The EFRA (Envrionment, Food and Rural Affairs) Committee wants the Government to address the fact that more than half of the puppies entering the market come from unlicensed breeders, and is today calling for a list of licensed breeders to be made public, and a change in the licensing regulations so as to include breeders of two or more litters a year, in order to counter low welfare breeding practices and provide assurance to buyers.

The Committee’s Pet welfare and abuse inquiry has exposed the major rise in canine fertility clinics, from under 40 in 2020, to over 400 in 2023. Unscrupulous canine fertility clinics have benefitted from diffuse enforcement arrangements, allowing them to operate without veterinary involvement, with surgical procedures, including caesarean sections, performed unlawfully by lay-persons. 

The Committee heard that these clinics are facilitating and helping to normalise reproductive dysfunction in popular dog breeds.  

The report also links the rise in canine fertility clinics to the increased demand for ‘designer’ dogs bred with extreme characteristics, such as brachycephaly, which leave dogs likely to suffer a lifetime of ill health, and points to the influence of social media and celebrities in popularising these breeds. Some canine fertility clinics openly promote their ability to breed from aggressive dogs. 

The EFRA Committee urges the Government to make it a priority to introduce legislation to reform the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 and to include canine fertility clinics. MPs state that the existing £100 fine for illegal veterinary surgery, dating from the 1966 Act, “is a derisory deterrent” and must be updated. 

The inquiry heard that there has also been a trend for the breeding of ‘designer’ cats and that cat welfare and cat breeding is unregulated and needs to be brought under the same legislative safeguards awarded to dogs. 

MPs call on the Government to launch a public information campaign to raise awareness of the harms of ‘designer’ pets and to discourage the trend.  

Today’s report also describes the Committee’s findings on the practices of ear-cropping, cosmetic tail-docking in dogs and declawing in cats. These ‘ethically abhorrent’ procedures cause ongoing pain and suffering to the animals for the satisfaction of the owners and are illegal in Britain, but the Committee found that a major legal loophole allows the importation of animals that have been mutilated.  

The report calls on the Government to close this loophole as a matter of urgency and MPs also call for legislation to end the sale in Britain of DIY kits to perform ear-cropping on dogs. 

The cross-party Committee’s report homes in on the need for adequate enforcement of legislation and the problems faced by local authorities, who have the statutory responsibilities for enforcement, but find themselves under resourced, resulting in an inconsistent approach nationally, which may ‘embolden’ unscrupulous breeders to flout the rules. Under-resourcing also means that some local authorities have insufficient kennel facilities available and may have to put animals down. 

The inquiry also examined the issues around the imports of pets, including the import of mutilated animals, very young puppies, heavily pregnant animals and pets bred in low welfare environments. 

To clamp down on the smuggling of animals, the Committee urges the Government to implement a ban on the importation of puppies and kittens under six months, and a reduction on the number of dogs and cats that can be imported by an individual into the UK.

The report highlights concerns about the robustness of a pet importation system that is based on documentary checks at ports carried out by commercial passenger carriers. 

During its inquiry, the Committee also took evidence on biosecurity issues linked to the import of pet animals, hearing that some dogs purportedly coming from rabies-free countries are suspected of actually originating from a rabies-endemic country. The report calls on the Government to introduce a number of measures to control the entry of dogs from countries which have endemic diseases, such as Brucella canis and Leishmaniasis, that are not present in the UK. 

While the Government withdrew its Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill last year, the Committee urges the Government to see through these important welfare measures as soon as possible, through Private Members bills. 

Chair of the EFRA Committee, Sir Robert Goodwill, said: “As a nation of animal and pet lovers, we place a high importance on the welfare of animals. But some of the regulations that cover the breeding of pet dogs rely on legislation dating back to 1966 and the breeding of cats is almost completely unregulated. 

“We are concerned about the huge rise in the number of canine fertility clinics and the lack of regulatory oversight of these clinics, which may employ unqualified staff to perform veterinary procedures, and which may encourage the breeding of dogs with extreme features and dogs bred for aggressive traits. 

“We also urge the Government to address the funding and resource needs of local authorities to enforce regulations, to ensure that unscrupulous actors do not become emboldened to think they can act with impunity. Along with this, we call for greater clarity over where the enforcement and accountability responsibilities lie and for planning for training for inspectors and greater co-ordination and co-operation amongst the statutory bodies. 

