UK Pet Food has dismissed the ‘headline’ findings of new research claiming that wet pet food was nearly seven times as bad for the environment as commercial dry food.

The survey by researchers at Sao Paulo University in Brazil found that wet pet food production created 690% more greenhouse gas emissions than dry food production.

Following Pet Trade Xtra’s story on the study’s findings, UK Pet Food issued the following statement. 

“UK Pet Food is aware of the recent research from the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, looking at the environmental impact of diets for cats and dogs. 

“The headline in some of the media coverage, which states that ‘wet is worse than dry’ has been misleading and does not present the full picture of true circularity that exists across the pet food industry. 

“Pet food production largely uses co-products from the human food chain. By converting unwanted ingredients into nutritious foods for pets, our industry provides an additional income for farmers, limits wastage and truly adds value to surplus products. 

“As the squeeze on resources and food availability continues, as an industry we are committed to sourcing pet food ingredients responsibly and sustainably.

“We continue to look for further solutions to minimise the environmental impact that manufacturing pet food has on our planet, while maintaining the health and wellbeing of our much-loved pets.”

A former head of training and sales at a pet food manufacturer is putting her skills and knowledge to good use as she embarks on a new adventure…the launch of her own pet store.

Katie Parker has opened Pickles Pet Pantry with partner Jack Avery and her parents in the market town of Olney in Buckinghamshire, and already the store is proving to be a big hit with customers.

Katie took a few minutes away from her busy schedule to talk to Pet Trade Xtra about the new store.

How long have you been planning the store?

We began thinking about the store around six months ago, however the true planning started only four months ago. I was head of training and sales for a pet food manufacturer and I felt our town had such a gap in the market.

How did you choose a name for the store?

We are a family that love to adopt animals and we always adopt from Animals in Need in Northamptonshire. My Dad had rehomed a small parrot called Pickle from them, and sadly after a very short but happy time with my parents he passed away, leaving them quite sad. So, my partner Jack and I felt it a nice tribute to ensure Pickle remained part of the family. We decided to use the term Pantry as we aren’t stocking the ‘usual products’. Instead, we’re stocking brands that we believe in and less varieties, because we feel we should be selling products we know and love.

Is it true you are focussing on natural products?

Yes, our focus is on natural products, and products we know, love and have trialled with our own animals or friends have trialled for us. We have a bit of a zoo at home, meaning we've been able to trial cat, dog, bird, rabbit and guinea pig products. My parents live rurally so the wild animals and birds even helped us!

Why have you decided to take this stance?

We wanted to make natural products affordable for the regular consumer. I also believe using higher quality products to ensure they last longer, and feeding high quality food to improve health. Having worked in the pet industry for five years I've been able to see so many brands and pets and I felt it was time I helped pet owners to decipher what it all means. Ultimately our aim at Pickles Pet Pantry is to help animals and their families.

Was it easy to find the premises for the store?

The premises for us was easy to find, but we were in a race to the finish with multiple businesses wanting the property. We were lucky to be the only one applying for the premises that didn't have competition in our high street there hasn't been an independent pet store for quite some time in our town. We've been incredibly lucky to have such kind supportive landlords!

What has been the response from local pet owners so far?

We simply have been stunned by the pet owners of Olney, and the surrounding villages. Everyone is incredibly excited, and wanting to support local over larger or online businesses. We've had doggy visitors daily, in fact some pop in post walk to grab a treat to take home. We had never expected to be so well supported – in fact we've had to contact our suppliers for emergency restocks.

How many people work in the store?

At present it's only us as a family, and occasionally our friend who completed all our incredible artwork helps out. We are incredibly fortunate to have friends who are always willing to wear a Pickles Pet Pantry T-shirt and come to help when we are swamped. My three business partners (Jack, my mum Pam and my dad Dave) all have full time jobs outside of the shop. 

Have you got special events planned to drive people to the store?

We will be taking part in all the Olney Christmas events, and we are launching the Pickles Pet Pantry running club. Our Rescue Husky cross has a stress disorder and runs with my fiancé, who is an ex-county hurdling champion. He wants to help dog owners enjoy running with their dogs, even if they howl and bark! So many of the town’s dog owners have mentioned their embarrassment at their dog being noisy and we want to ensure no one feels that way! 

What are your hopes for the future?

We ultimately want to create a place where pet owners can come for advice, a friendly face and a treat for their dog. Pet ownership in this day and age is daunting and at times scary – we hope we can make the journey a little more fun! 

Pickles Pet Pantry is located at 24 High Street, South Olney, Buckinghamshire, MK46 4AA.

A family-owned pet retail business based in Norfolk is set to open its fourth store after securing new premises in the seaside town of Cromer.

Specialists in raw feeding, husband-and-wife team Adrian and Ali Pettitt own three other pet stores in Bowthorpe, Hellesdon and Castle Quarter Shopping Centre in Norwich, and are excited to be launching a fourth in the heart of Cromer.  

