Pets at Home is closing its Knutsford store in Cheshire on Saturday, June 14, after failing to agree satisfactory terms on a new lease with the landlord of its Canute Place premises.  

Jason Hunter, area manager for Pets at Home, said: “The decision was certainly not made lightly but the new terms proposed by the landlord at the end of the current lease were not acceptable and have made it impossible for us to continue trading in the property.

"It is therefore with regret that we have to close the Knutsford store next month and would ask our loyal customers to continue to shop with us in nearby stores.”

Colleagues from the store are being offered alternative roles at nearby Pets at Home stores.

Pets at Home said it remained as committed as ever to providing a fantastic level of service to local pet owners and was offering customers at the Knutsford store a voucher for 20% off their next purchase at other nearby stores in Northwich, Baguley, Stockport and Altrincham until July 31. Vouchers will be available from today (Thursday) until the store closes.

The landlord of the Canute Place premises, Monckton Properties, told the Knutsford Guardian it was sorry to see Pets at Home leave the building.

A spokesman said: “We are always sorry to lose any tenant and are especially pleased that Pets at Home are able to offer both staff and customers to a number of local shops.

"We would add Pets at Home demanded a rent reduction over five years on a 'take-it-or-leave it' basis, which unfortunately left no opportunity to agree a renewal with them.

"Monckton Properties Ltd and the Tatton Estate are delighted to see Knutsford and Cheshire prosper after the difficult times of recent years and look forward to helping old and new businesses here go from strength to strength.”

According to research carried out by the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA) half of the UK population have an interest in engaging with British wildlife which is great news for the local garden bird population who need our help now more than ever.

Usually our gardens provide an abundance of fruits, seeds and insects for birds, however we’re now in a period known as the Feeding Gap (Spring/late Spring) when natural food supplies are depleted following the winter.  It is also a hectic time for the bird population who are busy feeding to satisfy the demands of their young. Supplementing their feed at this time can be particularly beneficial.

Feeding garden wildlife has become an increasingly popular pastime, with the nation spending an estimated £200 million every year and it’s easy to understand why.

According to Mike Toms of the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO): “Feeding the local birds is accessible to everyone even for the urban dweller with a small outside space. The benefits are great. It can give a sense of companionship; it can teach young families about wildlife and caring for their environment, all of this whilst supporting the British wildlife population.”

If you need to pass on some wild bird feeding advice to your customers here's some top tips from the experts:

• Provide a varied menu. Different birds eat different feeds. Birds with larger bills such as the green finch and the house sparrow can handle larger seeds, whilst birds with finer bills, for example the Robin, prefer small seeds.

•  Give some thought to your feeding stations. Certain species prefer hanging feeders (e.g. Blue Tit and the Great Spotted Woodpecker), whilst others like to feed off the ground (e.g. Robins and Dunnocks).

• There are a few things to avoid, particularly cooked oats which can dry and solidify around beaks, sugary treats which can negatively affect diets and loose whole peanuts that can potentially choke chicks if fed whole by unwitting parents.  Salty foods such as salted peanuts, bacon and crisps.

•  Make sure there is fresh water available all year round. As a watch out, never give milk to birds, their gut isn’t designed to digest milk and it can cause serious stomach upsets.

Gardening for wild life can create an inviting and safe place for birds providing a source of natural foods through lawns, shrubs and flower beds. By supplementing their natural feed supplies at the right times of year you will encourage them to keep coming back.

For more information on feeding wild birds including, feeding tips, what not to feed and hygiene, visit: www.pfma.org.uk

New Fabulous Country Game Feast is a mouth watering complete food and again a grain-free recipe.  It’s filled with freshly prepared beef, rabbit and duck to provide an abundant source of high quality digestible protein for optimum nutrition.

Henrietta Morrison, Founder and MD of Lily’s Kitchen comments: “After launching our first two recipes in tins we have been delighted with the success we’ve achieved to date with customers and stockists are crying out for more flavours to fill their shelves. 

"Our new range will add value to the category, the format being perfect for multi-cat households.  And the new recipes, which contain the highest quality ingredients will bring an injection of excitement and touch of sophistication to the cat tin segment.”