“Our inquiry found that the current trends for designer features in dogs and cats are causing lifelong suffering to these pets and we ask the Government to promote greater public awareness about this to counter the influence of social media and celebrities who encourage these trends.”

Dr Samantha Butler-Davies MRCVS, Head of Clinical Services at Pets at Home, said: “Pets at Home and Vets for Pets welcome today's EFRA Committee report on Pet welfare and abuse and we strongly support the recommendations to tackle unlicensed and irresponsible breeding practices of dogs and cats. 

“Robust education resources for prospective pet owners, to help them make welfare-first decisions, is paramount.  As we advised when providing expert evidence to the Committee, our veterinary colleagues and partners see the impact of unlicensed fertility clinics as well as legal loopholes which allow importations of cats and dogs that have suffered cosmetic mutilations - such as cropped ears and claw removal - every day in their practices and more support must be made available.

“We are also supportive of the recommendations to reform the Veterinary Surgeons Act. This law was passed in the 1960s and needs modernisation. For the sake of pets up and down the country, we hope the Government considers these proposed reforms with a matter of urgency.”

UK Pet Food, the trade association for the UK Pet Food industry, has announced its new Chair – Rupert Phillips, Managing Director of Pet (UK & Ireland) at Spectrum Brands. 

Bringing a wealth of commercial experience and a keen interest in trade, Rupert is well-equipped to lead UK Pet Food alongside the team over the next two years.

During Rupert's tenure, there will be elections across the globe and a new political landscape to navigate in the UK. The Association itself will be focused on Safety & Standards – one of its core pillars, alongside nutrition and sustainability. 

Expressing enthusiasm about his new role, Rupert said: “In this busy environment, my focus alongside the team will be on ensuring we continue to be a strong voice for the industry on matters such as facilitating trade and advocating for regulatory alignment across the EU.”

Michael Bellingham, UK Pet Food CEO elaborated on the task ahead: “Under the headline of Safety & Standards, we will be communicating proactively about the role of prepared pet food in delivering safe and sustainable nutrition for our pets whilst promoting what it means to be a member of UK Pet Food and the best practice our members sign up to.” 

With a robust team in place, UK Pet Food is poised for continued success in representing the UK Pet Food industry.

For more information, visit www.ukpetfood.org or contact info@ukpetfood.org

The creative UK bakers at ‘Wonderful World of Treats’ have created recipes that bring foods usually only available for humans to our four-legged friends. 

Mascot for the brand, Houdini, will guide pet lovers through four amazing lands: Burger Hills, Sushi Forest, Cake Mountains and Pizza Oasis. Each land contains three fun flavours in 50g bags, with packaging made from the latest biodegradable paper to help protect the planet.   

To help promote the range in stores the brand has some striking new displays that will make it stand out and stimulate interest and excitement for dog owners and all the family. 

The brand is also building an ‘out-of-this-world’ website with animation and lots of fun new elements, which will launch at the end of April. 

“We are super excited to launch this magical new brand, Wonderful of World of Treats,” said Steve Driver, MD. “After two years of development, we’re so proud to offer pet owners a unique and novel option for treating their furry friends. Our treats are not only delicious but also made with natural ingredients, antioxidants, and locally sourced ingredients to ensure the highest quality and health benefits.” 

Key features of the new range include:

• Inspired by human favourites
• Healthy and irresistible for dogs
• Variety of flavours spanning different 'enchanting lands'
• Made with natural ingredients, antioxidants and locally sourced ingredients
• Fully recyclable packaging that can be recycled at home

For more information about Wonderful World of Treats contact sales@wonderfulworldoftreats.co.uk

Visit the magical ‘Wonderful World of Treats’ and meet Houdini at Interzoo in the British Pavilion – Hall 9, Stand 508. 

CASCO Pet, the animal enclosure and equipment specialist, has appointed Wayne Kemp to the role of Group Managing Director. The newly created role is reflective of the company’s continued business growth and its global market presence across pet retail and veterinary sectors.

With his wealth of experience that spans two decades within the animal health and veterinary industries, Kemp has been instrumental in spearheading large-scale programs and driving innovation across both pet retail and veterinary spaces. He joins CASCO Pet from UK-based specialist pet retailer, Pets at Home, where he held the position of Group Store Development & Facilities Director.

In the role as Group Managing Director, Kemp will be responsible for driving CASCO Pet’s mission of providing innovative solutions and exceptional service to the company’s pet retail and veterinary customer base worldwide. He will also be responsible for exploring new sectors of growth for the company.

