s we take great pride in the quality and safety of our pet food products. We deeply regret this situation occurred and can assure you that we are working with our suppliers to further improve product safety procedures and prevent a similar mistake from happening again."
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UK pet firms warned to beware of 'costly' scam
UK pet companies are being warned to watch out for an international trade directory scam which offers to list firms attending shows like PATS, Interzoo and Zoomark. At first glance it appears to be a free listing but if companies fall for the trick of signing and returning a form they make themselves liable to a substantial fee...
UK pet companies are being warned to watch out for an international trade directory scam which offers to list firms attending shows like PATS, Interzoo and Zoomark.
At first glance it appears to be a free listing but if companies fall for the trick of signing and returning a form they make themselves liable to a substantial fee.
The scam has been operating for years and in the past some UK businesses have been threatened with court action if they didn't pay up. As yet, this threat has never been carried out but it can still be unsettling to receive a stream of threatening letters.
Jo Craik, of Impact Exhibitions, the organisers of PATS, said: "We have reason to believe that there is a mailshot from International Fairs Directory circulating - this is a SCAM, please bin it.
"The mailing asks you to check and update your details and implies your listing will be free – however, by signing the form and sending it back you are committed to a full size listing on the International Fairs Directory at a cost shown in the small print for three years or more, if no notice of cancellation is given within 10 days of the form being returned.
"Please note that PATS/Impact Exhibitions & Events Ltd has no association with Mulpor Company SA, the publisher of the International Fairs Directory www.inter-fairs.com, which is a website listing events and organisers from around the world.
"For many years the exhibition industry has been trying to close this organisation down, they are operating illegally. If you have already signed and returned the form don’t under any circumstances pay them anything."
The communication from International Fairs Directory looks like the letter illustrated below. So take Jo's advice and BINT IT!
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Wagg Foods changes name to Inspired Pet Nutrition
New £7 million distribution centre unveiled
Inspired Pet Nutrition (formerly known as Wagg Foods) yesterday officially opened its new 100,000 sq ft distribution centre and offices near to its existing facilities at Dalton Airfield in North Yorkshire...
Inspired Pet Nutrition (formerly known as Wagg Foods) yesterday officially opened its new 100,000 sq ft distribution centre and offices near to its existing facilities at Dalton Airfield in North Yorkshire.
The firm has invested some £7 million in building and fitting out the new automated site which currently has the capacity to store around 11,500 pallets with room to add a further 5,000 spaces if required.
Using a technique called ‘one shot loading’, full pallets are automatically loaded on to a specially commissioned truck which delivers them to the new DC where they are automatically unloaded, racked and sorted into individual SKUs ready for order picking.
Some 30 office staff will also move to the new building with production personnel taking over their current office space which will be used for meeting rooms and improved canteen facilities.
The investment is in addition to the £20million the business has spent over the past five years on automating production in its existing two mills which are also on Dalton Airfield. A further £3 million is scheduled to be spent on the mills in the next two years.
Morrison’s supermarkets CEO David Potts performed the opening ceremony along with Inspired Pet Nutrition’s Managing Director Richard Page.
Explaining the reason for the name change Mr Page told guests: “Wagg is the volume market leader and Harringtons continues to be one of the fastest growing brands in dried dog food and we will also have some exciting product launches this Summer under the Harringtons name.
"We believe that a clearer focus on these two main brands will be achieved by having a separate identity for the overall business.
“Our aim still remains the production of the highest quality pet food products at a competitive price through constant improvement in manufacturing processes and product innovation.
"This investment will further increase efficiency as the new site significantly boosts our stock holding capacity so longer production runs are possible. Therefore equipment downtime associated with changing over product lines is reduced along with the associated packaging waste.” Photographed, left to right: David Potts (CEO of Morrison’s) and Richard Page (MD of Inspired Pet Nutrition) officially open the new £7 million distribution centre.
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The pet industry is set to grow throughout the year with cat and dog treats being the best performing products, according to the latest figures from Euromonitor.
Western Europe has the second largest share of the worldwide pet care market behind North America.
 Paula Flores (left), Head of Pet Care at Euromonitor International, commented: “Our latest research indicates that overall, good growth is expected in 2016, at 2% in global value terms, similar to that experienced in 2015.