Ali (pictured with Adrian below) said: “Our niche is offering the tastiest, healthiest, all-natural dog food and treats that are packed with goodness.  We’re really excited to be opening in Cromer. It’s a fantastic location for us, as we already have many online customers in the area. Plus we can’t wait to meet new faces and start talking to customers about the best, healthiest options for their much-loved pets.”  

The new Pettitt and Boo store will be located in a former electrical store in Church Street.

Two new members of staff will be recruited to work at the Cromer store which will offer free pet care advice and dietary consultation appointments as well as a wide variety of food, treats, toys, beds, collars, leads and accessories. Emily Naylor currently works across two of the other Pettitt and Boo stores but is thrilled to be moving to the Cromer shop as Store Manager. She said: “Cromer is such a bustling town and it will be fantastic to offer our pet nutrition consultations to owners in the area.”  

Emily explains further that dog owners who are concerned about their dog’s diet can book an appointment for a one-to-one consultation with a canine nutritionist. Offering tailored advice about what and how much to feed for optimum health and weight, the advisor can discuss the benefits of a raw food diet and create meal plans for dogs who are fussy eaters or have special dietary needs.  

The store will also feature a fun pick ‘n’ mix section, so shoppers can scoop up a variety of dog snacks and chews to take home, including hairy cows’ ears, puffed porky snouts and lots more!  To reduce waste, all treats are packaged in paper bags.  

For more information visit www.pettittandboo.co.uk

Yorkshire-based pet food brand Harringtons has announced significant brand updates to reflect the ever-changing needs of the modern-day shopper. With a new and improved recipe for their dry dog food, the brand is set to make a huge impact in its category.

Launched in 2008, Harringtons has gone from strength to strength, becoming the UK’s number one dry dog food brand, with close to 2 million buyers purchasing per year. 

The new and improved recipe now offers specialist-grade nutrition at more affordable and accessible price points, containing freshly prepared meat ingredients, salmon oil for healthier coats, skin, joints and cardiovascular health. It has also added homemade chicken gravy on the inside and outside of the kibble to make it the brand’s tastiest kibble yet!

Continuing to put affordability into focus, IPN exists to make great pet nutrition affordable and accessible to everyone. 

The enhanced range can now be purchased in smaller pack sizes to better suit the needs of urban pet owners. This will also help accommodate those owners with smaller breeds to whom bulk products are not suitable, to stay at the forefront of consumers’ minds as industry leaders.

The brand-new design, deployed across the entire brand, including Harringtons wet trays and cans, has been introduced to appeal to a wider audience of consumers, as it unites the full range with a more impactful, modern look and feel. With bolder colours designed to create shelf presence, the new design is preferred by 4 out of 5 buyers and non-buyers alike. Harringtons is a key driver of the natural dry dog food segment, which is growing at +20% vs standard dry dog food up +15%.

Harringtons Total Dog Food is worth £71.8m value sales and has increased +22.8% in the last 52 weeks. Following such great success over the last 14 years, Harringtons has rebranded and released its brand-new packaging to make a greater shelf impact and appeal to a wider audience.

An awareness driving media campaign will also follow in Q1 of 2023 to highlight the relaunch to prime shoppers before they shop.

Part of the Inspired Pet Nutrition family, Harringtons prides itself on great nutrition, with the new and improved recipes having meat as the number one ingredient. Harringtons has made a huge investment in product upgrade, making specialist-grade nutrition more affordable.

Speaking on the Harringtons rebrand and improvement, Will Bushell, Head of Dog Marketing at Inspired Pet Nutrition, commented: “We are super excited to be announcing the new and improved brand update for Harringtons. Harringtons’ mission is to make natural, premium level nutrition accessible and affordable for all. As the UK’s number 1 dry dog food brand, we believe it is important to keep up with the ever-changing needs of our consumers, and with the current cost of living crisis, it is now more important than ever to ensure quality nutrition is available at an affordable price. We take pride in the quality of nutrition we are offering at this price point which we believe adds real value to retailers' ranges.

“Not only does the improved recipe taste great for our pets, but it also ensures every dog has access to incredible nutrition. The updates have taken our All About Dog Food score up to 56%, taking us leagues above the competition at the same price point.”.

To find out more about the Harringtons rebrand, please visit: https://www.harringtonspetfood.com/

Edinburgh Park Station tram stop is today (Thursday) being renamed Edinburgh ‘Bark’ Station to celebrate the arrival of nationwide pet retailer Jollyes. One of the city’s iconic trams has also been given a pet-themed makeover.

Jollyes is opening its flagship UK store at Hermiston Gait Retail Park on 9 December. Ahead of the opening, Edinburgh Trams is renaming the nearest tram stop – just a few paw-steps from Jollyes’ new store – ‘Edinburgh Bark Station’ for the whole of December.

And to reflect the fact that all pets – not just dogs – are catered for at Jollyes, one of the city’s iconic trams gets new livery for the month, featuring the Jollyes brand and a pet pictures including Zeus, a pet cat owned by Kate Smith, a member of the Edinburgh Trams team.

