Businesses and employees are set to take part in the nation’s 9^th Bring Your Dog To Work Day, founded and organised by ethical pet brand HOWND®. The viral event takes place tomorrow (June 24). 

Companies large and small will join in what promises to be a dogtastic day at work. Our pawsome pals will be put to work, enjoying trips to the coffee machine, attending meetings, and mostly bringing joy to the workplace. The day is a big fundraiser for animal welfare charities that include the Bring Your Dog To Work Day official charities – All Dogs Matter, Animals Asia and the Surge Sanctuary.  

It’s a great opportunity for pet brands to raise their profile by signing up as ‘pawsome partners’ for just £150 minimum. The website receives tens of thousands of hits in the lead up to the big day, and over the years the event has had coverage in The Sun, The Mail on Sunday, Lad Bible, Waitrose Weekend, The Mirror, The Daily Telegraph, The Independent and hundreds of  media titles, with ITV The Lorraine Show, BBC and other broadcasters and media outlets covering the nation’s favourite day out for dogs.

Some of the pet brands sponsoring this year include, Woof & Brew, Dog Friendly, Fish4Pets, and Canine Cottages. With more signing up each day it’s still not too late to join in and get your logo and info about your brand and a link to your websites on the Bring Your Dog To Work Day website and a shout out on social media – the event always trends at number 1 on Twitter.

Each year the nation embraces this pupular day out when our four-legged furry friends get to spend time with their human at work for the annual charity event that thousands of businesses and dog owners across the country take part in. 

Photo credit: @JoSowry taken at Ridley Scott Creative Group

Jo Amit, co-founder of Bring Your Dog To Work Day and HOWND, the ethical pet care brand says: “As a nation of dog lovers it’s so exciting to see how this has captured the imagination of dog owners and companies and is growing every year. It is well known that having a dog at work has great mental health benefits and more and more companies are becoming dog friendly. Each year more companies sign up and we’re proud to be involved in something that is doing good and also bringing a lot of joy to the workplace.”

For more information visit www.bringyourdogtoworkday.co.uk

According to new research by the UK’s leading joint supplement brand for dogs, YuMOVE, 63% of Brits opt to leave their dogs at home when they go to work. Google trends data also suggests that many are having to fork out for doggy day care while they bring home the bacon. 

Liverpool saw the largest number of local day care enquiries, with searches up by 1,150% compared to this time last year. Searches for doggy day care services in Glasgow were up by 90% and Nottinghamshire a further 60%.

However, with purse-strings tightening and the average UK day care cost coming in at between £25.92 per day, the research also reveals that 37% of dog owners now take their pet to work with them on a regular basis.

14% of those say they take their dog to the office with them every day, and a further 8%say they share the responsibility for taking their dog to work with their partner.  

While this undoubtedly saves pet owners the extra cash, Dr Jayne Laycock, resident vet at YuMOVE, warns that being in a work environment that isn’t tailored to your dog’s needs can be harmful to their health. 

Dog friendly offices are on the rise across the UK and a quarter (25%) of Brits feel confident that their office is pet friendly, and will happily leave their dog to roam around without worry. 

However, there’s also a huge number of pet owners who aren’t quite as confident about their dog’s safety whilst in the office. Almost a fifth (18%) say that lots of people come and go from their office, so it isn’t always completely secure. A further 21 per cent say they worry about other members of staff feeding their dogs tit bits and upsetting their tummy. And more than one in ten (11%) say they aren't able to get their dog outside for walks and fresh air as often as they’d like during the day due to an intense workload and/or meetings. 

Jayne comments: “While your office space may well welcome dogs, it can be full of hidden dangers, so you’ll need to ‘dog-proof’ it properly before you decided to take your pet to work with you. Some of the main things to look out for and have in place are: 

THINGS HANGING OR LYING AROUND – Jayne says “Our research reveals that one in ten offices (10%) have lots of wires and leads lying over the floor or hanging from desks and other equipment that some dogs will no doubt love to chew on posing an obvious risk to both them and you. Then there are things like bags on the floor where your dog might sniff out someone’s lunch. If there are dogs in the office, best to keep anything they can chew or eat, up and off the ground.” 

SLIPPERY FLOORS – Jayne says “Does your office have hardwood or laminate flooring? Our research shows that 13 per cent of offices do – so you need to be mindful of how tricky it can sometimes be for your dog to move around on. Constantly feeling unstable and slipping around all the time plays a toll on their joints over time, so non-slip floors or carpets are best.” 

SPACE TO RELAX? – Jayne says “Though your work environment might be hectic, it’s important that if your dog comes with you, they have a quiet space where they can relax, have a doze and be off the lead. Dogs really pick up on the energy of the environment around them, so if your office is busy 24/7, it can be stressful for them . They definitely need space to be calm and relaxed during the day. They should have a proper bed at the office where they can take a doze and space to play with some toys from home to make them feel more comfortable.” 