“Latin America was the best performing region in the period between 2011 and 2016, with regional value sales of pet care growing by 32% at constant 2016 prices, and absolute value gains in excess of US$2.4 billion.
“Asia Pacific also posted good growth, backed by Japan’s performance, which, after years of stagnation has now returned to slightly positive growth. This is excellent news, as it is the largest market in the region. China has also seen a good performance as more pet owners pamper their pets.”
The number of overweight and obese pets continues to rise, as so does awareness of this issue among pet owners. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, 30% of cats in the US were overweight in 2014, while a further 28% were obese. For dogs, these figures were 35% and 18%, respectively. Excess weight increases the risk of such conditions as osteoarthritis, hypertension, diabetes and cancer, significantly reducing life expectancy.
A growing number of dog and cat food products are targeting the weight management niche with premium products. Among the most successful of these is Colgate-Palmolive’s Hill’s Prescription Diet Metabolic. The company claims this dry dog and cat food, which contains a unique fibre blend from fruits and vegetables and powerful antioxidants, is clinically proven to safely and naturally improve metabolism to support healthy weight loss and maintenance.
Global pet care market is expected to post modest growth in 2016. Pet obesity will remain a main concern offering plenty of innovation opportunity.”
For more information on the latest research in Pet Care visit: http://blog.euromonitor.com/2016/05/latest-research-pet-care-live-regional-highlights.html
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Millions of family pets are at risk from killer diseases because they are missing out on simple vaccinations, vet charity PDSA has warned.
Preventable diseases such as parvovirus, leptospirosis and feline leukaemia can cause widespread deaths, say vets. Diseases prevalent in wild animal populations, such as myxomatosis in rabbits, can also spread to their domestic counterparts, usually with fatal consequences.
The latest PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report has revealed that over 5 million dogs, cats and rabbits* have never been vaccinated with a primary course, leaving them unprotected against dangerous illnesses which can take hold suddenly.
PDSA also reports that one in three pets (33%) aren’t receiving regular booster vaccinations. This is leaving them exposed to deadly bacteria and viruses as well as reducing the effect of ‘herd immunity’.
PDSA vet Vicki Larkham-Jones said that: “As a vet there is nothing more heart-breaking than seeing an animal lose its life to a disease that could have been prevented.
“Many pet owners don’t realise the dangers of diseases like parvovirus until it’s too late. It’s a severe viral infection which is highly contagious and commonly leads to septicaemia and death in dogs.
“Our research found that nearly a quarter of pet owners that haven’t vaccinated their pets** think vaccination is unnecessary. The figure among rabbit owners that don’t vaccinate is even higher, with one-in-three citing this reason for not vaccinating. This is obviously very concerning and shows we need to raise awareness of how essential vaccinations and regular boosters are.
Thanks to funding from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, Vet teams at PDSA are trying to prevent the preventable by encouraging pet owners to get their pets vaccinated and ensure their boosters are up to date. PDSA aims to vaccinate over 60,000 pets this year through its network of 51 Pet Hospitals.
Regional breakdown
Research by PDSA shows pets in Wales are at greater risk than those in England and Scotland of contracting deadly preventable diseases, as 30% of pets in the region haven’t received their primary vaccination course.
Other high risk areas for pets include the East Midlands (29%) and West Midlands (28%) as well as London (28%).
Pets in Scotland receive a higher uptake of primary vaccination courses overall, with 81% of animals receiving this.
 Case study
Selby the Husky was only 9-weeks-old when he started showing signs of the deadly disease parvovirus that can easily be prevented through vaccinations.
Christopher Brook, 31, of Bradford, bought the beautiful puppy from a breeder and had only enjoyed four days with his new canine companion when the deadly – yet preventable – virus began to take hold.
Selby quickly lost interest in his food and began suffering with terrible diarrhoea and sickness, so a worried Christopher took him straight to PDSA’s Bradford Pet Hospital.
Vets initially suspected a bacterial infection and Selby was prescribed antibiotics. However, his condition continued to deteriorate and he was later admitted to an isolation ward where he received IV fluids and medication to try and boost his battered immune system.