Jollyes CEO Joe Wykes said: “Our ‘Edinburgh Bark Station’ store at Hermiston Gait will cap a year of expansion both in Scotland and elsewhere in the UK.  We hope renaming the tram stop and launching a Jolly Jollyes tram will put a smile on Edinburgh faces.”

Jollyes is investing significantly in Scotland this year. In addition to existing stores in Clydebank and Perth, it opened a store in Stirling in June, partnering with the Stroke Association Scotland to highlight the mental and heart health benefits of pet ownership. 

This autumn it opened a new store in Glenrothes (above). All three recent openings are in retail units that have been vacant for some time and together represent an investment of £950,000 into local builders, electricians, and contractors. 

In just six months, Jollyes will have created 32 new jobs in Scotland.

Wetherby-based pet food manufacturer, The Innocent Hound, is supporting dog rescue charities during the festive season by letting their customers decide which charities receive donations. The aim is to donate over 300kg of treats which will be delivered in time for Christmas. 

The family-run business set up a zero-treat waste policy, meaning that any leftover production ingredients are used to create grain-free, healthy, meaty treats, to donate to rescue charities across the UK. 

Throughout November, The Innocent Hound added 10 silver envelopes to random website orders. These customers would then nominate a UK dog rescue charity to receive a big box of treats to enjoy. 

Founder, Chloe Heaton said: “Wasting this food is not an option for us. At a time when dog rescues are struggling so much, we are delighted to be able to help them in any way we can.” 

Supporting charities is important to The Innocent Hound as the business was inspired by rescue lurcher, Bongo. The zero-waste policy has allowed the company to donate over 1,000kg of food to charities across the UK in the past year.  

Brits may be planning to cut back on Christmas spending this year, but pets will be spared from the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, according to a survey by Jollyes.

Almost 70% of pet owners will put a present under the tree for their furry friend this Christmas while 60% are planning to make their pet a special festive feed.   

Only one in 10 (11%) of people planned to spend more on their friends and families this Christmas and almost half (43%) to spend less, the Cison/Maru survey of 1,000 people across the UK showed. 

But according to Jollyes which has over 80 stores across the UK, pet spend is being prioritised – with three-quarters of the population (75%) planning to spend the same or more on their pets this Christmas. 

And almost as many men (65%) plan to buy a present for their pet as women (71%). 

The nationwide statistics mask important regional variations.   

When it comes to a meal with all the trimmings, it’s anything but grim up north with over two-thirds of owners in the North West (69%) planning to make a special Christmas dinner for their pets, just ahead of the West Midlands (67%) and London (68%).  

And while fewer planned the same in the East Midlands, Scotland and the South East, more than half of owners in each of these regions were still planning a special ‘dog’s dinner’ this Christmas. 

Meanwhile, dogs will be looking their best on Christmas morning as over a third of owners are planning to treat their pooches to a grooming session. In the North East 63% of dog owners plan to groom their pets for 25 December while more than half in the North West say they will do the same. 

Jollyes head of marketing, Phil Turner-Naylor said: “The survey confirms what everyone at Jollyes already knows – pets come first. It wouldn’t be Christmas in the UK without the pets we love. 

“Our survey shows pet owners are bending over backwards to make sure their pets are pampered this Christmas.” 

Jollyes has made its stores into a one-stop shop for a pet-tastic Christmas this year and knowing that owners want to spoil their animals it has doubled down on its promise to be Britain’s best value pet retailer this festive season. 

And as the market leader in Northern Ireland, to highlight its Christmas ranges, this coming Sunday it plans to send its ‘Jollyes Days Are Coming” truck to Stormont in Northern Ireland so dog walkers in the grounds can see what’s on offer in store.   

To find out more about Jollyes’ Christmas range visit www.jollyes.co.uk/  

Want to stock your shelves with the perfect gift this Christmas? The Orbiloc Dual Safety Light is the perfect accessory this winter season and is the ideal companion to head into the new year.

Orbiloc's high-quality LED safety lights are ideal for people and their canine companions' early morning and late-night walks in the colder months. The light can be attached easily to harnesses, jackets, collars, and any outdoor apparel thanks to the accompanying range of multipurpose accessories, such as carabiners, straps, and clips. Made in Denmark, Orbiloc's lightweight, impact-resistant safety lights are durable, 100% waterproof, and can be seen from up to 5km away in low light conditions. The light can withstand extreme temperatures, so it is perfect for any adventure. The Orbiloc light ensures higher visibility by cars and cyclists so that they can adjust their speed early on to avoid hazards and accidents.

The light has up to 100 hours of battery life when steady-on and 250 hours when flashing; the Orbiloc range is complete with a service kit containing 2x replacement batteries. Simply turn the mode selector ring to activate the dual function and change between the steady and flashing settings. The lens design makes the light visible across a 270-degree arc in all directions.