DOES YOUR SCHEDULE ALLOW TIME FOR YOUR DOG? – Jayne says “Think about your schedule for the day - How frequently can you get away from your desk to take your dog outside? Being stuck in an office all day isn’t much difference to being left at home all day. Just because they’re with you, they’ll still need to go out for walks, fresh air and of course, to do their business. But if you’re chained to your desk, you might not be able to give them the love and attention they need. So, make sure you check your diary and plan accordingly.” 

TRUST AND SECURITY – Jayne says “You obviously love your dog very much and know them, their traits and their needs well – however most of your colleagues won’t.  For example, do you have a dog who likes to dart for the door? If so, making sure colleagues understand to keep the doors closed is really important. Does your dog struggle with tummy problems? While a colleague might think they’re being nice by dropping your pet a crisp or a biscuit, they might be causing them more harm than good. It’s therefore important that your colleagues understand the needs and nature of your dog before you take them in, so collectively you can help care for them and keep them safe.” 

The research of almost 3,000 UK dog owners was conducted by YuMOVE ahead of National Bring your Dog to Work Day on June 24. The annual nationwide event helps to raise money for charities dedicated to making a difference to the welfare of animals. Thousands of businesses and dog owners are set to take part again this year. 

Jayne concludes: “We hope everyone has a lot of fun taking part in Bring your Dog to Work Day this year – just be mindful of my advice and make sure it’s a fun day for both you and your pet.”

Pet product suppliers and retailers who haven’t already entered this year’s PetQuip Awards are reminded to get their entries in with the deadline of 30th June 2022 fast approaching.

Judging will take place in August and the winners will be announced at a special ‘Oscar-style’ event during PATS Telford on 25th September 2022.

The awards, which celebrate their 10^th anniversary this year, have become one of the most successful events to have been introduced into the pet trade sector and everyone is looking forward to celebrating again with colleagues and customers at this excellent networking occasion.  

Sponsors and supporters of the event include Group 55, PetFace, Canagan, Pedigree Wholesale, Zoomark, APPA (The American Pet Products Association), James & Steel and PATS Telford.

Two new categories – ‘Celebrating Green and Organic’ and the ‘Sustainability Award’ – have been introduced this year to reflect the growing trend towards ‘eco’ initiatives.

The award categories are:

• The Theresa Swann Trophy for Exporter of the Year Award
• Celebrating Green and Organic
• Supplier of the Year
• Business Service of the Year (for groomers/kennels/catteries/pet services
• The Sustainability Award
• Product of the Year – three categories:
                Accessories/Technical; Food/Treats; Healthcare/Animal Grooming
• International Retailer, Wholesaler or Distributor of the Year
• UK Retailer of the Year
• Lifetime Achievement Award

Visit http://www.petquip.com/pdf/Awards-2022-entry-form-A4-v5.pdf to download the entry forms. The closing date for entries is 30^th June.

PetQuip is happy to receive nominations for retailers and suppliers who in your opinion deserve to be winners in any of the categories.  The nomination can be made anonymously, and PetQuip will always contact anyone who has been nominated to progress the entry.

The PetQuip Awards will take place in a new ‘Oscar-style’ setting with even more opportunities for the whole trade to celebrate, network with colleagues and customers and to relax after the first day of the PATS exhibition.

The evening will start with a drinks reception followed by the ceremony announcing the winners of the PetQuip Awards. Guests will then be able to enjoy a meal and refreshments while networking and socialising. 

A digital edition containing reactions from PetQuip Awards 2021 winners can be viewed at https://bit.ly/3LZmlcA

If you would like to benefit from PetQuip membership or require any further advice and assistance, email info@petquip.com or visit www.petquip.com

Nationwide pet retailer Jollyes has named the manager for its new Southport store as it prepares for the official opening with a fun-packed line up of events. 

The new Southport store, at Unit 3 on the town’s Kew Retail Park in Scarisbrick New Road, will open at 10am on Saturday 2 July. 

It will employ 10 colleagues, including store manager Martin Pitt, who joins from Aldi. With three children in his family, he has hands-on experience with pets including fish, guinea pigs and birds and is “dog parent” to Leo, a Belgian malinois. 

As part of its opening plans, Jollyes has begun recruiting for colleagues at the new store. Applications for those who want a dream job working with animals can be made at https://www.jollyes.co.uk/i/jobs-jollyes. 

Jollyes has lined up a fun-packed opening for the new store to give Southport’s pet lovers a warm welcome from the UK’s “Pet People” including:  

• The official opening will be performed by the Mayor of Sefton, Councillor Clare Louise Carragher 
• Sandgrounder Radio will bring their fun bus to broadcast live on the day 
• Local two-legged celebrity canine Dennis the dachshund 
• Entertainment will include a magician, stilt walker and balloon artist 
• Visitors will have the chance to win instant prizes on the wheel of fur-tune 

Jollyes has more than 70 stores across the UK and the 6,000 square feet Southport store will complement its popular outlets in North West including Ashton-under-Lyne, Bolton, Eccles, Ellesmere Port and Runcorn. 