Kemp says: “I’m excited to be joining CASCO Pet at such a pivotal time. The company’s global focus and B2B outlook represents a fresh challenge and I look forward to leading the CASCO team on its continued mission of innovating pet wellness.”

Matthew Bubear, CEO of CASCO Pet, says: “We are thrilled that Wayne is joining us at such an exciting time for the company. Along with his extensive knowledge and expertise in the industry, he is passionate about building strong relationships, believes in innovation and service, and works in an open and collaborative way – aligning perfectly with our business values.”

Kemp will be representing CASCO Pet at the upcoming Interzoo trade fair, taking place at the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg, Germany, May 7-10, 2024.

CASCO Pet provides innovative solutions in animal enclosures for retail, veterinary practices and clinics, as well as education facilities. The company is committed to enhancing pet wellness by redefining standards of care in animal housing, with a continual focus on innovation and discovery.

Furr Boost directors Ian and Louise Toal secured a £50,000 investment for a 30% share of their company from fashion retail entrepreneur and investor Touker Suleyman on BBC One’s Dragons’ Den for their award-winning range of smoothie drinks for dogs.

Furr Boost was the inspiration of Louise, who was a technical manager to the food industry for over 20 years. Louise’s beagle, Phoebe, became unwell with bladder problems, which were linked to the dog’s food.

Using her technical food background, Louise started experimenting with protein shakes to help flush out Phoebe’s system and to provide her with the hydration that she needed when she was refusing to drink enough water particularly in the summer months. This led to the creation of the Furr Boost range of smoothie drinks.

During the Dragons’ Den episode, Louise explained that the drinks were unique on the market and that each of the recipes contains a real meat, fruit and vegetable, along with added oils and vitamins to support the dog’s wellbeing in areas such as digestion, skin and coat, anxiety, metabolism and immunity. The drinks can be served straight from the carton, frozen as an icy treat and Louise demonstrated to the Dragons the most popular way to serve the drink by creating an Ultimutt Furr Boost Puppaccino during the filming. 

The couple were seeking investment to expand their business into further major retail outlets including supermarkets, to export to more countries and to launch a range for cats. 

Commenting on their time in the Den, Louise said. “It was pretty nerve-wracking having to present our business to the Dragons and they certainly put us through our paces, but we were delighted with the outcome.” 

Watch Furr Boost in the Den on BBC iPlayer by clicking here. Ian and Louise appear 30 minutes into the programme.

For further information please visit www.furrboost.com

Visitors to PATS 2024 – the Pet & Aquatics Trade Show – will get the chance to meet pet companies who have starred in the current series of BBC One’s hit programme Dragons’ Den.

After winning investment on the show, Inventor Cat, Scoff Paper and Furr Boost have all booked stands at the three-day PATS exhibition, which takes place at the Telford International Centre in Shropshire from Sunday, 29^th September to Tuesday, 1^st October 2024.

“PATS will be a wonderful opportunity for retailers and buyers to meet face-to-face with these innovative brands and learn more about their experiences on Dragons’ Den and also their award-winning product ranges,” said organiser Gordon Thomas.

“There’s still six months to go before PATS and more than 240 companies have already confirmed stand space. Undoubtedly some of these exhibitors will be future stars of Dragons’ Den, so I’d urge buyers to make sure they register online for free entry. There will be so much to see and do at this year’s show.”

Furr Boost was the latest company to appear in the Den, where husband and wife team Ian and Louise Toal clinched a £50,000 investment from Dragon Touker Suleyman. Louise, the founder of the pet smoothie drink business, said: “It has been an interesting few days since the show aired. It is great to be recognised as one of the innovators and disruptors of the industry. From the enquiries we have received, there is a lot of love out there for owners and their pets.”

Louise added: “PATS has helped support and raise the profile of Furr Boost, especially on the back of the New Starter Zone last year. At this year’s show we would be happy to talk about our experience in the Den as well as our Super Charged, Award Winning smoothies.”

Cat product inventor Victor Carpio clinched a £45,000 investment offer for his innovative Dental Wand from Deborah Meaden when he appeared in an earlier edition of Dragons’ Den. Victor said: “Our appearance generated a great buzz among cat owners. It made sense to keep that emotion and momentum going and PATS is a perfect place to do this. Having three days to show our invention to an ever growing and captive audience is a great opportunity.”