 The young pup’s life was in the balance as he received intensive nursing 24 hours-a-day to try and save him.
PDSA Vet Kirsty Warren said: “There is no cure for parvovirus so all we could do was treat him with antibiotics, anti-sickness drugs and intravenous fluids, and hope that he would be strong enough to pull through.
“He spent nearly a week in intensive care and, as this was such a highly contagious disease, we had to use barrier nursing techniques to isolate him and prevent it spreading to any other pets in the hospital.
“Thankfully Selby eventually began to turn the corner and started on the road to recovery. But he is one of the lucky ones because many dogs don’t survive.”
Christopher described the period Selby was in intensive care as heart-breaking: “It was absolute agony; I was so worried about him but at the same time I felt helpless.
“I can’t thank the vets and nurses at PDSA enough, they’ve saved his life and I’ll always be grateful to them.”
For more information visit www.pdsa.org.uk
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Why new companies choose to launch at PATS
The UK pet industry has seen an impressive number of companies entering the market over the past few years and many of these new businesses have chosen the PATS trade shows as their launchpad...
The UK pet industry has seen an impressive number of companies entering the market over the past few years and many of these new businesses have chosen the PATS trade shows as their launchpad.
This year’s PATS Telford on September 25-26 will see a host of newcomers exhibiting their new products and services to an audience of UK and international pet retailers.
For All DogKind (pictured above) chose PATS Sandown in March to launch their new shampoo range and it paid off in the shape of a New Product Award, which created a real buzz around the company’s stand.
“We couldn’t have wished for a better result,” says Laura Redstone from For All DogKind. “It was a fantastic start and I have to admit that going to PATS was a brilliant move.
“We can’t wait to make our first appearance at PATS Telford and show more of our products to retailers and buyers from both Britain and overseas.”
 EezyEat4Pets was inspired by owner Joanne Hobson’s cat Olivia, who underwent an operation and then found it difficult to eat in a traditional E-collar. “I designed a collar with a detachable feeding flap,” says Joanne, “and want to exhibit these at PATS Telford because it is a huge pet product exhibition and a great business platform.”
Jim Weston, a director of Little BigPaw, explained why he has decided to exhibit at PATS Telford: “We are a new company with a new range of foods specifically targeted at smaller dogs and fussy cats. Exhibiting at PATS is the perfect way to meet the key players in the industry and to develop relationships with our customers."
Plans for PATS Telford on Sunday, September 25, and Monday, September 26, are at advanced stage with 92% of stand space currently booked.
Organiser Annie Foord says the exhibition promises to be another memorable event for the pet industry. “We have 161 companies committed to exhibiting at PATS Telford, which is a clear indication the show is an important place to launch new products. The exhibitors have been telling me they have lots of launches planned, so visitors can be certain there will be plenty of things to see and do.”
The New Products Showcase is one of the most popular features of PATS. Last year at Telford a record number new products – over 300 in total – were on show in the designated area. All the products entered into the Showcase will be judged by a panel of independent pet retailers on the first day of the show, and the winners of each category will be announced at lunchtime.
“Speaking to visitors, we know that a lot of them head to the Showcase first,” adds Annie. “They can see all the latest items in one place, and once they’ve seen what they like, they then head off to the stand of the manufacturer or supplier of that product to discuss it in more detail.”
As well as seeing an unrivalled array of new pet products and speaking to top suppliers and manufacturers, visitors will also be able to witness demonstrations from the country’s leading dog groomers and listen to talks from prominent industry figures.
Parking is free at the Telford International Centre, and everyone will receive free tea and coffee, and a free show catalogue.
To register for free entry to the show and to view the full list of exhibitors visit www.patshow.co.uk
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They say there’s no such thing as a free lunch but today greyhounds Kizzy, Jasmine, Lenny and Luna (and their pals) are able to prove that’s just barking mad – as a whopping £10K of Burgess Pet Care dog food is delivered to their dog bowls.
In an unprecedented donation, the leading pet food manufacturer has gifted five tones of its premium Burgess Greyhound & Lurcher food – one of the few specialist foods on the market for this breed of dog – to five greyhound and lurchers re-homing centres across the UK to help give the rescue dogs the good nutrition they need.