The Orbiloc Dog Dual Light also helps keep track of dogs in the dark, and with a variety of colours in the range, there is even the option colour-code several dogs to tell them apart on walks. The Fashion Lights add personality to a dog or their owner's outfit, adding pops of colour or subtle coolness. The signal colours feature typical safety characteristics such as dark or water visibility.

For further information contact 0115 982 3900.

Designed for sofa snugglers and slumber bunnies alike the new Snuggler collection from Mikki is guaranteed to keep canines cosy this winter whilst keeping sofas, beds, and cars free from hairs and dirt.  

Available in small and large sizes the Sofa Snugglers are made from a soothing ultra soft faux fur in a neutral grey shade and feature raised edges for added comfort and security.  With a non-slip base they are machine washable at 30 degrees.   

Along with Mikki’s extensive bed range the new Snuggler collection is available to order now via Interpet’s trade website https://trade.interpet.co.uk/

Wilsons, the fast-growing Scottish pet food company, has further extended its product range with the launch of a Premium Salmon Oil.

Available in 500/1000ml easy-to-use dosage pumps, the 99.5% pure salmon oil is crafted from ethically and sustainably-sourced salmon farms in the fresh waters and lochs of Scotland.

Demand for salmon oil has grown steadily in recent years as pet owners acknowledge the natural benefits of omega 3,6 and 9 fatty acids. Regular use can lead to improved joint care, heart health, coat condition and nail strength.

The oil, which is microfiltered for purity, is ideal for raw and cold pressed diets, and is suitable for both puppies and adult dogs.

The product comes with a recommended dietarychart to guide users on how much to add to a dog’s food, depending on size, and the leak-proof dosage pump ensures safe storage and ease of use.

Wilsons new salmon oil follows the recent launch of vegan and insect options in the company’s extensive cold pressed dog food range.

www.wilsonspetfood.co.uk

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The National Pet College is targeting the hospitality industry with a new course highlighting the benefits of becoming dog friendly. 

With 10.2 million dogs in the UK, and 27% of UK adults now owning dogs, the potential for businesses that welcome dogs is considerable. This new course from The National Pet College, in association with www.dogfriendly.co.uk, gives a unique insight into how to maximise these opportunities whilst also equipping delegates on how to overcome the challenges, ensure welfare, undertake thorough risk assessments and become up to date with the latest legislation.

Aimed at all businesses that can become dog friendly, such as hotels, restaurants, cafes, pubs, B&Bs, holiday cottages and holiday parks, Head of Education at The National Pet College, Vicky Skinner explains: “We know that those businesses that do welcome dogs have seen a considerable upturn both in new and repeat business so we wanted to encourage more premises in the hospitality industry to become dog friendly in a responsible way which ensures the welfare of any dogs on site. This new course gives delegates a thorough understanding of the responsibilities involved with doing this properly and equips businesses with the tools to really maximise the potential revenue streams from this.”

James Waters of www.dogfriendly.co.uk added: “We’ve had figures of 50% and 20% increase in sales quoted to us when we’ve asked about the impact of becoming dog friendly; we know that welcoming dogs properly is a beneficial investment and we are thrilled that The National Pet College has created this course to ensure that businesses can make this transition responsibly with the dogs’ best interests at heart. Pet parents are more and more likely to want to take their dog with them when out and about and they will reward businesses that truly welcome their dog onto their premises.”

The Dogs In Hospitality course is available from www.nationalpetcollege.co.uk for individual delegates and can also be delivered in group scenarios on site at hospitality premises. On completion of the course, delegates receive a certificate to display at their premises, a digital logo for their website and social media and their completion highlighted on the www.dogfriendly.co.uk listing.

For more information please email info@nationalpetcollege.co.uk

A popular pet store in Oldham, Greater Manchester, has announced it will close before Christmas after 40 years in business.

Fishnet Aquarium and Pets announced online that its doors will close for good within the next month.

On the store’s Facebook page owners Lynn and David Hague said: “With mixed emotions, after 40 years of trading, we are ready to call time on Fishnet. This is not a sad announcement, it’s the end of an era and the start of the next chapter in our lives. 

“We would like to give our heartfelt thanks to every single person that has graced our shop with your custom over the last 40 years, it has been our pleasure to serve you. To everyone who has helped and supported us in any way, shape, or form, and to all of our family and friends, we really appreciate and thank you all, and we couldn’t have done it without you. 

“We will be clearing the stock, fixtures, and fittings over the coming weeks and plan to close the doors by Christmas, so please feel free to pop in and make us an offer on anything that takes your fancy.”

IVC Evidensia joined a host of other veterinary organisations in the UK to support an Antibiotic Amnesty in November. The campaign encourages pet owners to return any out-of-date or unused antibiotics they have at home to their nearest practice.

This ‘first-of-its-kind’ campaign aims to educate owners about antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and raise awareness of the importance of the safe use and safe disposal of these important medicines. 

The antibiotic amnesty took place during November 2022, overlapping World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (18-24 November).

Responsible antibiotic stewardship is a key commitment within IVC Evidensia’s Sustainability strategy, the Positive Pawprint.