And Lancashire entrepreneur Gemma Connolly of Scoff Paper, who’s created a unique brand of edible greeting cards for dogs, admits she is excited to be able to share her experience with PATS visitors after securing £50,000 backing from Sara Davies.

Many more PATS exhibitors have appeared in TV programmes over the years and media expert Alec Lom thinks he knows the reasons why. 

“TV producers crave ratings and they’re mindful of the huge numbers of pet owners in Britain. If just a fraction of those millions tune in, the show’s viewing figures soar. The makers of the show do the maths,” said Alec, whose events and communications firm has represented many pet businesses at PATS.

“That’s in no way to detract from the genius of the business innovators in the pet sector. The producers are constantly on the lookout for new guests and items, and PATS exhibitions will always be the prime hunting grounds for programme talent scouts because that’s where the ‘best of British’ showcase their product ranges.”

As well as meeting up with countless innovative pet brands like successful Dragons’ Den contestants, visitors to PATS will also see the biggest ever showcase of new pet, aquatic and watergardening products. There will also be demonstrations and talks from top dog groomers plus unrivalled show offers and competitions.

Visitors will receive free entry, a free show catalogue and a complimentary tea/coffee voucher. There is free parking for up to 1,300 cars.

You can register online at www.patshow.co.uk where you’ll also find a full list of exhibitors and information on how to reach the venue.

Just for Pets Cambridge has moved to a bigger unit on its Barnwell Road site in Cambridge, opening a much improved and larger store.

The new superstore is now open and you can view pictures of the premises – interior and exterior – in the gallery below.

Hungry hounds are drooling at the thought of Kong toys packed with food from Healthy Pet Store in Totton being delivered to shelters across Southampton.

Healthy Pet Store customers and visitors are being urged to "stuff a KONG" with delicious and nutritious treats for International KONG Day in store on April 8th.

On the day, volunteers will be able to take an empty KONG and have fun stuffing it with tasty food, snacks and treats before they are frozen and then delivered to St. Francis Animal Welfare, Blue Cross Southampton, RSPCA Solent and Second Chance Animal Rescue shelters the next day.

Healthy Pet Store Managing Director, Deborah Burrows has urged people who want to make a difference to sheltered dogs to come into the store, roll up their sleeves and help her team to "get stuffing".

She said: “This is going to be a fun and engaging event for our customers. Children especially will enjoy the experience. KONG toys are wonderful enrichment toys every dog can enjoy, so I’m hoping our volunteers will also come away with plenty of new recipes and ideas they can use at home.”

Designed to provide long-lasting entertainment for dogs, KONG toys promote wellbeing and provide stimulation. 

Katie from St. Francis Animal Welfare said: "We are delighted that Healthy Pet Store thought of us for KONG Day 2024. We know all of our dogs will be very excited to receive a fully stuffed KONG.

"Some of our dogs need extra help during their stay here and in their adopted home, so we often use enrichment toys to help them settle into their new environment and reduce stress."

The Fruit Basket in Stubbington will also be donating damaged fruits to be used for stuffing on the day. 

Healthy Pet Store is an independent retailer selling a wide range of raw pet food, training gear, fun and functional toys and training gear.

Award-winning small animal pet business HayPigs! caused a stir with the announcement it was switching its attention to hamsters in a bid to lower costs, optimise shipping efficiencies and refresh the brand.

Renowned for its love of guinea pigs and for creating a range of circus-themed guinea pig enrichment toys, the family business said it had decided to “take a new direction”.

Co-founder Rik Cridland explained: “It’s just not been adding up. With the increase in raw materials, labour costs, shipping and fulfilment costs, it just doesn’t make sense to think so big. We’ve always loved hamsters and in reflection, wonder why we didn’t do this sooner. By shrinking down our entire range to hamster proportions, we’ve estimated we’ll save around 34% in costs.”

Inspired by watching an episode of The Borrowers, the HayPigs! team announced it would be reducing the size of its iconic Cavy Cannonball, Circus Hidey Hut and Piggy Weightlifter by 40% and changing the word “guinea pig” for “hamster” in all marketing material. 

“To be honest, most people don’t know the difference between a hamster and a guinea pig anyway,” explained Rik’s wife and co-founder Helen. It’s not going to be a difficult transition. With our own herd of rescue piggies, we’re always being asked ‘How are your hamsters?’ Well, now we can just smile, nod and say ‘They’re great!’”

But loyal HayPigs! fans needn’t have worried because it was all an April Fools hoax, the announcement being made on April 1.