The Scottish Greyhound Centre, Bristol DAWG, Sight Hound Stop Gap in Essex, Kerry Greyhound UK in Lincolnshire and Makants Greyhound Rescue North West have all received £2,000 worth of specialist food from the Yorkshire family firm to help feed the needy animals, many of which have been maltreated.
With many greyhounds bred at puppy farms, the emphasis is on physical strength rather than sociability – with some dogs barely being handled. Run on greyhound courses as puppies, most are ‘retired’ at two to four years and often end up malnourished and injured in rescue centres.
“The tireless work of the rescue centre staff is a credit to them and we wanted to help them, help more dogs,” said Matt Hawkins, dog brand manager at Burgess Pet Care. “Food can be a massive drain on resources for these centres but the right diet is so important for greyhounds because many of them have unique dietary requirements.”
Some of the dogs that will be helped by the donation include:
LENNY at The Scottish Greyhound Centre
Lenny was dropped off by a trainer with a wrist injury, which turned out to be untreated broken bone. After surgery and a long time in a cast, this nasty injury has now healed and this good-looking, happy dog is ready for a new home.
“The food donation from Burgess means that we can now pick up the phone and say yes to another dog that needs our help,” says the centre’s Katie Sibbald.
FIGURA & LUNA at Bristol DAWG
These Galgo Espanol or Spanish Greyhound recently arrived from Spain, where there is a serious welfare problem.
“We are very grateful and flattered to have received this award from Burgess,” says the centre’s Hilary McEwan Smith. “We have used Burgess food before and know how good it is.”
KIZZY at Sight Hound Stop Gap
This eight-month-old lurcher was thrown from a van aged just five months. Her leg was broken in the fall but the splint is now off and she’s full of life. She’d appreciate long walks in a busy family environment.
“Can you imagine how much money it costs to feed 12 dogs?” says the centre’s Carly Adams “Especially the ones who come in emaciated and need feeding four times a day. We’re over the moon with the Burgess donation which is a massive help and a huge weight off our mind.“
JASMINE at Kerry Greyhound UK
This working lurcher was brought in almost a year ago and was found very emaciated. Now four-years-old she has bags of energy and is a ‘cuddle monster’, but doesn’t know how to play, with a history of destructive behaviour if left alone for too long! Ideally she needs a home as an only pet with a retired couple.
PAT at Makants Greyhound Rescue North West
Rescue dog Patrick came to the Makants Greyhound Rescue North West one year ago and had never been stroked by a human before.
“A year ago Pat came to us emaciated and covered in fleas, and was so terrified by people he would freeze to the spot when approached. But after a year of rehabilitation he lets us stroke and brush him, and he totally loves his food – so he’ll be very excited about dinner time now!” says Makants founder Siobhan Hoppley.
Fior more information visit www.burgesspetcare.com
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Pet and garden overseas buyers at next PetQuip event
Buyers from the Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland will be in the UK on June 8 to hold pre-planned meetings with British suppliers at the next ‘Meet the Buyers’ event being staged by the Gardenex and PetQuip export associations...
Buyers from the Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland will be in the UK on June 8 to hold pre-planned meetings with British suppliers at the next ‘Meet the Buyers’ event being staged by the Gardenex and PetQuip export associations. The event will be held at the Federation’s head office in Brasted, Kent.The latest in a series of highly successful ‘Meet the Buyers’ initiatives organised by the two associations will give UK suppliers the opportunity of meeting on a one-to-one basis with buyers that have already expressed an interest in the product areas to be presented to them.
The format of the event has proved to be highly successful over a number of years, with many of the UK participants obtaining valuable export orders during that time.
The international garden product buyers travelling to the UK to meet with British suppliers are: - One of the largest importers, distributors and retailers of garden products on the Czech market. The company has two distribution centres and supplies 2,000 customers including garden centres, florists and hardware stores. The company offers a range of more than 8,000 gardening items and high on its list of products to source from the UK are garden tools, accessories and other practical equipment, as well as barbecue tools and accessories.
- Already purchasing products from many Gardenex members, the German garden mail-order and online shop attending the event is looking for innovative, practical and decorative garden products. The German company is happy to work with UK companies that are new to exporting.