It follows recent openings in Stirling, Wrexham and Cookstown. New stores are due to open this summer at Stockton, Poole, Glenrothes and Edinburgh. 

Sarah Farrar, Jollyes regional manager, said: “It’s an exciting time for Jollyes as we expand across the UK and we can’t wait to open our doors in Southport, taking our place in the community and playing our part in the local economy. 

“The new store is in a great location, and we’ve designed it to make it as easy as possible for pet lovers in the town and surrounding area to find what they are looking for, from toys to treats.” 

More news on the Southport store, including product ranges, will be announced in the next few weeks. 

Backed by Kester Capital, Jollyes announced in January it had a pipeline of 20 new store openings over the next year.

An aquatic shop launched during the first pandemic lockdown in 2020 has moved to larger premises after a successful couple of years.

Mother and daughter team Michelle and Jordan Warner have transferred their Fishtopia store from the Staffordshire market town of Eccleshall to nearby Stone.

And the larger store celebrated its move to a larger outlet on Friday (June 17). 

Michelle told A Little Bit of Stone website: “Our last store was a big success, but we quickly ran out of room for our expanding range and ideas.”

The mother and daughter looked for properties in Stone where Michelle had spent half of her life and soon found a new location in Radford Street.

The full story on Fishtopia's move can be viewed by clicking here.

Picture taken from the store's Facebook page.

Following the biggest range expansion in 2021, Soopa continues to grow its portfolio in 2022 by adding a new Senior and Jumbo range.

After launching a Puppy selection of scrumptious snacks last year, Soopa wanted to create a suitable product solely for senior dogs. Senior dental sticks and healthy bites are delicious treats for all kinds of older pups who need some extra TLC in their life.

Made with 100% natural banana and pumpkin and flaxseed, these low-fat and easily digestible sticks are kind on tummies and tasty on tongues making them a superb snack for in-between brush times. RRP at £3.99 for 4 dental sticks and £2.99 for 50g healthy bites.

At Soopa they listened to their customers asking for big sized treats. They have created Jumbo dental sticks for larger breeds in the 3 most popular flavours- Carrot & Pumpkin, Cranberry & Sweet Potato and Banana & Peanut Butter. Soopa Jumbo Sticks will keep those tails wagging for longer and help to keep furry friends happy & healthy! RRP at £4.99 for 2 x 85g dental sticks.

All Soopa products including the new Senior and Jumbo range are low fat, grain free, made with human grade ingredients and with 100% recyclable packaging. Simple, delicious, nutritious and best of all dogs LOVE them!

Since launching in 2013 Soopa is a family owned business and 100% plant – based pet treat brand which is successfully growing beyond the UK borders to Europe and Asia.

"Owners want to apply their own dietary habits and values to their animals want to help the planet as well. From all the product ranges, they want to see more products in the treats range. Plant- based products are high in demand and on trend," said owner Barbara Hanly.

Just in time for the 50th anniversary of flexi Germany, flexi North America opens its new headquarters in Charlotte, NC.

In 1973 Manfred Bogdahn invented the flexi retractable lead, which is now successfully sold in more than 90 countries around the world.

https://flexi.de/en/

https://www.flexi-northamerica.com/us/

Mars Petcare is continuing its support for the LGBTQ+ community through one of its most recognisable brands, Dreamies, and its partnership with LGBT Foundation. 

After an impactful campaign in 2021, Dreamies brings back its partnership with LGBT Foundation for a second year, featuring the charity’s helpline number on 7 million packs during Pride month, as well as the LGBT Foundation logo and iconic Pride rainbow. Mars Petcare is supporting the partnership with in-store activation, including in and out of aisle displays, as well as digital advertising and PR activity. 

LGBT Foundation has delivered vital advice, support and information services to lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans communities for over 45 years and last year, with the additional support from Dreamies, had a 32% increase in the total number of emails and phone calls received by its helpline during the campaign, versus the same period in 2019. 

The renewed partnership with Dreamies follows this success and comes at a time when independent research has found that 78% of LGBTQ+ adults have experienced feelings of anxiety, with 69% admitting that this left them feeling lonely. The exclusive research also revealed that 52% of LGBTQ+ adults said that talking openly to their pet without fear of judgement would help their mental health. As the number one cat treats brand, Dreamies is the perfect partner to stand with LGBT Foundation to help improve the health and happiness of both pets and their owners. 

Kay Brown, European Brand Director at MARS Petcare, comments: “We are proud to be continuing our partnership with LGBT Foundation for a second year running. Together, we hope to provide the LGBTQ+ community with a source of vital care and support to help protect the mental health of those struggling. 