After revealing the story was a hoax, Rik said: "I'll say one thing about April 1st, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find a daft concept! Everytime we think we've come up with something completely ridiculous we get contacted by multiple excited customers saying 'We'd love that'. Maybe we should revisit our April 1st back catalogue and make some of these things happen for real!"

Pet accessories firm Doodlebone has launched ‘The Brights’ collection, which is full of exciting new colours and patterns for fun summer days.

The new range is perfect for mixing and matching across the existing Doodlebone ranges. Leading by design, the Brights collection is packed full of the latest trends – the perfect summer pick up.  

James Mokler, product marketing manager, said: “Our Brights collection is a really great addition to our bestselling and much-loved Core range. It encapsulates everything that Doodlebone is known and loved for – fun, funky colours in a great quality, durable product.”

The Doodlebone product and design team start each season with intensive research taking inspiration from travel, trend forecasters, social media, interior design, and high fashion. They then ensure that these upcoming trends fit within the brand identity and customer profiling. 

The Brights collection includes four new funky colours: Coral, Citrus, Indigo and Orchid. And four exciting complimentary prints: Aurora, Dunes, Reef and Retro. These fun Summer colours will be available in our Adjustable Airmesh Harness, Padded Collar and Lead. 

The Doodlebone Brights collection can be purchased direct at doodlebone.co.uk and can be found in stockists nationwide.

New eco conscious wellness and lifestyle brand DotDotPet, which was given its soft launch at PATS Telford in 2023 and managed to walk away with the best new product in the New Products Showcase for its Eco Towels, recently exhibited at Cosmoprof in Bologna in Italy. They were the only representative from the pet industry there.

For over 50 years, Cosmoprof has been the benchmark event for companies and professionals in all sectors of the cosmetics industry, from the supply chain to the finished product.  Cosmoprof's mission is to promote deep and lasting connections among businesses, providing fertile ground for the discovery and anticipation of market trends. They are committed to supporting companies and professionals in the cosmetics industry worldwide, offering tools and networking opportunities that adapt to the specific needs of each market.

At the show, Harry Chapman, founder of DotDotPet was introduced to distributors, cosmetic retailers and pharmacists who are looking to expand their pet offering in their stores by introducing high quality brands. During the course of the show, Harry obtained over 30 leads from across Europe and is now in the process of following these up.

Harry said: “Not only did we talk to prospective distributors and retailers but being the only pet exhibit at the show, visitors were very keen to show us pictures of their dogs. This helped to break the ice on the stand.”

Harry has for over 15 years worked for pharma, nutraceutical and food companies. He has a background in animal health alongside other members of his team who also have backgrounds in retail, beauty and fragrance development.

He added: “We identified an opportunity to create a strong pet wellness and lifestyle brand that offers new generation pet parents high quality products and solutions that align with their values across a range of categories. Our customers may get joy from sharing their beauty regime with their pets or an active lifestyle and at DotDotPet we have a product to meet those needs. Our company values are pet first, eco conscious, fun and diversity. Every DotDotPet product has been developed with the pet at its heart and has a great story and range of USPs unmatched in the market “

Since launching, DotDotPet’s Dog Eco Towels have sold thousands of units. They are 100% natural, biodegradable, portable, disposable pet wipes. They are made from FSC certified materials, are super soft, durable and absorbent making them an ideal choice for pet parents whose pups love a swim, mud bath or roll in something suspicious. They are great to take out on life's adventures or simply keep them by the back door to reduce the need for wet smelly towels in a car or home.  The Eco Towels would also be useful for dog groomers, vets, dog walkers, doggy day-care centres, kennel owners, pet therapists and pet behaviourists to clean up the messes of their clients’ dogs or to towel down their coats and paws.

DotDotPet recently introduced range of pet shampoos which have been developed by a team of experts from the fragrance and cosmetic industries which are kind to pets and a new range of dog and cat treats which contain active ingredients that support the health and well being of pets. These have been developed with the help of top nutritionists. More on these soon!

DotDotPet has already secured a number of online and retail partners geared up to support their full but are looking for retailers in the UK and across Europe who will align, display and promote the lifestyle principles of the brand in a fun way.

If you are interested in becoming a stockist then visit www.dotdotpet.com

Over 200 dog walkers from across London and the UK joined the founders of PAWD DRINKS, Rory Hanna and Archie Wilson, for a special walk event in Battersea Park.