- A Dutch specialist mail-order catalogue that is aimed at hobby gardeners and professionals. Its focus is on high quality, functional garden products that are not available in every DIY chain store. A sister company trades as an importer and distributor, supplying individual shops and independent garden centres. The company also supplies brands aimed at landscaping companies and professional gardeners.
Both garden and pet product buyers are attending from: - A Swiss distributor and wholesaler of lawn, garden and pet care products. The company produces a wholesale catalogue for pet care products and another featuring lawn, turf and gardening products. The company supplies leading pet retail and independent shops, DIY and garden centre chains, as well as landscapers, sports grounds, golf courses and public parks and is generally looking for innovative products to represent on the Swiss market. Specific products being sought by the pet product buyer are wet and dry foods for cats and dogs, as well as snacks and grain mixtures for birds and rodents, bird feeding products, bird houses and insect hotels. In the lawn care sector, the Swiss buyer is seeking innovative, ready-to-use and convenience products that can be sold exclusively in Switzerland, together with novel garden products with a strong brand identity.
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 June 8 or to find out more about future ‘Meet the Buyers’ events please contact theresa@gardenex.com as soon as possible.
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A Poole dog almost blinded and left fighting for life after chewing a disinfectant bottle has made a miraculous recovery, thanks to PDSA vets.
Jack Russell cross, Ruby (11), briefly got her paws on the bottle and a small amount splashed in her face. When owner, Gary James (44), saw what happened he immediately washed her face with water, and she seemed unaffected.
But the following morning Gary awoke to find Ruby struggling to breathe and she was in a very bad way.
 Gary rushed Ruby to Bournemouth PDSA Pet Hospital, where she was admitted for emergency treatment.
PDSA vet Emily Sharp, said: “Ruby was in a critical condition. Her tongue was very swollen, she was foaming at the mouth and severely dehydrated. She was put on a drip and given pain relief. We monitored her closely. At this stage, there were no signs of chemical burns – it was unclear what was causing the problem.
“But 12 hours later, a discharge around her eyes, nose and mouth started to appear. Further tests revealed both eyes were severely ulcerated as both corneas had suffered chemical burns. The skin around her nose and mouth was inflamed, which we then attributed to the household detergent she came into contact with the previous day.”
Now PDSA vets were battling to save not only Ruby’s sight, but her life. She wasn’t eating due to the swelling and pain in her mouth, so was getting weaker by the day. And she couldn’t lubricate her eyes so antibiotics and drops were administered around the clock, day and night, in a bid to prevent her from going blind.
PDSA vet Emily Sharp continues: “Ruby’s condition was so severe that we had to consider whether it would be kindest to put her to sleep. She is a much-loved family pet, and her quality of life is the most important thing. But due to the intensive care and treatment she received, Ruby started eating and the swelling began to go down.”
After five days in PDSA’s Bournemouth Pet Hospital, Ruby was allowed home. Gary continued her recuperation by putting the drops in her eyes and continuing her medication.
Gary said: “Ruby has been part of our family since she was six-months-old and my children love her to bits. Obviously we keep harmful things out of her reach but on this one occasion she came across a disinfectant bottle and bit into it. It was quite out of character but shows you just can’t be too careful.
“I washed her face, and everything seemed fine. But next morning I was so shocked when I saw her. We were all devastated when we thought we were going to lose her. I’m so grateful to PDSA for saving Ruby’s life, I don’t know what we would have done without them. I can’t thank them enough.”
PDSA vet Emily Sharp concluded: “Ruby had a lucky escape from an horrific ordeal. It highlights that there are many hidden dangers in our homes that can harm our pets. I’d urge all pet owners to ensure chemicals are well out of reach of prying paws. Speak to your vet if you’re worried they may have come into contact with something potentially unsafe.”
Ruby has gone on to make a remarkable recovery. Her treatment cost PDSA over £500, and was only possible thanks to the support the charity receives from animal lovers around the country.
To make a donation to support PDSA’s life-saving work text PAWS to 70111 to donate £3.