“Our independent research reveals that the LGBTQ+ community feel their pets can support them, with 61% of LGBTQ+ adults believing that cuddling a pet would help them manage and mitigate some mental health challenges. This showcases the true power of pets and illustrates why Dreamies, the number one cat treats brand, is uniquely placed to help build this connection between cats and owners. 

“While support can come in many forms, from friends, family and even felines, we hope that by promoting inclusion and diversity through our brand, we can encourage others to open up about mental health and ‘Talk with Pride’.”

For more information about the partnership, visit: https://www.dreamiestreats.co.uk/

Cleverly combining the functions of two highly popular training aids with a poo bag dispener, Mikki’s new 3-in-1 Whistle Clicker Poo Bag Dispenser is the perfect lightweight accessory for dog walking and training. 

The innovative new product comprises a high pitch whistle for recall and command, a large button clicker to reinforce positive training behaviour, and a conveniently placed poo bag dispenser within the handle. The dispenser has an easy to access opening and clamps that aid in tearing off individual bags. 

Available in a Mikki’s instantly recognisible red and black colourways it features a neck lanyard that ensures it is easy to wear and hold and can also be easily stored for hands free training via its belt hook.

The 3-in-1 Whistle Clicker Poo Bag Dispenser and is available to order now from the Company’s trade website https://trade.interpet.co.uk

TRIXIE has overhauled and newly developed more than 90 products in the growing bird segment in co-operation with the World Bird Park Walsrode. 

The focus of the co-operation was on sustainability and adequate construction for the species of the products along with safety and health for the pets. 

For the new items for ornamental birds, special attention was paid to the use of natural materials such as bamboo, rattan, sea shells, cotton and sisal.

The packaging of the product range was restructured in the course of a harmonious adaptation of colours and designs. The current display allows making the right choices for size, type and demands of the birds at a glance. 

The new concept has a high recognition value at POS. The POS materials include magnetic fascia, signs, posters and brochures.  

Pet Remedy has reported a successful Interzoo as the company exhibited as part of the PetQuip-organised British group.

It was the first time Pet Remedy had exhibited at Interzoo although the company had planned to attend the show in 2020 when it was cancelled because of the pandemic.

Sales director Rob Tyler said: “It was great to meet lots of our current export customers for the first time in a few years and we were really pleased with the number of good quality leads from new overseas markets.”

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New research from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has revealed the 20 most common disorders in pet hamsters, including 'wet tail', bite injuries from other hamsters, overgrown nails and/or incisors and traumatic injury...

The average lifespan of pet hamsters was 1.75 years. These findings, on one the world’s most popular small pets, will help owners better understand what conditions to look out for and will help set expectations for how long their hamster may live.

Hamsters are popular pets worldwide, often being the first pet that a child will own as their own.  Despite this popularity, there has been very little research into the health issues of these beloved rodents kept as pets to date. Often purchased by parents as short-commitment pets, hamsters are brought to the vets less frequently than other companion animals such as cats and dogs. They can also often be difficult to handle and may ‘hide’ signs of illness to protect themselves due to their prey status. These factors have made it harder to get good data on their overall health until now.

Previously, owners and vets largely had to rely on personal experience, small research studies and anecdotal reports. However, the RVC’s new VetCompass research fills these critical knowledge gaps, meaning this new information can be used to improve future treatment and care of hamsters.

The study, the largest in the world to date, was led by the RVC’s VetCompass programme and investigated anonymised veterinary clinical records of a random sample of almost 4,000 hamsters. The three most common hamster species were Syrian (golden) hamster (73.5%), Djungarian (winter white dwarf) hamster (13.8%) and Roborovski hamster (6.4%).

From a list of the 20 most common disorders across all hamster species, the most common disorders were "wet tail" – (diarrhoea or liquid discharge) (7.33%), bite injuries from other hamsters (5.88%), overgrown nail(s) (4.13%), overgrown front teeth (3.98%) and traumatic injury (3.80%).

The average age at death across all hamsters was 21 months (1.75 years). Awareness of the typical ages at death of pet hamsters under veterinary care can help veterinarians build realistic expectations for hamster owners and may also help owners accept the animal welfare benefit for euthanasia when recommended by their veterinary surgeon. This information is especially important to help children understand the typical natural lifecycle of pet hamsters.

Other key findings of the study included:

• The most common causes of deaths were “wet tail” (7.9%), abdominal mass (6.4%), cancer (5.4%) and difficulty breathing (4.0%).
• Compared to other types of hamster, Syrian (golden) hamsters had higher risk of 7/20 (35%) common disorders and lower odds of 1/20 (5%) common disorders groups.
• Disorders with highest risk in Syrian (golden) hamsters compared with hamsters that were not Syrian (golden) included: female reproductive disorder (x 5.19), urinary system disorder (x 5.04) and appetite disorders (x2.68).
• The disorder with the lowest risk in Syrian (golden) hamsters was traumatic injury (x 0.34).
• The average lifetime disorder count across all hamsters was one disorder although the Syrian (golden) hamster had a higher number of disorders than the other two species.