The two new recipes will be available in addition to the existing best sellers, who also get a recipe name revamp – Succulent Chicken Parfait and Delicious Salmon & Turkey with Prawns.

The range of four recipes comes in 400g tins RRP £2.49.

Following on from the new wet food recipes, Lily’s Kitchen Crunchy Nibbles are a world first - a nutritious dry food for cats made with only freshly prepared meat and fish together with vibrant vegetables and botanical herbs. By using only freshly prepared real meat and never meat-meal or rendered meat, the food is far more digestible and provides a high quality source of protein. The recipes are also grain-free and are now a complete food. However, Lily’s Kitchen recommends dry food to be fed as a crunchy companion to wet food and not just by itself, which is better for cats’ overall health.

Crunchy Nibbles Delicious Fish is made with seven types of fish, packed full of Omega 3 and 6 for lustrous shiny coats, L-Carnitine, a nutrient beneficial for fat control, together with seaweed for dental health to help reduce plaque and calculus.

Crunchy Nibbles Delicious Chicken is made using only freshly prepared free-run chicken for improved digestibility, added L- Carnitine and a sprinkle of carrot flakes and flaxseeds.

Both recipes use specially selected blend of botanical herbs for cats, including milk thistle seed to help look after the liver, cleavers, a wonderful herb which helps detoxify and chickweed, a herb with a high nutritional value and can help with itchy skin.

The new complete dry recipe will be launched in a new sized tube to encourage new customers to trial the food, resulting in even greater sales!

Both recipes will be available in a new 300g tube RRP £3.99

www.lilyskitchen.co.uk

The known and trusted household brand Mr Muscle has extended its range to include cleaning products specifically for those with household pets...and they are being distributed by The Company of Animals.

The Oxy ingredient penetrates deep into the fabric subsurface which discourages pets from repeat marking. For old or stubborn stains, the Pro Strength formula works even harder to eliminate all traces of stain or odour. 

The Pick up Pads are perfect for new puppies, senior dogs, cats or small furries and are easy to use – just place a pad over the wet area and watch as it soaks up to 1 litre of liquid per pad!

The Mr Muscle range of products provides fast and effective solutions to your cleaning problems. This premium quality range of cleaning products is suitable for use on hardwood floors, carpets, upholstery, bedding, clothing as well as in the car.

Mr Muscle Pick up Pads start at £5.49 RRP for 10, sprays start at £7.99 RRP.  All products will be available to order now.

For more information visit www.companyofanimals.co.uk

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home has warned that an app allowing people to find a new pet based entirely on looks risks reducing animals to disposable items.

PetMatch runs image-recognition technology to match pictures of animals, selected by prospective owners, to an "adoption database".

It has been suggested the app can help owners find replacements for dead pets.

The London rescue centre stressed that people should also research the animal's temperament before adopting.

The centre's head of dog rehoming, Rob Young, told the BBC: "We would not approve of using this as a method of choosing a new pet, largely because you should not be looking to rehome an animal on looks alone."

The developers of the app pointed out that users were still able to carry out further checks before they took an animal home.

Users either upload pictures of their ideal pet to the app or use a pre-loaded image. The app then uses image recognition technology to find matches among a database of animals that are up for adoption.

Mr Young said that it would be possible to find identical matches but warned prospective pet owners to be careful.

He said: "There is a good chance they will behave very differently. They all have their own needs. We work to make sure that each animal gets sent to a home that suits their needs."

Mr Young added: "[Use of the app] points towards dogs and cats becoming disposable items. Getting a direct replacement is not the way we would want people to look at it."

The developers, California-based Superfish, said their algorithms allowed the app to analyse pictures with "no human involvement".

The company, which has been backed by five different venture capital firms to the tune of $19.3m (£11.4m), said PetMatch was a "faster, more intuitive way to bring you closer to finding exactly what you're looking for".

The worldwide market for pet supplies reached a sales volume of some 72.3 billion euros last year, according to the market research institute Euromonitor, and the European pet industry turned over more than 27 billion euros of this figure in 2013. The figures were announced as the international trade show Interzoo began in Nuremburg today (Thursday).