PDSA is the UK’s leading veterinary charity, treating 470,000 pets annually across its 51 Pet Hospitals. The charity strives to improve all pets’ lives through education, preventive care and emergency treatment. For more information visit www.pdsa.org.uk.
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Bucktons is putting the final touches to its new pet bird video care guides, which will be released shortly.
The company said on Twitter this week: "Official release coming very soon and we can't wait." The accompanying graphice (pictured above) suggests these video guides will be well worth viewing. Don't bother clicking on the image, there's nothing to see yet.
As soon as we know more, we'll let you know.
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The Pet Industry Federation has announced that Vicky Skinner has joined the team as the new Education Manager.
Vicky joins from Moulton College where she was an Advanced Practitioner lecturer in Animal Welfare.
She has also been an internal verifier for PIF’s Pet Grooming and PSM courses, and an Assessment Associate for Pearson (BTEC).
Vicky now takes over the education brief from Sally Crickmore, who has stepped back due to family issues.
Vicky’s responsibilities at PIF will cover pet specialist qualifications, including dog grooming and pet store management, online courses and seminar development as well as co-ordinating PIF’s involvement in the Hadlow PIF Grooming School.
Vicky said: "Starting at PIF is a whole new experience for me and I am looking forward to using my expertise to help develop and grow PIF Education. There are a number of new avenues I am keen to pursue in the forthcoming months, but initially I will be developing an understanding of how PIF works and the projects it currently has planned in order to maximise their success."
Nigel Baker, PIF CEO said: "We are delighted that Vicky has joined us at this exciting time. Vicky brings a wealth of relevant experience and is brimming with fantastic ideas to help shape PIF Education. We would like to thank Sally Crickmore for all her hard work within PIF Education, and wish her all the best in her career going forward."
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Following the continued focus to provide greater support to independent and specialist pet retailers, Pets Choice has strengthened its retail sales team with the appointment of a new Area Sales Manager, Julie Windross.
Julie will be joining the team with nearly 20 years in pet trade industry, working previously with companies such as Magnet & Steel, Interpet, BAS and Pet Marketing Services.
The appointment comes at an exciting time for the pet food manufacturer, as its growth within the independent pet trade continues as well as the recent acquisition of the TastyBone brand.
Ben Windeatt, Head of Retail at Pets Choice, said: “We are really excited that Julie has joined our growing team at Pets Choice.
"Her wealth of pet knowledge combined with her passion for building strong relationships and rapport, will be a great asset for both our customers and the Pets Choice portfolio of brands.”
For further information on Pets Choice visit www.petschoice.co.uk.
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Easidri provided a cool haven for many hot dogs at Badminton Horse Trials, with the Cooling Coat being a particular hit with pets of all shapes and sizes. In fact, many owners commented that the coat had ‘saved’ their dog from the heat at the event.
This was Easidri’s first year at Badminton Horse Trials. The stand included a new ‘Cooling Corner’ created to give hot dogs a place to come and cool off and rehydrate during the event. This was something that, with the soaring temperatures that bathed Badminton, was very much appreciated.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better event,” said Martin Balmer from Easidri. “Badminton really is the most spectacular venue and although it’s most definitely an equestrian event, there are so many dogs that come too, and we were pleased we could do something to help them.
“The new Cooling Corner was a great success and we had lots of dogs visiting us for a ‘chill’. We also did very well with our Cooling Coat, which as the weather heated up, became more and more popular. We had people coming back to the stand to rehydrate the coats and so many people telling us what a lifesaver the coat was.”
Heat stroke is a serious issue that can cause problems for dogs of all shapes and sizes. There are many ways to help reduce the risk, but keeping the dog cool is a huge factor. At home, it’s much easier to keep the dog cool and comfortable but, when away from home, it can be challenging. The Easidri Cooling Coat helps to address this issue.
“We had the most amazing range of dogs come to the stand and go away with Cooling Coats,” said Martin.
“Miniature Dachshunds to Great Danes were strutting around the event in their blue coats – hundreds of dogs were wearing our coat and were saved from the heat. Luckily we have a fairly extensive size range and even have wide sizes to suit broader dogs!”
For more information visit the website www.easidri.com
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AmPet Products strengthens sales team
AmPet Products has announced the appointment of Kate Muncaster as its National Account Manager. Well known in dog circles, Kate is a qualified dog groomer, who also competes in sled dog race events...
