Manchester creative agency Dinosaur has created a rap-themed video to help Pets at Home to promote its VIP Subscribe & Save flea treatment.

The video features pets K-9 and Lil Smudge, a rapping and scratching duo of flea-free animals. In the film they demonstrate that the only scratching in their home is on the decks. 

“Our rap-themed video tapped into pet owners’ love for their animals, the daft things they do, and the feeling of relief when they’re protected from fleas,” said Dinosaur.

"We delivered it across a fully-integrated media plan, including YouTube pre roll, Facebook, Instagram, digital display, national press, and in-store activations.”

You can watch the film on YouTube by clicking on the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlaghU6QbMQ

Bestpets, the specialist pet products division of Bestway Wholesale, has launched its first full-service ordering app to make ordering quicker and easier for its delivered customers.

The new app will allow customers including pet shops, grooming parlours and online retailers to:

• Browse and order the full Bestpets range of over 10,000 pet products, at their fingertips on a mobile phone
• Use the barcode scanner on the app to scan products and make ordering quicker
• Make lists of their favourite products and store the lists for easy re-ordering each time.

The app has also been optimised with a third-party search company to improve search functionality, making it easier for customers to find products.

Mike Bailey, Head of Bestpets, said: “We’re excited to unveil the new Bestpets app, which is the culmination of 18 months of research and development.

"Pet is an area of our business in which we are expanding and introducing new products, and we know that pet businesses want to spend less time ordering and more time focused on selling products and spending time with their customers rather than placing orders.

"That’s why this new app has been designed to enable pet businesses to place their order at the touch of a button on their mobile phones, to save lists based on favourite products for easy re-ordering and to browse our full product range of over 10,000 lines.

“We worked with customers to understand what they do (and don’t) want when it comes to ordering on an app and we wanted to provide a solution which works fast and makes ordering quick and easy.

“All a customer has to do now is download the app and sign in with their existing customer number and they will be ready to order – the Bestpets app is ready to use now. It’s just what the industry ordered.”

As well as easy access to newly launched products and seasonal offers, additional features include the latest barcode scanning technology for ease of search and the ability for customers to manage payments and calculate margins, all in one place.

The app was trialled with select customers throughout May, and almost 100 orders were placed. Users expressed their delight with the speed of the app, the functionality of the barcode scanner and the ability to calculate gross profit on the app itself.

The new app has been built by RNF using the same technology as the two apps Bestway launched earlier this year for its food divisions. It will allow Bestpets to communicate with app users via rich push notifications (e.g. images and videos) and place relevant supplier messages within the app to alert customers to special deals and new products.

Rob Mannion, founder and managing director of RNF, said: "It’s great to see Bestway Wholesale taking advantage of the digital channel for Bestpets. The ordering app coupled with our Beam platform means they now have an incredibly strong offering for their customers, ensuring they stay ahead of the game."

The app can be downloaded on Apple devices at: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/bestpets/id1449149239?mt=8

And Android devices at: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rnfdigital.bestpets

New customers should call the Bestway Wholesale contact centre on 01738 646666 to find out more about Bestpets and the new ordering app.

Just over a week to go till Britain’s best loved charity day out for dogs – and there are some pawsome prizes to be won

Next Friday, 21st June, is Bring Your Dog To Work Day, Britain’s best fun day out for dogs with thousands of companies and dogs party across the country.  

Some of the UK’s leading pet care brands have sponsored the fundraising event and have donated prizes that one lucky dog and their owner will win in our prize draw.

Top brands such as HOWND, Lily’s Kitchen, Poppy’s Picnic, Covetrus, Purely Pets, Barking Max, Nylabone, Vita Animal Health, Omlet, Dogrobes, The Office Dog, Ruff and Tumble, Webbox Natural, Butternut Box, Hi life, Pure Pet Food, Tails.com are sponsoring the day and donating prizes and many more signing up every day to take part in this annual event that is raising money for All Dogs Matter and Animals Asia.

Now in its sixth year Bring Your Dog To Work Day is great fun, boosts staff morale and grows in popularity every year, trending on social media and gets a lot of attention in the press, on radio and on T.V. 

Bring Your Dog To Work day always attract a lot of attention from celebrities and media including Ricky Gervais, Downton’s Peter Egan, the Disney UK team, ITV’s Loose Women, many BBC radio and television shows, and many more high profile celebrities and media outlets, all showing their support last year by posting on social media.

Every company that sponsors the event gets a shout-out on social media and with 13m seeing our Twitter feed it is great exposure for brands.

To take part, dog owners simply need to sign up and make a minimum of £10 donation. They can then upload a picture of their beloved dog and simply describe their dog’s work duties (this can be licking the dishwasher, attending a board meeting or just making you smile).

Here’s the pawsome Oreo – busy at work cleaning up crumbs from under the desks

When dog owners donate £10 and sign up for the Dog With A Job Hall Of Fame they are in for a chance to win some pawtastic prizes donated by our business sponsors in our competition.