The use of antibiotics for humans and animals can be an effective way of treating illness, but often can be misused during treatment and during recovery. 

This can lead to an inaccurate diagnosis from vets who are trying to help animals in their care, as well as dangerous side effects that could delay an animal’s recovery, or even worse, contribute to further health problems. 

Furthermore, this can exacerbate the existing challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This occurs when bacteria develop mechanisms that protect them from the effects of antibiotic treatments, making treatment for people and animals less effective.

Another issue surrounding the misuse of antibiotics is unsafe disposal, which can further contribute to antimicrobial resistance and have a negative effect on the environment.

By joining the Antibiotic Amnesty campaign to raise awareness of these issues, IVC Evidensia is encouraging the following behaviours when it comes to antibiotics:

• Antimicrobial resistance is a world-wide health threat – be responsible with antibiotics by only using them when necessary and avoid them using unless prescribed by a vet or nurse. Dispose of them at your nearest practice when convenient
• Keep antibiotics working - use antibiotics carefully to keep them working and adhere to any instructions from vets or nurses
• You should never self-prescribe antibiotics for your pet – avoid using antibiotics when not needed as this could risk side effects, delay an accurate diagnosis for your pet, and contribute to antimicrobial resistance 
• Antibiotics should be disposed of safely – avoid inappropriate disposal of antibiotics by returning them to your nearest practice

Edward Davies, IVC Evidensia’s Small Animal UK Clinical Board Chairman, commented: “It is really fantastic that IVC Evidensia has been given the opportunity to join many other veterinary groups, practices and businesses in the UK to promote the messages around antibiotic disposal awareness, both to our fellow professionals in the business and our clients. 

“We hope to take this current project, which coincides with World Antibiotic Awareness week, and create an ongoing process within our group where returning unused antibiotics becomes the norm. That way we can adopt a One Health approach to the rising problem of increased antibiotic resistance, which is becoming a major threat, not only in the animal world but also in human medicine. 

“We must take a responsible stance and highlight the concerns of the incorrect disposal of unused antibiotics, where antibiotics are now detected commonly in the waters of the UK and bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics are being seen more frequently.”

You can find out more about the campaign and what you can do to help using the relevant RCVS resource here: https://knowledge.rcvs.org.uk/amr/antibiotic-amnesty/

New research from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has revealed the extent to which pet ferret owners are aware of and understand ferret boredom. 

The study found that, although most owners believed their ferrets could experience boredom, owners who doubted this capability in ferrets provided a significantly less stimulating environment for their pets. This builds on previous RVC research which has shown how a lack of stimulation and effective habitats can cause seeking and excessively inactive behaviour. This study hopes to raise awareness amongst pet owners to ensure ferrets are provided with appropriate environments to safeguard their wellbeing.

Research into animal boredom is in its infancy and is an animal welfare risk due to the predictable routines and confined living conditions that often typify captivity. With an estimated one hundred thousand pet ferrets in the UK alone and given that ferrets are well known for their inquisitive natures, it is important to understand owner perception, recognition and mitigation of ferret boredom, so owners can ensure their pets live happy and healthy lives.

Conducting this research, the RVC team set out to unveil the extent to which pet ferret owners believe that ferrets can experience boredom and whether owners’ beliefs of ferret boredom were linked to the environmental enrichments or housing they provided, or the style of training they used for their ferrets. This was achieved by gathering and analysing 621 responses to an online questionnaire completed by ferret owners worldwide.

The results showed that 93 per cent of owners believed ferrets could experience boredom and that housing with other ferrets, human interaction, and exploring new items or places were the most important ways to prevent boredom. However, owners who doubted that ferrets could feel bored gave their ferrets only an average of 11 types of environmental enrichment, such as bedding, toys and shelters, compared with 13 types provided by owners who perceived ferrets as capable of getting bored. Depending on which enrichment types were missing in each case, this could significantly affect ferret welfare.

Moreover, the team analysed the behaviours that owners associated with boredom. These showed that ‘scratching at enclosure walls’ and ‘sleeping more than normal’ were key behaviours that owners used to distinguish ferret boredom from other emotions. Pacing around the enclosure, yawning, and resting with their eyes open were also suggested. This aligns with predictions that boredom in animals causes both active seeking behaviour and excessively inactive behaviour.

These results suggest that where pet owners expressed a doubt over ferrets’ ability to experience boredom, they may unknowingly provide significantly fewer environmental enrichment types, potentially negatively impacting their pet ferret’s welfare. Raising awareness of ferrets’ emotional capabilities with pet owners through information dissemination could be a viable approach to improving ferret management and welfare.

Dr Charlotte Burn, Senior Lecturer in Animal Welfare and Behaviour Science at the RVC, said: “Boredom is an unusual emotion because it causes both restless activity and drowsy inactivity, as individuals try and fail to find stimulation. This really ties in with what ferret owners recognised as signalling boredom in their pets, because they described the ferrets alternating between scratching at their enclosures, as if trying to escape, and then sleeping too much. That combination of behaviour also gives us some insight into how distressing it can be for captive animals to have nothing to do day after day, so it really matters that owners provide enough enrichment to occupy their pets.”