1,720 exhibitors from 63 countries are showcasing their products at Interzoo, the biggest trade fair in the world for pet supplies. The organisers expect over 30,000 trade visitors from more than 100 countries to attend.

The industry’s leading exhibition has grown by 12% to a new record number of exhibitors and offers even more display space. In 110,000 square metres in 12 halls, visitors can discover everything about the pet industry’s new trends. The largest areas are occupied by Germany, China and Italy, followed by the USA, Great Britain, France and the Netherlands.

Norbert Holthenrich, the President of the German Pet Trade & Industry Association (ZZF), says: “The international pet industry’s dynamic and expertise in the professional care of pets is presented in a particularly varied and vivid way at Interzoo.”

And even more countries present their products this year – now there are also exhibitors from Argentina, Bangladesh, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Ghana, Columbia, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Uganda and Vietnam. This has increased the international share again – by another three percentage points over 2012 to 82%. 

About 65% of the exhibitors present products for cats or dogs. The second largest product segment is aquaria with 22%, followed by articles for small animals and rodents with 20%.

Pooch and Mutt has launched a new range of natural dog foods at Interzoo, based on the concept of Condition Appropriate Nutrient Feeding. All of the foods in the range are made in the UK, grain-free and based on creating the correct condition appropriate food from the base up.

The premium range includes Calm & Relaxed, Fresh Breath, Slim & Slender, Move Easy and Digestion & Wind, the food is initially available in 2kg bags. They are hypoallergenic, free from grain, cereal, gluten, GM produce, artificial flavours, artificial colours, artificial preservatives and have both ethical and PETA accreditation.

CANF is a revolutionary feeding concept in the dog food market and Pooch and Mutt’s range of foods are at the forefront of this innovation. The concept is based on the understanding that the condition that an animal lives in determines their nutrient requirements more than any other factor. Just as a body-builder and a distance runner need to consume different nutrients due to their “condition”, an anxious dog, an arthritic dog and an overweight dog all need to consume different nutrients for their “condition”. The body-builder needs a higher ratio of protein in their diet to build muscle; the long-distance runner needs a higher ratio of carbohydrate to fuel long runs. Anxious dogs will benefit from a diet rich in l-tryptophan with added chamomile. Arthritic dogs will benefit from omega oils, glucosamine and chondroitin. Overweight dogs will benefit from a low-fat, high-fibre diet, with added CLA. Pooch and Mutt’s food range includes five foods with the correct nutrients appropriate for the five most common canine conditions.

Guy Blaskey, MD of Pooch and Mutt, says: “Growth in grain free and high quality food has been phenomenal in recent years, but functional/prescription foods have remained the same.

"Our new foods are not standard foods with added ingredients like other functional foods on the market.

"They are formulated from the base ingredients to be condition-appropriate. For example, it seems crazy to me that the main protein source in the best-selling “mobility food” is chicken, when you could use salmon, which is rich in Omega 3, an essential nutrient for joint health. Pooch and Mutt’s “mobility food”, ‘Move Easy’, has salmon as its number one ingredient. Added to the salmon are glucosamine, chondroitin, green lipped mussel and rosehip, all of which aid mobility. It is the complete package for joint health.

"If you look at the bestselling “digestion food”, the main ingredient is a grain, which dogs can find hard to digest. Pooch and Mutt’s ‘Digestion & Wind’ has fish as the number one ingredient, as fish is easier for dogs to digest. It also contains probiotics, prebiotics, psyllium and charcoal to further aid digestion. Pooch and Mutt’s mission is to help dogs lead happy and healthy lives for as long as possible. The food that they eat is crucial to achieve this. We’ve worked closely with top nutritionists to formulate the best CANF. foods to keep dogs happy and healthy."

Pooch and Mutt is well known for both high quality ingredients and eye catching design, having recently won Gold for their treats at the European Design Awards. The foods are expected to be extremely popular with customers all around the world.

The foods are available to pre-order now. Pooch and Mutt’s premium range of condition appropriate foods are unlike any other product in the dog food industry and are sure to be distinctive and bestselling products with consumers. 