Founded and organised by multi-award winning ethical pet care brand HOWND. Jo Amit of HOWND says: “Bring Your Dog To Work Day has really taken off over the last six years.  We have some incredible sponsors on board and the goodwill and support is tremendous. People have really taken the day to heart and organise some great workplace events to celebrate bringing their dogs to work, it’s such a treat for dogs and their owners alike and great fun for everyone!”.

It is not too late for businesses to come on board as official sponsors and raise funds for their own animal welfare charities too. Bring Your Dog To Work Day’s social pages, as well as the official charity’s, will share all Bring Your Dog To Work Day official sponsors’ in-house fundraising events, competitions and activities in their social feeds.  

In return for a business making a minimum £100 donation, its company logo and website link will be displayed on the homepage, and they will receive a thank you shout out from All Dogs Matter and Animals Asia on social media. It is a great opportunity to associate a brand with this worthwhile and pawtastic day!

With studies showing that pets can reduce a person’s stress levels in the workplace and help to boost productivity and job satisfaction, dogs might be a man or woman’s best co-worker. It can be tempting to get excited at the thought of bringing your furry friend to the office, but it is important to ensure you think about the practicalities.

As 21^st June marks Bring your Dog to Work Day, Natures Menu - the raw and natural pet food experts - provides its top tips on how to make taking your dog into the office a ‘pawsitive’ success. 

1. While office life isn’t suitable for every dog, it can be a perk if you can make it work for both your pooch and employer. Before deciding to take your dog to work, make sure you consider whether he or she is able to do the following: settle in a strange environment; be welcoming to strangers whilst not being a distraction from normal work duties; be left alone whilst you take comfort breaks: be able to accept other, strange dogs in the same area. If your dog is used to being in a crate during the day, you’ll also have to consider whether you implement this in your working environment. 
2. If you’ve decided to take your dog to work, pull together a few items such as a water bowl; poo bags; treats and snacks; a comfortable and familiar bed; favourite toys, a lead suitable to secure to a desk or chair and a towel should you get caught in rain on your daily commute. Also, make sure you bring some cleaning supplies to take care of possible accidents. And finally - introduce your four-legged friend to everyone (unless an individual expressly opts out!).
3. Consider if it is suitable to take your dog to work. Will a dog interfere with your normal work duties and will other staff members find your furry friend a distraction? There will be an adjustment period, especially when there are multiple dogs in the office. Remember that some people will find it hard to work near dogs who are barking or playing with noisy toys. Find out whether your colleagues are canine-comfortable and identify which workers are afraid of canines or allergic and then keep your dog at a safe distance.
4. Exercise your dog before work to help ensure they settle quickly by your desk when you enter the office. It is also worth considering whether you can provide adequate comfort breaks throughout the day for your pooch and don’t forget walkies. Not only is exercise beneficial for your dog, the walk will also help with your state of mind and productivity for the rest of the day.
5. Watch out for signs of stress and remove your pet from the situation if you notice excessive panting; licking of lips; cowering; barking; whining or trying to hide. These all indicate that your dog is suffering from stress, which can impact your pet’s health.

Melanie Sainsbury, Veterinary Education Manager for Natures Menu, said: “These days, dogs are increasingly becoming a part of office culture and having them in the workplace can be a fantastic treat. Having your dog in the office is good for the work atmosphere and, as studies have shown, not only does your cortisol level drop when your stroke a dog, you also produce more of the hormone oxytocin, which makes you feel relaxed and happy. The day is a lot of fun for all involved!

“While Bring Your Dog to Work Day is just one day, some dogs go to work every day. Here at Natures Menu we have many sponsored dogs such as Nuka, who is the UK’s first registered assistance Alaskan Malamute dog in the UK; Romeo, the blood donation dog; Tiga and Yogi, who reunite missing pets with their owners; and Scout, the Pets as Therapy’ dog. All of these pooches go to work every day to make a real difference!”

Leading pet food brand Webbox has announced its biggest ever rebrand to date, unveiling a brand-new look which is due to roll out across its product packaging in the coming months.  

Exploring the company’s ‘Joy in Every Moment’ ethos, ‘Life’s a Game’ was born as a creative concept and inspired the new colourful visuals consumers will see on supermarket shelves from summer 2019. 

The new look, which has been developed behind the scenes over the last year, re-affirms Webbox’s position as a market leader and brings a fresh approach to packaging in the pet food category.

Julie Butcher, head of marketing at Pets Choice, comments: “We pride ourselves on manufacturing innovative food and treats for cats, dogs and most recently hedgehogs, to enjoy and it was so important to us that our new packaging reflected exactly what we stand for as a brand.

“Fun, inventive and cheeky is the best way to describe our new branding. It’s a completely different look and feel for us but one that we’re confident encapsulates everything we believe in.”

Initially focussing on the leading cat and dog treat ranges, the brand will continue to roll out the new design across its core Webbox portfolio.

Julie concludes: “Webbox has a proven track-record of bringing unique products and formats to the market and the new look will not only command the attention of the consumer on a crowded supermarket shelf, but will also support and complement our existing product range and all product development moving forward.”