Alice Dancer, PhD Student at the RVC, and lead author of the paper, said: “It’s a really encouraging sign for pet ferret welfare that most owners believe ferrets can experience boredom. We’ve all experienced boredom ourselves and can testify that it’s an unpleasant emotion when we can’t avoid it. Understanding how we can recognise boredom, and crucially, how we can prevent it in our pets is incredibly important for improving their welfare. With the help of pet ferret owners from around the world we are a step further in understanding a bored ferret’s behaviour, and some of the ways we can try and prevent it.”

Dewi Jenkins’ dream came true when he and his dog Jock became 2022 International Supreme Champions at the International Sheep Dog Society 2022 Supreme Championship. 

Held on the beautiful Castle Howard Estate and attracting spectators from far afield for the prestigious event, Dewi and Jock competed against some of the best dogs and handlers in the world.

The top 3 seen above - Dewi Jenkins and Jock, Aled Owen with Bud and Rob Ellis with Bran.

With a passion for working, training and trialling that started at 8 years old, Dewi has undeniably had a bumper year, having also represented Wales in the well-known One Man and His Dog series and winning the North Wales Victor Ludorum.

Living and working on the family farm above Aberystwyth provides ample opportunities to work and train his dogs and the breeding and competing gene obviously runs in Dewi’s blood since the family also has prize-winning Welsh Mountain sheep and Welsh Black cattle.

CSJ’s founder Ceri Rundle (the first ever lady to compete in One Man and His Dog) said: “We’re always so proud of all the winners in canine sports that use our feeds, herbs and treats and with top competitors like Dewi and his dogs the results speak for themselves.”

Follow CSJ winners on:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/specialistcaninefeeds/

Twitter:  @CSJDogFood

Instagram: @CSJDog_Food

YouTube:  CSJ Specialist Canine Feeds

www.awaywithdogs.co.uk

Award-winning Redpaw Pet Supplies is moving into new premises and its new location is only two minutes from the current store.

Owner Sammie Hunt said: “The new store will be opening to the public from next Thursday (December 1) at 10am. 

“The biggest benefit is it is facing onto the main road and is three-times larger than our current shop. The current shop is being turned into a storage unit and office area.”

Redpaw Pet Supllies, voted UK Retailer of the Year in 2018 at the PIF Awards, is moving from Unit 19, 62 Valley Road, Plympton, Devon, to Unit 41g Valley Rd, just two minutes away.

So what’s new at the new store?

“I have a purpose built nutritional consultation room to provide customers with nutritional advice to help improve their pets health and diet,” said Sammie.

“We have weighing scales to help customers monitor pets’ weight and will be providing a weight monitoring club. 

“We are extending our ranges of products covering dogs, cats, birds and small animals. Plus so much more.”

Pictured: Sammie outside the new store.

Pets at Home has seen its half-year profits before tax slip by 9.3% to £59.2m with increased freight and energy costs being given as reasons for the drop.

But the UK’s largest pet retailer said that consumer demand remains strong, with a record number of UK pet owners continuing to prioritise spending on their pets, underpinned by the structural trends of humanisation and premiumisation.

In fact, the group has reported growth in revenues of 7.3% to £727.2m in its half-year finanacial report. Sales throughout the group have accelerated through the period – driven by record numbers of new customers.

Retail revenues are up by 6.8%, helped by an average of over 750,000 new Puppy and Kitten Club members or an average of 29,000 per week. This figure is three times pre-pandemic levels

Vet revenues increased by 12.4, boosted by an average of 8,800 new clients per week. The client base now stands at 1.7m.

Group underlying profit before tax was down 9.3% to £59.2m in line with plan, impacted by increased freight and energy costs and the YoY increase in investment in digital assets.

There will be an interim dividend per share of 4.5p, an increase of 4.7% YoY.

Lyssa McGowan, Chief Executive Officer, said: “In my first six months as CEO, I have spent my time forming a deep understanding of the business and sector, learning from the ground up how the business operates. I am more convinced that Pets at Home is well positioned to capitalise on an attractive growth opportunity in our structurally growing pet care market, supported by our unique blend of products and services, deeply embedded culture and expert, passionate colleagues, and partners.

“Our first half performance shows progress and resilience across the business. In a challenging macroenvironment, the pet care industry remains in growth across all channels, and we have continued to acquire new customers at an impressive rate, setting new records for customer numbers in recent months.”

Other highlights from the financial report:

• Continuing to invest in unique ecosystem - despite external headwinds – to capture a growing share of the growing market
• Big digital investment to improve customer experience and leverage our huge data capabilities and 30+ years of experience and customer insights
• Plan to transform 40 stores per year to new pet care centre format
• New distribution centre – the biggest investment in the company’s history – can support 10+ years of growth
• Omnichannel capabilities enable customers to get what they want, when they want, how they want, including advice

New research claims that wet pet food in cans and pouches is nearly seven times as bad for the environment as commercial dry food.