For more information visit www.poochandmutt.com

Wagg is showcasing three new ranges of cat treats at Interzoo this week – the super-swanky Harringtons Cat Treats, the ultra-palatable Wagg Prrrs and the fun-and-funky Wagg Kit Nips.

Sales and marketing direct Tom Page said: "At Interzoo we will be talking to many of our trading partners in the 20 odd countries we are active in; building the relationships we have established over the years.

"There will be new additions to the Harringtons Range since the last Interzoo to discuss, in detail, including the Harringtons Cat food range.

"We are of course looking for new export distributors as well and will be welcoming any British visitors to our stand."

Tom is also keen to share news of Wagg's latest £8m expansion of its UK factory, which is now complete. The factory has four state-of-the-art Extruders and nearly 200,000 tonnes of capacity.

"Wagg is set for the next stage of its exciting history. New packing lines are going in - four this year - giving us massively improved flexibility in what we can offer all our trading partner. Interzoo 2014 could not have come at a better time for us," said Tom.

Following a successful start to the year, Precious Pets London is now ready to tackle the export market in a big way with its luxury shampoos and conditioners, and is exhibiting its range at Interzoo this week...

The London Pet Show saw the official launch of the company's much anticipated accompanying perfume range and new Citrus Sunshine summer shampoo, both of which are already showing signs of being even more popular than their existing products.

Now Precious Pets London has taken its luxury range to the rest of Europe at Interzoo in Germany. Helping the company will be an experienced European distributor, who will be exporting the products to 27 countries.

Charlotte Nash, the founder, says: “We already export our luxury dog shampoos internationally and have had so much interest in Asia and Australia. We now want to concentrate on all of the interest we’ve had from Europe.

"We believe that Interzoo may be the most important show for us to date, as this is where we will be deciding who our long term European trading partners will be. It’s both extremely exciting and also terrifying, not so long ago no one knew who we were, now we get constant enquiries from all over the world.”

It has been an amazing year so far for Precious Pets London, who scooped the prize for Best New Grooming Product at PATS Sandown,  and had the honour of International Award Winning groomer, Colin Taylor, endorse their new groomer size range.

For more information visit www.preciouspetslondon.com

Almo Nature has unveiled what it claims is the first entirely natural dry pet food at Interzoo. ALTERNATIVE is another ground-breaking addition to add to the company’s diverse range of pet food products.

Almo Natures says ALTERNATIVE is the first completely natural dry food containing 75% fresh meat and is exclusively prepared with ingredients from the human food chain. The new recipe is featured in solid kibble form, and has the same quality formula as Almo Nature’s natural LEGEND wet food.

ALTERNATIVE’s recipe contains 75% fresh meat, 20% rice, 5% vegetables, all which include quality vitamins and minerals. It is also gluten-free which is ideal for pets that suffer from food intolerances. The range for cats and dogs will be available from July in four different flavours. 

Pier Giovanni Capellino, Almo Nature founder, said, “We are very much looking forward to revealing our new ALTERNATIVE kibble for cats and dogs at the Interzoo trade show.

"ALTERNATIVE is special in that it is specially designed for animals that have food intolerances in addition to an everyday dry food for cats and dogs.

"We want our pets to lead happy and healthy lives, without having to suffer from painful health issues.

"At Almo Nature we take pride in being able to offer our customers a vast selection of all natural products made with pure ingredients that better benefit an animal’s health and wellbeing.”

Naturally healthy and stylish and functional too – these are the product trends for pets at Interzoo 2014, this year’s biggest trade fair in the world for pet supplies. 

Healthy food

Pet food is increasingly tailored to the individual needs of the respective species and groups of animals, such as to small breeds or puppies. When choosing food for their animal friends, more and more pet keepers dispense with additives like flavouring, preservatives and colourings and prefer ingredients manufactured without genetic engineering. Premium food frequently contains supplementary ingredients like fresh garden herbs and fruit. Also popular are dietary products and food supplements as functional food, which take into account certain animal health problems like food intolerances, musculoskeletal problems or skin and fur problems, support digestion and strengthen the immune system. Other products still popular are healthy, low-calorie or other snacks for animals as rewards and as treats for between times.