These results can contribute to an improved understanding of common diseases in pet hamster species and will help veterinary professionals guide owners in the care of their pet hamsters and appropriate euthanasia decisions. Further education of vets is encouraged to enable better understanding of the welfare and treatment of hamsters under veterinary care in the UK.

Dr Dan O’Neill, Associate Professor in Companion Animal Epidemiology at the RVC and lead author of the paper, said: “Hamsters can make good pets for both adults and children but until now, very little was published about their health. Parents can now help their children with realistic expectations of how long their hamster may live and what are the most common conditions to look out for to protect the health of these delightful little creatures.”

Dr Vicki Baldrey, co-author and Lecturer in Exotic Species and Small Mammal Medicine and Surgery at the RVC, said: “This research will not only help owners of hamsters to identify common signs of ill health and optimise diet and husbandry, but also helps us focus our teaching and continuing education materials on the most commonly seen conditions. This will ensure vets are as well-equipped as possible to deal with these charismatic and much-loved pets.

Kate Kim, veterinary surgeon and co-author of the paper said: “Due to the limited information on companion hamster health, very little is taught on their care in vet school. This research will help vet students, veterinary team members, and owners to work together to ensure better care and hopefully improve the welfare of many future generations of these precious pets.”

Justine Shotton, BVA President said: “Hamsters can make good pets but it’s important for their specific welfare needs, such as being nocturnal, to be understood and met and that both owners and vets are aware of the common signs of ill health, so they know when medical intervention is needed.

“For owners, having realistic expectations of life expectancy is also helpful, particularly if a child is to be involved in the hamster’s care.  It is advisable to speak to a vet before getting any pet, to make sure it is the right animal for all who will be responsible for it and to consider other species which may be a better fit for the owner or family.”

For more information, you can find the RVC’s advice sheet on hamster care here: https://rvc.uk.com/hamster-care

IVC Evidensia, a global leader in veterinary care, has appointed Daniella Dos Santos to the new role of UK Director of Professional Culture. 

Part of the UK leadership team, Daniella will play a key role in shaping and evolving working practices across our clinical sites ensuring we have a culture where our veterinary surgeons and nurses are supported and empowered to look after our patients, but also importantly, each other. The veterinary team is at the heart of all we do, and Daniella’s role will facilitate the collaborative leadership essential to our future success.

Daniella is a 2012 graduate from the Royal Veterinary College and has practised clinically in several sites across the south of the UK. She was President of the BVA in 2019-2020 where she demonstrated exemplary leadership through the early phases of the pandemic; this contributed to her being awarded the RCVS Inspiration award in 2021 and the BSAVA J.A. Wight award in 2022. She is a board member for RUMA Companion animal and Equine and trustee of the PetPlan Charitable Trust.

Commenting on the appointment, UK CEO Duncan Phillips said: “Daniella’s passion for the veterinary professions shone through from our first conversation. As we develop flexible working models to meet the needs of the modern profession, Daniella’s understanding of the veterinary world, and her ability to communicate and lead change will be a critical part of the next phase of our development.”

Amanda Boag, Group Chief Medical Officer, added: “I couldn’t be more excited to welcome Daniella to the UK leadership team. She is a well-known face within the UK and her focus on inclusivity, her integrity and her forward-thinking approach to the 21st century working environment, as exemplified by her advocacy for the BVA Good workplace guide, make her the perfect person to lead our approach nationally."

Daniella Dos Santos commented: “I am all too aware of the challenges faced by the profession over the last few years. I am heartened that the leadership team at IVC Evidensia recognise the importance of the culture in our clinics and hospitals as being crucial to the success of the organisation and am very much looking forward to working with the teams.” 

My Anxious Dog has launched a new lead for dog owners who feel hesitant about telling others their dog needs space.

Sarah Jones founded a range of Yellow Space Awareness products to help her own anxious Cocker Spaniel Bella, and they soon became a hit with other pet parents.

The new range has the wording ‘KEEP DOGS AWAY’ to get the message across that their pet is fearful of other dogs.

Sarah explained: “We have a ‘KEEP AWAY’ range and found that people felt it was a bit abrupt and felt they needed to explain what their dog needed.

“So the ‘KEEP DOGS AWAY’ range means they can feel more confident going out, knowing that if they see another dog and the owner is considerate, they won’t let their dog approach them.”

The new lead has a twist locking carabiner clip which adds security and peace of mind with a rotating clip rotates to prevent the lead from twisting

It’s a shorter length, one metre, so owners can feel their anxious dog safe and close. 

Sarah added: “The lead is to give owner’s piece of mind, its twist lock clip is harder to unclip than a standard lead so feels strong and secure while the soft padded neoprene handle gives a comfortable feel. 

“Thanks to our #dogsinyellow day more people are understanding that the colour means dogs need space.