The survey by researchers at Sao Paulo University in Brazil found that wet pet food production created 690% more greenhouse gas emissions than dry food production.

“Our study demonstrates that the production of pet food in Brazil has an important environmental impact, and this is certainly similar in other countries,” said a spokesperson.

“Calorie for calorie, the production of wet food for dogs and cats creates 690% more greenhouse gas emissions than making dry kibble does, because of the higher animal protein content. For a 10-kilogram dog eating wet food, this could mean an annual carbon ‘pawprint’ roughly equal to the human footprint with regards to food consumption.”

The researchers studied the production of more than 900 types of dog and cat food. They looked at the 212 ingredients used in total across all the products and used existing databases to work out the environmental effects of their production. This included greenhouse gas emissions, sulphur produced and the land and water used to farm and breed the animals that go into the food.

They then worked out the environmental impact per 1,000 kilocalories of food.

The results found that producing the food for an average 10kg dog on dry kibble would create about 830kg of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year. If the same dog were on a wet-food diet, the CO2 emissions to create that food would be about 6,500kg.

The study suggested that pet food manufacturers should consider using alternative protein sources such as mealworms.

Pet Trade Xtra contacted UK Pet Food, which said it would consider the research findings before issuing a comment.

A prestigious awards event, dubbed ‘the Grammys of Entrepreneurship’, that celebrates the UK’s most exceptional business leaders, has given one of its top honours to a leading pet industry entrepreneur.

The Great British Entrepreneur Awards, which this year attracted a record 5,500 entries, named pet trade business owner Tracey Voss as the 2022 Sustainability Entrepreneur of the Year for her environmentally friendly coconut cat litter Huskaloo. 

A glittering gala dinner, the awards’ largest-ever event, was staged at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane yesterday, attracting 1,400 entrepreneurs and colleagues.

From the 5,500 entries, just 98 entrepreneurs from across the four British nations went home with prizes this year. 

Tracey, who this year celebrates 25 years in the pet trade, is the Founder of pet product manufacturer Tailor-Grace, the name behind pioneering products such as ‘Huskaloo’, the world’s first eco-friendly compact cat litter made from coconut husks, and ‘Oggi’s World’, the bake-your-own-biscuits for your dog brand.

The awards’ Grand Final was co-hosted by Welsh opera tenor Wynne Evans, the star of TV’s famous Go Compare ads, and the entrepreneur and MC Oli Barrett MBE. Previous comperes include Steven Bartlett, one of the investor pundits on BBC TV’s Dragons’ Den business series.

As well as honouring Tracey, the award also cited new cat litter Huskaloo, which has swept the boards, winning at all the main pet industry awards this autumn.

• At September’s PetQuip Awards at PATS Telford in Shropshire, Tracey and Huskaloo won the Theresa Swann Exporter of the Year 2022 Award and a Silver Award in the ‘Celebrating Green and Organic’.
• Earlier this month, the 2022 Pet Industry Federation Awards named Huskaloo Coconut Cat Litter as the winner of its ‘Product Innovation Award - Cat’ prize.
• And now the Great British Entrepreneur Awards 2022 named Tracey Sustainability Entrepreneur of the Year for Huskaloo, singling them out among 900 other shortlisted entrepreneurs.

Clutching her latest award, Tracey said: “I am absolutely blown away to have won Sustainability Entrepreneur of the Year with Huskaloo. The Great British Entrepreneur Awards represent the very best of British and I am just so chuffed. It is the icing on the cake this year without a shadow of a doubt, but this award is not for me, it is for everybody in our team. 

“We have won a cluster of awards this year and it seems that everybody now recognises the unique selling points of Huskaloo and, most importantly also, they clearly appreciate what we're trying to do with the product for the environment, which is fundamental. 

“We have won these awards because Huskaloo is a true disruptor. It is what the industry has been waiting for – a product that is lighter, smaller, kinder to the animals, one that controls odour and is fundamentally better for the environment. 

“Plus, obviously, it is cheaper, and that is so important at this time when British people are watching the pennies and the pounds. But our success has not just been in the UK, it is also in Europe, and we also now have interest from Canada. Everybody seems to love Huskaloo!”

Francesca James, Founder of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, said they were recognised today as ‘the Grammys of Entrepreneurship’. “The extraordinary circumstances of the last few years have tested the resilience of our business communities, and the challenges were enough to give many entrepreneurs an excuse to give up. 

“Instead, our award winners did the opposite and, through ingenuity, innovation, and the ability to adapt, they thrived.”

Tuft Global – the innovative grooming app for dog owners to find, book and review groomers – has announced it will open its Seed A investment round worth up to £2.2 million early 2023.

Despite the cost-of-living crisis impacting consumer spending, the pet tech brand has seen Month on Month booking grow by 9% since the start of the year, highlighting grooming as a necessary expenditure for dog owners.