Natural food: BARF

Some pet keepers prefer natural food for their animals based on Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (BARF), which they can mix individually for their four-legged friends. The latest BARF products in the world will be on show at Interzoo, including complete BARF meals or systems for beginners. Dogs and cats are carnivores, so more and more pet food manufacturers offer all-meat tinned foods or food supplements, also in the form of vegetable & whole fruit drinks (smoothies), which together with uncooked fresh or frozen meat become an individually balanced food ration.

Sustainability and regionality

Sustainability and regionality are still very popular topics. High-quality raw materials from regional sources are used for the manufacture of pet food, and the agricultural ingredients are produced by local family farms. Organic pet food will also be on display at Interzoo. Besides sustainability, the certified safety of the products plays a key role. For the design of aquariums, for example, TÜV-tested, food-grade and UV-stable back walls and decorative articles of cast mineral stone without poisonous glass fibres are offered.

Activity trend

To develop the animals’ desire for exercise, more and more pet keepers buy activity toys like swings and climbing frames for birds and small mammals. Intelligent toys for physical and mental training of four-legged pets are also in great demand. Here the animals must work for their own food by solving tasks. Also offered are folding and portable treadmills for dogs, which do not actually replace a walk with their master or mistress, but support the rehabilitation of the animals especially after an illness or operation. There are also new retrieving products, creative water toys, balance boards, tilt boards and chew and tug toys that promote interaction between the animal and humans.

Stylish and luxurious

Many pet keepers would like to pamper themselves and their pet when shopping: Special creams clean and care for dogs’ paws with the aid of active cell-regenerating substances, and there are shampoos and conditioners for caring for fur that are based on natural extracts and designed for different kinds of fur. 

For lovers of luxury, the manufacturers offer fashionable leads with rhinestones, noble food bowls and fine dog blankets, including international award-winning designer products and stylish creations by celebrities like singer and dog breeder Heino. Friends of nature among the pet keepers like outdoor cushions or special outdoor clothing for dogs, which is made of materials such as SympaTex and in terms of quality, workmanship and design is every bit as good as products for master or mistress.

The four-legged pets can rest on orthopaedic dog cushions made of materials developed from space travel. Pet furniture is also available in various styles, which are offered to match pet keepers’ own home design. For example, there is scratch furniture for cats in wood decor or fine base cupboards that make the aquarium or terrarium a real eye-catcher. The current design trends of aquascaping (filigree underwater landscapes in aquariums) and terrascaping (creative natural simulations in terraria) promote this development.

Innovative technology

A number of technical innovations support hygiene in pet keeping.Especially the two-legged species are pleased about new cat litter disposal bins and the practical dog waste disposers.

The biggest variety of innovative technical equipment for pets is to be found in the aquaria and terraria segments. For example, new aquariums with LED lights produce more light despite lower power consumption. They also offer improved filtration and light distribution, so that sunrise and sunset can be simulated. 

Automatic feed and fertilizer dispensers and ultrasonic monitoring equipment are also popular. The most modern technical know-how can also be found in self-cleaning aquariums with programmable control and in especially compact and quiet flow pumps that use less electricity.

A dog-walker accidentally killed six pets after locking them in the back of a hot truck for 45 minutes then lied and said the animals had been stolen.

Emma Paulsen sparked a week-long hunt for the dogs - Buddy, Teemo, Oscar, Mia, Molly and Salty - after saying they had been taken from her truck when she left for ten minutes to use a bathroom.

But Paulsen confessed to pet investigators that the animals, including her own dog, died after she locked them in her pickup for 45 minutes.

Paulsen reported the dogs missing after taking them for a walk in a park in Brookswood, British Colombia, Canada.

She now faces a fine of $75,000 (£44,500) or up to two years in prison.

The SPCA, which is leading the investigation, will recommend that authorities pursue animal cruelty charges, said Marcie Moriarty, the organisation’s chief prevention and enforcement officer.

Petsearch Canada added: "Emma disclosed that all six dogs were in the back of her vehicle with the side vent windows open and water available, as she had done hundreds of times. 