“Our mission is to make owners feel as confident as possible while out and about with their anxious dogs and I hope this more polite version of our lead will help even more.”

www.facebook.com/myanxiousdog

www.myanxiousdog.co.uk

Karnlea is extending its Bone Broth range with the introduction of a new flavour next month. Lip-licking lamb is being launched as a high-collagen alterative to its beef flavour - the first 'ambient' liquid bone broth to hit UK shelves earlier this year.

The flavour was chosen due to its easy to digest properties – lamb is a 'gentle' protein which is good for the gut, supports skin, coat and joint health in cats and dogs.

Karnlea Lamb Bone Broth is made from 100 per cent natural ingredients and like its predecessor, is slow cooked for up to 14 hours to extract high levels of protein, collagen and minerals.

It can be used as a supplement, treat or topper and because it's carton packed from fresh, maintains high-levels of essential nutrients.  These can often be lost during the processing of concentrated or powdered collagen supplements.

Made using just three simple ingredients: lamb bones, water and apple cider vinegar to extract the best from the bones, it can be served as a liquid, straight from the carton, chilled for use as a jelly topper, frozen into treats/convenient portions, or used in home cooking and bakes.

Pre-orders are now being taken and stockists offered the opportunity to 'mix and match' their orders to save on carriage.

Karnlea's founder Lara McCullough said that lamb was an obvious choice to extend the range.

"Like beef, it has high collagen levels, is gentle on the stomach, easy to digest and highly palatable. It contains a large amount of amino acids essential to pet health, including lysine which helps boosts immunity and methionine to relieve allergies," she explained.

The new flavour will provide an alternative for pets that cannot eat beef or a tasty alternative to those that do enjoy it – a change of proteins can be beneficial as in nature, cats and dogs would vary their diet.

As with beef flavour, Lamb Bone Broth, uses ingredients from antibiotic and hormone-free, grass-fed animals, reared on cooperative farms.

Its heat-sealed cartons are brick-shaped and designed to sit neatly on the shelf – easy to dispatch and store. Each unit contains 500ml of bone broth which has a recommended retail price of £10.99.

For more information or to set up a trade account visit: www.karnlea.com/trade

Agria Pet Insurance - one of the world’s leading animal insurers – has announced the winners of its Pup to Old Aged Pup (OAP) competition.

The initiative, which celebrates dogs at all stages of their lives, sees the pet insurance specialist shine a light on the older dogs that have been instrumental in the lives of others. The nationwide competition also championed the superstar pup that is set to be the most promising graduate.

Brits have been casting their votes over the last seven days and the votes are now in with the winning dogs revealed as:

Magic, Medical Detection Dogs has been chosen by the public as the ‘Most Heroic’.

Magic has changed the life of his loving owner, Claire. He alerts her to oncoming episodes caused by her Type 1 diabetes that, before Magic entered her life, previously caused her to collapse.

Magic provides a 5–10-minute warning, so that Claire can take the necessary medication to avoid injury or hospitalisation. As well as physically saving her life, Magic has given Claire independence and confidence. Before Magic, she was frightened to leave the house and sleep due to her illness. Now Claire works, goes out with friends and enjoys her hobbies.

Milton Keynes-based Medical Detection Dogs trains dogs to detect the odour of human disease with the aim of developing faster, more efficient, and less invasive diagnostics that lead to better patient outcomes.

The ‘Most Promising Graduate’ has also been named as Dug, Support Dogs.

One in four successful support dogs come from rescue centres or were unwanted pets, brought in and trained to transform the lives of people with disabilities. Dug’s previous owners found that they couldn’t cope with the demands of canine ownership when the Covid-19 lockdown lifted.

He then moved into full-time training at Support Dogs’ training centre in Brightside and is living with volunteer foster carers in Rotherham.

Sheffield-based Support Dogs is a charity that trains amazing dogs for people with autism, epilepsy, and physical disabilities. Last year alone, they provided over 600,000 hours of life-changing support to their clients.

All partner organisations that took part in the campaign will receive a donation of £1,000, while Medical Detection Dogs and Support Dogs, the winning charities, will each receive a donation of £2,500 from Agria.

To find out more about Agria’s charity support, please see www.agriapet.co.uk

Nigel Probert of Llangynidr Gundogs contacted Ceri Rundle of CSJ with exciting news about the Kennel Club International Team Test held at Capesthorne Hall in Cheshire.

He said: “When I was asked by the Kennel Club to Captain the UK gundog team for 2022 it felt an honour and a privilege to be asked.  My first task was to select a team so I asked the captains of England, Ireland and Scotland to pick me a dog from their selection process.  

"This was done slightly different in Wales and I asked two independent panel judges to set a course and to judge the selection as I had to take part in running in the selection myself.  Fortunately I was the highest scoring on that day so I was picked to represent Wales. 

"The Team was picked as follows Nigel Probert. David Logan. Kieron Coey. Adam Snare.