PAWD DRINKS is a new revolutionary and groundbreaking range of functional liquid supplements, scientifically crafted to target the common health issues faced by our beloved dogs. These innovative products are the result of extensive research and development by world-leading animal nutritionists including Dr. Farshad Goodarzi Boroojeni and are veterinary-approved. Each formula has been carefully crafted to not only address specific health concerns but also contribute to the overall well-being of our four-legged friends.  

The idea for the drinks came from Rory’s family dog, Scrumpy, a Jack Russell/Patterdale Terrier that lived to 17, and despite remaining fairly healthy and having a loving life, he did from time-to-time face common health issues prone to dogs such as arthritis and anxiety. 

“Scrumpy refused to take pills however hard we tried to hide them in his food, and this put the idea into my head that there must be a better way to administer supplements,” says Rory. “Liquids are the most efficient and effective way of transporting vitamins, minerals, and nutrients into a body, whether it is human or dog. The balance between food and drink in the human world is pretty even, whereas in the dog world, it is very uneven, and this needs to change!”

Visitors to the event were treated to a gentle walk around Battersea Park followed by a talk on the products by the two founders and the scientist behind the products. Samples of PAWD DRINKS were available to try and beverages of a more human nature were handed out to guests. The event then ended in The Lighthouse Pub in Battersea for a few nibbles.

Archie added: “We were totally over-whelmed when 200 people turned up to our launch with so many dogs! Launch Day couldn't have gone any better! Seeing so many dogs playing together and absolutely loving the product gave me and Rory unbelievable satisfaction! It's been a lot of trial and testing over the past few months but now we know the fun really starts! Production is now fully underway, we have had our first customers and we have launched a new website.”

PAWD DRINKS Joints has been formulated to address arthritis and joint mobility with up to 80% of all dogs suffering from some form of arthritis over the age of 8. PAWD DRINKS Joints contains natural ingredients, such as ginger and devil’s claw root to support joint mobility and can be used as a preventative supplement.

Studies also suggest that up to 70% of dogs exhibit anxiety-related behaviours at some point in their lives. This can be in the form of separation, social, travel or noise anxiety, with around 50% of dogs showing significant fear in response to thunder or fireworks. PAWD DRINKS Calming will help to relax and soothe your dog in any anxious situations.

PAWD DRINKS are pH neutral and contain no acidifiers or preservatives. They are easy to consume and administer and are fast and efficient. They provide full hydration for your dogs, contain 100% natural ingredients, are low cost per portion and are loved by dogs! What’s more to love?

For further information visit: www.pawddrinks.com

See more pictures from the PAWD DRINKS walk in the gallery below...

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Pets at Home has launched a new multi-year campaign with media and entertainment group, Global.

Following a competitive pitch, Pets at Home’s media agency Carat UK successfully secured exclusive sponsorship of all Heart Drive shows for the pet retailer.

The move will also see Pets at Home access Global’s comprehensive portfolio, utilising audio, outdoor and presenters.

Pets at Home marketing director Madeline Shaw, said: “We know just how much joy pets bring to people’s lives – none more so than at the end of a busy working day. We are delighted to be keeping the nation company every weekday afternoon, showcasing our incredible expertise and range of products and services.

“The Heart Drive audience is closely aligned to our core customer, so it’s the perfect platform for us to demonstrate how Pets at Home can support every pet and every pet owner. We can’t wait to inspire the millions of listeners that tune in each afternoon.”

Global, Commercial Partnerships Director Jenni Lees, added: “Heart’s Drive network has the perfect audience for Pets at Home. We know that 72% of listeners have a pet, and one in three plan to get one in the next year.

“Additionally, Pets at Home shares Heart’s feel-good spirit and I know that the content we’re creating together will help our presenters turn up even more of the feel good right across the UK.”

The Pet Shop in Sittingbourne High Street, Kent is celebrating 30 years of trading.

Owner Victor Brobyn, who opened the store in April 1994, has explained how the business is still striving despite intense competition. 

Victor’s success story has been featured by Kent Online, and you can reads the full report by clicking here

A new podcast, ‘The Pet Profession Podcast’ by Agria Pet Insurance, has launched to help vet professionals navigate the remarkable yet challenging journey they go through in their careers.

Hosted by Anthony Chadwick, who has a wealth of veterinary experience, the podcast will feature five episodes. Anthony will be joined by a different specialist from the industry in each episode to take an in-depth look at a variety of topics including pet life expectancy, sustainability in the vet industry, recruitment, and euthanasia.