"All six dogs perished from heatstroke. Upon arriving and Emma seeing her beloved charges deceased, she went into a blind panic at the thought of notifying the families and the possible repercussions. 

"In a complete state of shock and panic, Emma made a desperate attempt to cover up what had happened and concocted a story to explain the loss of the dogs."

Over half of dog owners are planning lengthy car journeys with their pets this summer and 29% of owners will travel in the car every day. In fact more than a million British pet owners say they’d rather take a break in the UK than holiday abroad without their pet. Yet an increasing number are taking advantage of the Pet Travel Scheme and venturing to Europe.

While travelling in a car or motorhome, it’s vital to monitor the temperature of your pet’s environment as overheating can prove fatal. On a hot day passengers in the front of an estate car with air-conditioning typically experience temperatures around 24-27 degrees. Surprisingly in the back of the vehicle, it can reach over 35C, which is dangerously high for a dog. This doesn’t factor in the ‘greenhouse’ effect of sun beating down on the rear window.

Depending on a dog’s age, health and breed, even short exposure to excessive temperatures can get stressed. Negative stress releases the stress hormone, cortisol, which can negatively impact on emotional health causing ‘distress’.  Overheating physically causes the body’s cells to shut down, sometimes leading to liver damage, heart problems, brain damage and even death.

With 66%of dog owners prepared to modify or up-grade their vehicle for their pets comfort AnimAlarm gives the travelling pet owner peace of mind. Using state-of-the-art mobile phone technology to monitor the temperature (in the back of the vehicle) and send an alarm alert to your mobile phone (at the front of the vehicle) if it reaches an upper or lower limit set by yourself.

AnimAlarm is perfect to use while travelling by car or in a motorhome. When you reach your destination AnimAlarm will continue to monitor the temperature of any accommodation you stay in.

When packing for this year’s summer vacation, make sure AnimAlarm is the first thing you reach for. Find out more by visiting www.theanimalarm.com

A veterinary nurse has been suspended for nine months for creating prescriptions dishonestly and presenting one at a pharmacy fraudulently.

The case against Kellie Price, who was working for Companion Care Services at Pets at Home in Ashford, Kent, at the time, was heard by a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons disciplinary committee.

Miss Price, who did not attend the hearing and was not represented, accepted the allegation of serious professional misconduct against her.

The committee heard that on January 6, 2013 ‘dishonestly created’ a prescription for two inhalers which had been written and signed in the name of locum vet Cristiana Tudini without her knowledge or consent. It was presented subsequently to a pharmacy for dispensing.

In March the same year Miss Price dishonestly created three more prescriptions – one of which was written in the name of her colleague, vet Cormac Higgins, and two in Ms Tudini’s name without either’s knowledge or consent.

All four had been made out for Miss Price’s Jack Russell.

Mr Higgins asked Miss Price for an explanation and suspended her from her position pending further investigation. But before this could take place she resigned. The allegations were then reported to both the Royal College and the police, the latter giving Miss Price a formal caution in respect of the false prescription made in January.

The committee said it took into account aggravating and mitigating factors when considering its course of action. It accepted Miss Price’s explanation that in the early hours of January 6, 2013 she had suffered an asthma attack and that she had created the false prescription at work in a panic after realising her inhaler was empty, fearing another attack. The Committee also took into account Mr Higgins’ description of her as a ‘great nurse’ who was good with patients and clients.

The committee also considered aggravating factors including Miss Price’s dishonesty and the fact that she then made further false prescriptions in March, although these were not then presented to a pharmacy. It decided that her conduct fell ‘far short of that expected of a registered veterinary nurse’.

Sally Wood, from Bridgwater, has beaten four other finalists to win an Outstanding Achievement Award for her dedication to dogs, and the great work that she has done to train a deaf Boxer puppy, Lilly.

The award, newly introduced this year, has been designed by Royal Canin, manufacturer of tailored dog and cat food, to reward an individual who has shown outstanding commitment to responsible dog ownership through the Kennel Club’s Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme, by carrying out exceptional work on a project, dog training initiative or dog.