"Our performance stayed consistent but we dribbled points here and there (which was similar to the other teams) but thankfully no zeros!! By the end, the consistent performance of all our dogs then pushed the UK Gundog Team into first position - it was tight with Ireland only 5 points behind but we did it! 

"I would like to thank CSJ for the dedicated help and sponsorship that they always provide for Gun dog International Events. Without sponsors such as CSJ we wouldn’t be able to take our dogs to these events so it is very much appreciated.”

Final scores were :-

• 1st - Great Britain 1048 points 
• 2nd - Ireland 1043 points 
• 3rd - Italy 1027 points 
• 4th - Netherlands 1006 points 

Kieron Coey said: “Ceri, I want to personally thank you for CSJs support over the last few days, I hope we did you proud. It is refreshing to see a company still prepared to support working dogs of all varieties in these difficult times. I struggled for at least 18 months before finding a food that agreed with Ralph (Int. Ftch Crosstone Trickster) trying everything from the cheapest to very expensive before discovering CSJ at the Moira Game Fair and we have not looked back, feeding fit and fast for the last 5 years. Once again thank you very much."

David Logan added: “I just wanted to say a massive thank you to CSJ, Phil and yourself for everything you have done over the weekend for the team. It is greatly appreciated.” 

For Nigel’s full report on each of the 2 days in detail go to csjk9.com and social media

Wilsons Pet Foods, one of the UK’s longest-established producers of dry dog food, is set for further expansion with the acquisition of Dunbia’s meat processing plant at Drongan, South Ayrshire.

The company has been operating out of two separate units in Perthshire but rapid growth, fuelled partly by Covid and online sales, necessitated the move to larger premises.

The multi-million-pound facility at Drongan offers Wilsons a ‘plug-and-play’ operation, according to company managing director Craig Wallace.

“The extensive chilled production areas, cold and ambient stores, plus packaging and storage sections are ideal for our ambitious future plans.

“The total site extends to almost three acres, and we can now operate with greater efficiency in a superbly maintained 25,000 sq.ft building. Our massive canteen alone is bigger than our entire operation at Perth.”

Wilsons’ move to the Drongan facility is a remarkable turnaround in the fortunes of the company which was rescued from administration just over three years ago by Mr Wallace.

Established in 1861, the company became synonymous with the production of muesli-based dog food, and at one stage dozens of lorries would leave depots in Dundee and Glasgow for deliveries throughout the UK.

By the 1970s however, dog owners were switching to wet food and various kibble options. Wilsons failed to spot the trend, and a lack of marketing and investment in new products resulted in a forced sale to Glaxo SmithKline Beecham, and then to Armitage Pet Care. The Wilson family re-acquired the business but were unable to prevent the slide into administration.

The new owners have been quick to introduce a higher quality of food which is now being demanded by Britain’s ever-growing number of dog owners. Traditional kibble has been phased out and, in its place, comes a range of raw frozen and cold pressed food.

Raw frozen dog food has been a popular buy for several years now, but Wilsons have noticed a sizeable uptick in cold pressed which is manufactured at a much lower temperature to preserve nutritional value.

Three separate income streams have been established - retail, branded own label, and online - with the latter witnessing stellar month-on-month increases in excess of ten percent.

The cold pressed dog food will continue to be manufactured at a factory near Blairgowrie, and all production of raw frozen will switch to Drongan. The company have been committed to improving the local economy, providing jobs for ten new starts so far.

“Despite being self-funded, we’ve made huge progress in the last 18 months, and the Drongan operation will allow us to further strengthen our position in a tough market,” continued Mr. Wallace.

“Brexit wasn’t exactly ideal for our overseas sales, but on the plus side we are now selling in over 250 retail outlets and getting regular calls for own-branded labels. The extra capacity at Drongan means that we will no longer be turning away customers.”

Pictured: Wilsons Pet Food managing director Craig Wallace alongside head of operations Kamil Skrzeszowski.

TRIXIE has opened a new distribution unit for snacks and treats in Northampton. This is another milestone in the company's history as it continues to work alongside the head office and logistics centre in Tarp, Germany.

Volker Haak, TRIXIE CEO, stated: "Following the establishment of TRIXIE UK Pet Products Limited in June 2021, this new building signifies a key development for our direct sales and underlines the importance of the UK market for us. 

“TRIXIE is prepared to invest further to bring the standard of service for our customers back to pre-Brexit levels with a view to further improvements in delivery timescales following the challenges of the UK leaving the EU.”

Snacks and treats are now being shipped exclusively from the new distribution centre in Northampton, significantly reducing delivery times and lowering the minimum order value for orders in this category. Pet accessories will continue to be delivered from the main warehouse in Germany.

TRIXIE UK Pet Products Ltd.