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The first episode of The Pet Profession Podcast is available now with animal epidemiology expert Dan O’Neill as a guest discussing the ins and outs of pet life expectancy. Anthony and Dan discuss VetCompass, a ground-breaking research database of pet health, and tap into Dan’s wisdom surrounding some of the most frequently asked questions about animal lifespans.

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Vicki Wentworth, Managing Director at Agria Pet Insurance, says: “We are delighted to launch the Pet Profession Podcast and provide a platform for veterinary professionals to share their knowledge and insights on a range of relevant and important topics. By collaborating with some of the most experienced individuals in the vet industry, our ambition is to offer a thought-provoking and valuable resource for our audience, providing practical information and inspiring ideas.” 

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Anthony Chadwick, professional vet and Pet Profession Podcast host, says: “It’s a pleasure to be a part of The Pet Profession Podcast. I’m passionate about sharing my ideas for the industry with others and the podcast not only allows me to do this, but I have also gained some valuable insight from the guests that I have been speaking to.”

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The Pet Profession Podcast by Agria Pet Insurance is available to listen to and download from Spotify, Acast, Apple Podcasts and all main podcast directories. Agria offers veterinary professionals a discount of 20% off premium plans for dogs, cats and rabbits. 

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To find out more, visit agriapet.co.uk/vets/ 

A catastrophic brush with a sheep in February left CSJ’s Ceri Rundle with a severely smashed right knee – a ‘Depressed Comminuted Lateral Tibial Plateau Fracture’.

After surgery and over two weeks recovery in hospital Ceri was home wearing a mechanical leg brace and with a gruesome 18 inches long wound. 

Knowing how effective and kind to skin CSJ’s own Skinny Cream is for dogs and owners, Ceri immediately turned to it to soothe the dry sensitive skin and help skin repair and hydration.

Ceri said: “Like all our skincare products Skinny Cream is all natural and kind to skin and knowing that so many dog owners are using it effectively on themselves I had no hesitation.

“Containing soothing Neem oil and coconut cream which is rich in nutrients it went to work immediately … and as a bonus gave off a lovely smell of coconuts!

“The brief we gave to our experts when developing the product stipulated ‘no preservatives, sulphates or artificial colours’ – it’s key in our ethos and expected by our customers.  

Since its launch in 2011 the whole Skinny range, which also includes a shampoo and a spray has become the ‘go to’ for caring dog owners and Skinny Cream is now in a handy 100ml size because A Little Goes A Long Way!”

For more on CSJ products visit www.csjk9.com or call 01745710470.

After six years with Pedigree Wholesale, Gerard O'Mahony has decided to step down as Managing Director.    

During his tenure the company has achieved unprecedented success, propelling its wholesale business to new heights, fostering an energetic and collaborative culture, and championing its mission to be the standout wholesaler in the specialist pet market. 

“Gerard has been an integral part of our team for over six years, and his leadership and dedication have greatly contributed to Pedigree's recent success. Under his guidance, we have achieved numerous milestones and navigated many challenges,” said CEO Steve Brown.

“Gerard's departure is amicable, and we part ways with deep respect and gratitude. His dedication to our team, and ability to navigate complex challenges have been instrumental in our achievements. 

“Over the coming months, I will be working with Gerard as he completes his handover and formally departs at the end of summer. I would like to extend my sincerest thanks and best wishes to Gerard as he moves onto new endeavours.”

Pedigree has partnered with a dedicated recruitment professional and started searching for a replacement. In the meantime, the team is well equipped to support the transition phase.   

Vitalin, one of the UK’s oldest pet food brands, has celebrated a seven-figure brand investment with the launch of its first TV campaign.

The 30-second TV ad, and accompanying online campaign: ‘That’s a Vitalin Dog’, will run across ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, and Sky, plus online display and social channels from today (Thursday, March 28th).

The ad was created by Studio Yes, the creative and production firm behind campaigns for Sacla, Belvoir Farm, Cuvva, and Costa.

The commercial alludes to Vitalin’s heritage as a 71-year-old British brand, while bringing it up to date for modern dog owners. The ‘That’s a Vitalin Dog’ campaign forms part of a brand platform that Vitalin will extend across all areas of marketing.