With the huge increase in pet ownership over the last two years, alongside one in three households owning a dog, the demand for pet care has boomed, enabling Tuft to expand its software into Spain after just one year on the market and grow its team.

Joining as a Customer Services Manager, Jose Salas has 7+ years of experience in customer service within several different industries. Jose’s responsibilities include creating and upholding Tuft’s service procedures, translating manuscripts from English to Spanish, and providing solutions to customer inquiries for both Spain and the UK.

Overseeing the sales within Spain, Diego Pecchini has joined the team as a Sales Representative with over 5+ years of experience. Diego will be generating leads, providing software demonstrations, and onboarding new groomers in both Spain and the UK.

This success coincides with the innovative software raising a whopping £304k of external investment and its founder and CEO, Chloe Smith, being shortlisted as a 2022 Service Industries Entrepreneur of the Year finalist at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards.

Commenting on the growth, Chloe said: “Expanding into the European market has always been a goal of mine when I started Tuft in 2021 and I am so thrilled to be launching the software into Spain after just one year and opening a new round of funding in January.

“Despite the cost-of-living crisis, pet health remains at the forefront of people’s mind, evident in our significant increase in downloads and bookings in-app this year. This shows that now is the perfect time to invest in the pet care sector and we’re all so excited to accelerate Tuft’s next stage of growth.” 

Find out more about Tuft here: https://tuftapp.com/

The Advertising Standards Authority has dismissed a complaint against a welfare group, which claimed ‘Greyhound Racing KILLS’.

The advertising watchdog also ruled the group’s claim that ‘every licensed track has a freezer to store the dead dogs’ could be substantiated.

The Greyhound Board of Great Britain and Owlerton Greyhound Stadium challenged whether the claims made by Caged Nationwide were misleading and could be substantiated.

A digital outdoor poster for Caged Nationwide, a greyhound welfare pressure group, was seen in June 2022, showing an image of a muzzled greyhound. Large text alongside it stated, ‘Greyhound Racing KILLS’. Smaller text stated, ‘Every licensed track has a freezer to store the dead dogs’.

In response to the complaint to the ASA, Caged Nationwide cited the yearly figures published by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) for the number of greyhounds who retired from racing or who were injured or died while racing. They said the figures stated that 120 greyhounds were recorded as killed at British Greyhound tracks in 2021 and 200 in 2020. They said that, in addition, there would be greyhounds who were killed by euthanasia on economical grounds and in cases where they were not rehomable. However, Caged Nationwide doubted whether it was possible to obtain accurate figures on that. They said that once a greyhound was no longer registered to race, they were no longer traceable and their movement and existence was not monitored by GBGB or any other welfare body.

Caged Nationwide cited GBGB rule 110B which required that a vet attending a greyhound track had access either to a room or a mobile facility which had a freezer suitable for the storage of a greyhound carcass.

The ASA considered readers would interpret the claim to mean that greyhound racing itself was responsible for the death of greyhounds, rather than other external factors, and that deaths caused in this way were a common occurrence.

The data published by GBGB split the total number of registered racing greyhound deaths across several different reasons. The reasons included treatment costs; no home found; designated unsuitable for rehoming; put to sleep on vet’s advice away from track; put to sleep on humane grounds at track; sudden death and terminal illness/natural causes/other. Of the 359 that had died in 2021, 120 were in the category of being put to sleep on humane grounds at the track. That was the number and category that Caged Nationwide had cited to support their claim. In the same category, the figures for 2020, 2019 and 2018 were 200, 207 and 242 respectively.

The ASA considered that an animal which needed to be put to sleep on humane grounds at the track was likely to have suffered on-track injuries. 

The authority also considered that 120 track-related deaths in the last year, which equated to more than two deaths per week, meant that was a common occurrence. 

“We acknowledged that the use of the term ‘killed’ to refer to the way in which those greyhounds had died might be seen as distasteful and sensationalist by some and, in that sense, an emotive element to the situation,” the ASA said in its ruling.

“Nevertheless, we considered Caged Nationwide had shown there was a factual basis for the claim. We considered the way they had chosen to make the claim was unlikely to be considered more widely as misrepresentative of the situation.

“We therefore concluded that the claim ‘Greyhound racing KILLS’ had been substantiated and was not likely to mislead.”

With regard to the second point of the complaint, the ASA stated: “We considered readers would interpret the claim in its factual sense to mean that any licensed greyhound race track would have a freezer to store the corpses of greyhounds that had died there. 

“We understood the wider context that the sudden death of any greyhound needed to be investigated and that evidence needed to be preserved to increase knowledge and improve veterinary care. 

“We acknowledged therefore that the way that was highlighted in the ad might again be seen as distasteful and sensationalist by some and, in that sense, added an emotive element to the situation. 

“Nevertheless, we again considered Caged NW had shown there was a factual basis for the claim. We considered the way they had chosen to make the claim was unlikely to be considered more widely as misrepresentative of the situation.

“We therefore concluded that the claim ‘Every licensed track has a freezer to store the dead dogs’ had been substantiated and was not likely to mislead.”