WD Boxhub

Unit 7, Deer Park Rd 

Moulton Park 

Northampton, NN3 6RZ

Facts and figures:

• 4,981 sq ft (total)
• 3,846 (ground floor)
• 1,135 (mezzanine)
• Storage of about 450 snacks and treats 

Contact details:

Sales@trixieuk.uk       

www.trixieuk.uk

GA Pet Food Partners has won the award for Best Large Business at the 12th Annual Red Rose Awards, which took place at the Blackpool Winter Gardens with more than 1,000 people in attendance. 

Lancashire Business View’s Red Rose Awards is the event where Lancashire business, commerce and industry are celebrated. It provides the best possible platforms to promote success and encourage trading within the county. 

Businesses from the length and breadth of the county vied for titles across a range of categories, with only the best of the best, as selected by a panel of expert judges, progressing through to the shortlist and a rigorous interview stage before being rewarded for their excellence. 

The Large Business Awards was the penultimate award of the evening, with six finalists competing to win the title. The specially crafted award was presented by David Filmer, who was delighted to announce GA as the winner. 

Event founder Richard Slater said: “GA should be very proud that they have seen off all the competition to win this award.”

GA is a family-owned private label pet food manufacturer based in Chorley, Lancashire. Creating recipes using the finest raw materials sourced from farms and fisheries they know and trust. Their partners are traditional pet shops and corporate brands that use these recipes to create their own pet food brand.   

The past 12 months have been a real success for GA, which has seen significant growth in sales, with the company exporting to over 50 countries worldwide. GA has invested heavily in innovative machinery and processes to ensure that they continue to make and deliver the world’s finest pet food. In addition, GA’s 863 colleagues have worked extremely hard throughout the Covid-19 pandemic as key workers in pet food production, ensuring they could continue to supply food to over 750,000 cats and dogs worldwide. 

GA has a number of ambitious plans for the future, including generating all of their own renewable energy whilst working with local residents to achieve a Mutual Journey to Net Zero by 2050. Furthermore, their strategy swims against the short-termism tide prevalent in the pet sector and provides sustainable solutions for small pet shops throughout Europe. 

Roger Bracewell, Chairman of GA Pet Food Partners, said: “The whole of the GA family are delighted and honoured to receive this Large Business Award. This award recognises the hard work and dedication of all at GA from a small family farm 30 years ago to a £140 million turnover company, 44% of which is exported.”

Earth Animal, makers of the best-selling No-Hide Chew, has announced a summer-long tour of the UK that invites dogs, pet parents and families to join canine-themed fun at its ‘Get Your Wag On’ wagon.

Welcoming four-legged friends and their owners for a day of summer joy, the series of pop-up events will see an electric van pull up to a variety of popular outdoor locations and canine hot spots in all corners of England. 

Of course, the wagon wouldn’t be complete without the very product that inspired the tour: Earth Animal’s No-Hide® Chews. A healthy alternative to rawhide with just six simple, natural ingredients, No-Hides offer pups a blissful chewing experience — and the wagon will be chock-full of the chews for visitors to try.

Not only that, but our four-legged friends will be able to put their expert sniffing abilities to the test in the on-stand ‘Wag-On-Ometer’ to find out their favourite No-Hide flavour. Visitors will also be treated to a ‘pup up’ cinema experience.

Pet parents will be encouraged to get their cameras at the ready. There’s also a chance to win a YEAR’S supply of No-Hide® Chews if visitors share their snaps on social media using the hashtag #ChewsJoy. Launching on Saturday 11^th June, stay tuned for more details of the competition on Earth Animal’s Facebook or Instagram channels. 

Are you ready to get your wag-ON? No tickets are needed to visit the ‘Get Your Wag On’ wagon — simply turn up at the location local to you and be ready to experience joy!

The full list of tour dates is below. Please note that these are subject to alterations. Stay up to date on Earth Animal’s Facebook or Instagram channels.

• Friday 17^th June — Unleashed Dog Adventure Park, Great Budworth Dog Park 
• Saturday 18^th June & Sunday 19^th June — Tatton Park DogFest
• Friday 8^th July — Surrey — Box Hill, Polesden Lacey and Devil’s Punch Bowl
• Saturday 9^th July and Sunday 10^th July — The Great British Dog Walk and Marvellous Mutts walks (Brighton & Hove, South Downs)
• Friday 15^th July — London parks and pubs (locations TBA)
• Saturday 16^th July & Sunday 17^th July — Lambeth Country Fair 
• Saturday 23^rd July — Mid Devon County Show
• Saturday 6^th August & Sunday 7^th August — Brighton & Hove and Sussex Downs (locations TBA)
• Saturday 27^th August — Norfolk coast 
• Sunday 28^th August & Monday 29^th August — All About Dogs, Norfolk 
• Saturday 10^th September & Sunday 11^th September — Knebworth Dogfest, Hertfordshire
• Saturday 17^th September & Sunday 18^th September — Paws in the Park, Kent
• Saturday 24^th September & Sunday 25^th September — Harewood Hall Dogfest, Yorkshire 

To find out more about Earth Animal, visit here