The ad was shot entirely in the UK (complete with British winter weather) and aims to create instant brand recognition for Vitalin whilst also sharing the brand's farm to the tail proposition through the use of British ingredients and added supplements such as paraprobiotics, prebiotics, dental support, and joint care to help give dogs a zest for life.

The ad also references the locally sourced ingredients - an unusual offering in the space - and embeds the brand firmly in the British countryside, where it was founded 71 years ago.

To shoot the ad, Studio Yes worked with director Katie Bell, who has many years of experience working on commercials with children and animals for some of the UK’s biggest brands. In an unusual twist, Sam Ojari, Managing Director at Studio Yes also provides the ad’s voiceover.

The campaign follows a full redesign of the Vitalin brand from B&B studio, the design firm who’ve worked on premium brands such as Belazu, Fever Tree, and Pip & Nut.

The new positioning and packaging brings the Vitalin brand up to date, whilst retaining the ethos of this heritage brand.

Vitalin is owned by Cranswick Plc, one of the UK’s largest food manufacturers, and owners of brands including Ramona’s and Cypressa.

The brand work and ad are Cranswick’s first brand investment in the pet category and represents a significant investment from them in Vitalin.

Jerry Lowe, head of marketing, at Vitalin said: “We have ambitious plans for the growth of Vitalin - and ultimately, we want to become market leaders in what is a very crowded category.

“The Vitalin brand has stood for British pet food, made with love since 1953 and we’re carrying on that tradition to this day. As part of Cranswick PLC our farming roots remain, as such we’re backing British farming and only using British meat in all of our recipes. 67% of our recipes are sourced within 100 miles of our home at Lodge Farm and our packaging is recyclable too.

“The investment in TV, online ads, large creative, media investment and redesign will help us bring Vitalin to the next generation of dog lovers as ‘That’s a Vitalin dog’ brings our Farm to Tail philosophy to life.”

OATA has used its submission to a consultation on Susceptible and Vector Species to complain about the way Defra has handled proposed changes to the disease status of a number of popular aquarium fish.

Defra has failed to follow Government Consultation Principles on timescales, or giving sufficient detail to enable an informed response or allowing consultation responses to inform policy.

“Given that the consultation document states that the ‘expectation is that all the changes will come into effect on 31st May 2024’ then it seems it’s a done deal, regardless of any consultation responses. So we have to ask ourselves what was the point of this so-called consultation. Defra has handled this very badly,” remarked OATA Chief Executive Dominic Whitmee (pictured).

OATA was given just a few weeks to work out the financial impact on the industry if more controls were introduced on a number of fish, including popular aquarium species such as zebra danios. But without any detail of what the particular controls would be then it proved almost impossible to understand their impact.

The trade body has therefore had to submit a response by the closing date that highlights the poor consultation process, along with some limited ideas on potential impacts, rather than the usual detailed response following input from relevant businesses that would outline exactly how the industry could be affected.

“As an industry, we understand and support the need to prevent diseases entering the UK. But changes also need to be proportionate to the risk. It’s only after securing meetings with relevant government agencies that we’ve been able to get a better understanding of what could be involved.

“Unfortunately we do not consider this is an isolated example of Defra failing to listen to industry. We’ve experienced similar problems trying to highlight issues for live animals during discussions on new importing rules and delays in issuing CITES permits. There is just a worrying lack of engagement with industry that has been getting worse over the past few years.”

Read OATA’s response to the SVS consultation here.

Pets at Home claims it is on course to deliver expected financial results for the year to March 28, 2024, in a trading update issued on Tuesday.

The UK’s largest pet retailer said in its FY24 pre-close statement:

• Q4 trends have been broadly as expected across Retail and Vets, and Group underlying profit before tax (PBT) for FY24 is expected to be £132m, in line with previous guidance.
• We have now successfully launched our new digital platform to consumers, in line with our commitment for launch this year, offering much improved user experience and functionality across our app and website.
• Our new Stafford DC continues to function well, supporting all store deliveries, with availability remaining at historically high levels. We look forward to transitioning our online sales across through H1 FY25 as previously targeted.
• We expect to finish the year in a net cash position, after having returned over £100m to shareholders in FY24 via dividends and buybacks, and after having incurred £3m more non-underlying costs than previously expected due to higher restructuring costs, taking the total non-underlying costs for FY24 c£27m.
• Looking ahead to FY25, we are comfortable with current analyst consensus expectations for Group underlying PBT1.

Pets at Home’s next scheduled update will be its FY24 preliminary results announcement on 29 May 2024.