AmPet Products has announced the appointment of Kate Muncaster as its National Account Manager.
Well known in dog circles, Kate is a qualified dog groomer, who also competes in sled dog race events.
“Passionate about dogs – that just about sums me up,” says Kate. “So the chance to join a company like AmPet Products is fantastic.
“My knowledge of dogs goes way back to when I first started showing Standard Poodles and then an Old English Sheepdog. Needless to say I had to learn to clip and groom to show standard – this skill led me in later life to run my own grooming business,” adds Kate, who currently owns four Samoyeds, one Alaskan Malamute and a Border Collie.
“It’s great to have Kate on board,” says Alex Wilson, AmPets’ Sales and Marketing Director. “She has a wealth of knowledge in the UK dog market and we’re confident she’ll help us to continue the impressive growth of AmPet products.”
Kate is in the process of opening Adroit Professional Dog Grooming & Dog Boutique at Brooke in Norfolk, where she’ll be owner and head groomer, as well as being the National Account Manager for AmPet.
“As well as grooming all breeds of dogs the Boutique will specialise in products not seen in general pet stores,” says Kate. “The AmPet product range will feature heavily as the range of dog accessories is so diverse from run of the mill stuff. The quality is amazing and the value for money speaks for itself.”
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Wildlife World has introduced the ultimate attraction for beneficial garden insects with its new luxurious Nine Room Insect Hotel.
The new boutique hotel offers all species of garden insects a choice of accommodation that is safe and beneficial, whilst guaranteeing gardeners repeat business throughout the year!
Offering many different-style rooms, including the Dark Bark Snug, Pine Needle Den and Cone Zone, the Nine Room Insect Hotel is truly suitable for all garden insect species. The multi-use habitat also offers drilled cane nesting tubes for solitary bees, and cosy mini logs with drilled hiding holes for smaller insects to offer a predator-safe habitat.
The hotel’s lower levels are protected by a wildlife-friendly wired mesh which can be removed and replaced to allow gardeners to access the rooms. With this handy feature, gardeners can personalise the loose-filled hotel rooms with natural garden objects such as cut straw, hay, twigs or leaves which will not only keep the habitats fresh but broaden the attraction for bees, beneficial insects and invertebrates.
Norman Sellars, Managing Director and creator of Wildlife World commented, “This Nine Room Insect Hotel is one of our latest additions and quite possibly one of the finest. Its ability to invite and accommodate a wide range of beneficial insects into gardens is a great advantage to gardeners and wildlife enthusiasts. With this attractive hotel, we are sure that people will see more visitors to their gardens and this is not only a great way to encourage this but also makes a delightful addition to gardens of any size or design.”
Designed by Wildlife World’s in-house specialists, the Nine Room Insect Hotel reflects the company’s commitment to the conservation of all wildlife species and, like its entire product range, is created only using sustainable, environmentally-friendly materials. The exterior of the hotel is made from sustainably-sourced FSC certified timber and is finished in a water-based pale green paint. These materials are specially sourced and used by Wildlife World as they do not expose the insects to any harmful or toxic chemicals that can be found in other types of paints and sealants.
The hotel, which stands about one foot tall, can either be hung against a flat surface, such as a sheltered wall or fence, using the two hanging hooks, or it may be positioned on a flat surface, for example a wall-top or window ledge. This ensures that gardeners can easily position the hotel in a space that they can easily observe the visiting insects whilst ensuring it is out of reach from cats, dogs or foxes.
Further information on the Nine Room Insect Hotel is available from Wildlife World on +44 1666 505333, by emailing james@wildlifeworld.co.uk or by visiting the company’s website at www.wildlifeworld.co.uk
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Burgess appoint new Sales Manager
Territory sales manager Michael Stanyon is bringing new drive to 200-year-old Burgess Pet Care as he travels more than 1,000 miles per week to reach its growing customer base...
Territory sales manager Michael Stanyon is bringing new drive to 200-year-old Burgess Pet Care as he travels more than 1,000 miles per week to reach its growing customer base.