Five finalists were selected for the award for their great work and the public were encouraged to vote for their favourite online at the Royal Canin website, choosing Sally Wood as the worthy winner.  Sally was announced as the winner of the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Kennel Club’s annual Good Citizen Dog Scheme Awards in London’s Mayfair, where she collected her trophy.

In September 2012, Sally brought home a white Boxer puppy, who was deaf.  Aided by research into training deaf dogs, and with help and instruction from local training club, Somerset Dog Training, Sally set about training her new four-legged friend.  With lots of patience and enthusiasm, Sally’s positive, reward-based training saw Lilly learn steadily, and eventually pass her Bronze Good Citizen Dog Scheme Award, as part of the largest dog training scheme in the UK.

Sally said: “I am touched to have won an Outstanding Achievement Award as part of the Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme.  Seeing Lilly enjoy her training and all the new exercises she has learned really is its own reward, so to be recognised by the Kennel Club and Royal Canin for all the hard work we have put in is a lovely feeling.  My experiences with Lilly go to show that any dog has the potential to be trained well if you put in the effort.  We are looking forward to working on achieving the Silver Award next and I am confident that Lilly can do it.”

Mike Townsend, Kennel Club Vice Chairman, said: “We are thrilled to announce Sally as the winner of the Outstanding Achievement Award.  Those who voted obviously recognised the fantastic work Sally has done for the world of dogs, notably her dedication to training her deaf Boxer, Lilly, and she should be exceptionally proud of her achievements.”

Gemma Duffield, Royal Canin Marketing Manager, added: “Congratulations to Sally Wood, this year’s winner. We are proud to be able to commend great dog owners like Sally, who has gone above and beyond to support Lilly. Responsible dog ownership is at the heart of Royal Canin and we are pleased our new Outstanding Achievement Award can contribute to celebrating responsible dog owners.”

The Outstanding Achievement Award is a new addition to the existing Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme Awards this year, which are held annually to recognise the efforts of organisations nationwide which have invested their time and energy into helping to train dogs and educating their owners on the importance of responsible dog ownership.

More information on the Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme can be found at www.thekennelclub.org.uk/dogtraining.

Pictured (from left to right):  Mike Townsend, Kennel Club Vice Chairman, Sally Wood and Gary Gray from Royal Canin.

A bird of prey, two lizards and an emu were just a few of the unusual animals that were stolen in the South West during an epidemic of pet and livestock thefts.

Police have revealed that more than 60,000 animals were stolen from across the UK last year, including 30,000 bees, 7,291 sheep, 1,534 poultry and 1,135 dogs.

A falcon, an emu, two basilisk lizards and two rainbow boa constrictors were among the pets reported missing by owners in Devon, with other exotic animal thefts including a llama from Powys, two bearded dragons from Kent and Cambridgeshire and a red rump tarantula from Northamptonshire.

Lancashire police even reported the theft of a stuffed Scottish wildcat on a plinth.

A single raid in Edinburgh resulted in the theft of all 30,000 bees, which can fetch up to £500 for a colony on the black market.

Responding to the figures, Mimi Bekhechi from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, said:

“Animal theft is an alarming epidemic with terrified animals often being stolen right from their own homes.

“Thieves know designer dogs and exotic animals can sell for princely sums and they’ll flog them to just about anyone.”

The findings follow in the wake of a report on dog thefts earlier this month, which revealed that Devon and Cornwall are among the most likely places for dogs to get stolen.

Neil Parish, MP for Tiverton and Honiton and chairman of the Associate Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare, said there was a need to be “more vigilant than ever” with animal thefts.

“It is a case of making sure we know where our livestock is and famers keeping an eye on their animals,” he said.

"The police also need to take these thefts seriously because they cause a huge loss to owners, both financial and personal.”

A pet crematorium in Winchfield, near Hook in Hampshire, has won a business award for its innovation.

The Dignity Pet Crematorium was presented with the home business innovation award at the Guardian Small Business Showcase Awards. Retail expert Mary Portas hosted the ceremony, which took place in London.

The family-run business offers individual cremations for pets, as well as pet funerals, memorials and keepsakes.