The 46-year-old, who has a proven track record in the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) market – both in grocery and pet trade – will be developing the historic British company’s distribution routes and rate of sale among customers, and implementing sales staff training.
Michael has extensive experience working with independent pet retailers in the East of England and previously with some of the UK’s leading grocery brands before joining Burgess.
“I’m really excited about applying my FMCG skills to the pet food market and learning something new,” said Michael, who is based in Kettering with wife Tina and their four-year-old son, Seth.
“I love being out and about and meeting customers – and Burgess has a great reputation as a fantastic British company to work for.”
Michael’s role as sales manager is the latest appointment following the recent recruitment of a new sales team and technical support staff at the company, continuing Burgess Pet Care’s investment in the specialist pet trade.
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A puppy farmer who had the audacity to sell sick pets while already on bail for the same crime has been jailed.
Grace Banks (29) had previously run a puppy farm with her brother Julian King — earning up to £35,000 every week.
But as she awaited punishment for that last year — and sent the judge a letter expressing her remorse — she continued to sell often severely ill puppies to unsuspecting families for up to £600.
Two victims even became ill after catching stomach diseases from their new pets.
It meant that she emerged from a five-month jail sentence in time to stand trial for new offences of animal cruelty, unlicensed pet-selling and fraud.
Prosecuting, Hazel Stevens told how Banks tricked families into believing the tiny pups were healthy pedigrees — when in fact they were often sick or dying.
She was caught by the RSPCA after a raid at her £850-a-month address in Buckstones Road, Shaw, Greater Manchester, in April 2015.
Inspectors found a dead puppy in the boot of her Mercedes Benz which was said to have suffered days of agony.
A probe revealed she’d rented addresses in Oldham, Rochdale and Littleborough and even changed her name from Lilly Cooper by deed poll to cover
her tracks.
Appearing at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court in a black leather bomber, she was jailed for nine months by Judge Jeffrey Lewis.
Describing the puppies she sold as “flee-ridden, diseased and a risk to human health”, he added: “This was well planned, sophisticated.
“The goal of this enterprise was maximum financial gain and you were the one benefitting from
that gain.”
Insisting Banks was remorseful, Marianne Alton, defending, said: “Miss Banks is no saint and she may have made plenty of mistakes in her life but she wants to move forward and step away from criminality.”
She said her client had faced the “agony” of being released from prison only to appear before the courts again.
Mr Lewis was critical of a “prosecution, defence, RSPCA and GMP” blunder which led to the crown court not being made aware of a second ongoing investigation when he jailed Banks in December last year.
He said if he had known, the cases would have been combined for sentence.
But he reminded Banks, of Reed Street, Gorton, that she had pleaded not guilty to her second enterprise despite “overwhelming” evidence against her.
He jailed her for nine months and imposed a lifetime ban on keeping or selling animals.
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 A politician has been criticised after admitting he is responsible for signs that warn of 10 breeds 'too dangerous' for families.
Alan Tobin, a councillor for Ashbourne Municipal District in in County Meath, Ireland, posted a photograph of one of the signs on his Facebook page on Sunday evening.
His caption explained the background behind the signs, saying: "As a dog owner I'm absolutely delighted that signs I've asked for, with pictures, showing the dangerous breeds of dogs have been erected over the past week.
"It still amazes me that some people think these dogs are ideal family pets."
The 'public safety notice' includes photos of 10 different breeds and warns they should be leashed or muzzled, wearing a collar bearing the owner's name and address and be under the control of someone over the age of 16.
Mr Tobin's admission he is responsible for the signs has caused a great deal of anger in the comments on his post, which has been shared more than 97,000 times.
One annoyed Facebook user, Jacqulyn Delaney, even took it upon herself to Photoshop a muzzle on to the picture of Mr Tobin.
She wrote: "Here's another picture of a dangerous breed it's known as a "politician" they talk absolute s***e and also should be muzzled."
Her comment alone has received more than 77,000 likes and counting.
The 10 dogs listed are:
- American Pit Bull Terrier
- Rhodesian Ridgeback
- Bull Mastiff
- Doberman Pinscher
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Rottweiler
- German Shepherd
- English Bull Terrier
- Japanese Akita
- Japanese Tosa
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