For more information about Webbox please visit www.webbox.co.uk

Leading members of the region’s business community were amongst a 30-strong group who visited the production facilities at Inspired Pet Nutrition (IPN) – the UK’s largest independent producer of dry pet food – at Dalton Airfield near Thirsk in North Yorkshire.

The group were members of the Bowcliffe Hall Drivers Club – a private car club for motoring enthusiasts which is based at Bowcliffe Hall near Wetherby. 

Nearly 20 vintage and modern sports cars – including a 1930s Bentley, a 1951 Jaguar XK150 and a Morris 1800 Rally car which competed in the first major car marathon from London to Sydney in 1968 – called in at IPN as part of a one-day rally round Yorkshire.

Jonathan Turner DL, CEO of the Bayford Group which his family co-founded 100 years ago and who also started the drivers’ club, said: “It was fascinating to have a tour of the UK‘s largest pet food plant for dry dog and cat foods. 

"We love to take inspiration from fellow Yorkshire businesses and with turnover approaching £100 million and market-leading brands, IPN is a great Yorkshire success story.”

Chris Wragg, marketing director at IPN who coordinated the visit, said: “We were delighted to welcome the Bowcliffe Hall Drivers Club and share the exciting business performance and future growth plans at IPN.”

Pictured: Standing left to right:  Jonathan Turner DL, Chris Wragg (IPN marketing director), David Proctor (IPN Operations Director).  In the1962 Jaguar E-Type is Rosie Battye (head of motoring at the Bowcliffe Hall Drivers Club.)

Wilsons Pet Food, a Perthshire-based pet food company that can trace its heritage back well over 150 years, has launched a range of Working Dog cold press recipes to add to its existing range of Cold Pressed Dog Food.

Available in three varieties, Pork, Peas, Sweet Potato With Apple, Chicken, Sweet Potato And Peas and Beef, Peas, Sweet Potato With Carrot, the new Cold Pressed Working Dog Food offers much higher levels of nutrition and digestibility compared to the existing Wilsons Working Dog Food range and will be sold in 15 kg bags.

The new recipes which will be VAT free, contain a higher protein content for extra energy and include all the vitamins, minerals, pre-biotics, botanicals , natural anti oxidants and amino acids any active working dog would need to maintain health and vitality. There are active ingredients to aid digestibility and support the immune system, skin, coat and joints.

The recipes contain a number of Superfoods including Ginger, Turmeric, Thyme, Cranberry, Dandelion Root and Merry Gold Yellow. The lower temperatures used in the cold press technology make sure that all the goodness that is contained in these fragile herbs are not destroyed in the manufacturing process. The recipes are grain and gluten free so are ideal for dogs with allergies or intolerances.

Craig Wallace, Managing Director of Wilsons Pet Food, said: “Although our muesli products form part of our heritage, which we are incredibly proud off; it’s time to update our range in order to offer the best nutrition we can.

"We want to offer the highest quality dog food in both wet and dry food, and for a dry food we believe a cold pressed option is the best way to meet the demands and needs of a working dog.

"We look forward to our customers trying the new range and are very excited about the launch of our raw dog food range later in the year after receiving all the necessary approvals to operate our new factory.“

Wilsons Pet Food’s new Working Dog Cold Pressed range will be available from 17^th June 2019. To find out more visit www.wilsonspetfood.co.uk

Collarways is working in partnership with One Fur All, based in the US, to bring the company's Pet House range of odour eliminating products to the UK.

Every product in the range is created to freshen pet-loving homes and cars (and offices as Collarways have discovered).  All candles are made from 100% natural dye-free soy wax and no paraffin or petroleum by-products are used. Tested and proven to eliminate 99% of pet odours the effective odour neutraliser and proprietary blend of essential oils help to create a calm and tranquil atmosphere. 

Importantly all products are completely non-toxic and allergen free too.

The gifting and homeware market is a new venture for Collarways, known for their representation of top quality collars, leads and accessories, and may not be something many pet stores have considered but there is certainly demand for quality items such as these.  The 1.5oz mini candles are perfect for small areas and also for customers to trial the scents with an RRP of just £3.99. Also available now are the car fresheners which area a great impulse purchase, especially when placed by the till.  Both items are currently available in 7 different scents across the range.

The 8oz Candle has a burn time of up to 60 hours and are the top sellers over the pond with the candles being housed in a reusable glass jar which is perfect for storing dog treats or other items after use.  The current scents of Fresh Citrus and Vanilla Sandalwood will be added to shortly but with many more scents to choose from, there will be something for all personal tastes.

Available now from Collarways, www.collarways.com,  info@collarways.com,  01747 830021.

Pet Brands is celebrating the successful launch of the Cath Kidston range at Zoomark last month. Using the stand space to fully embrace the vintage ethos of the brand, Pet Brands used a ‘Best in Show' theme to ensure the new products really stood out.

The brands benefits from international recognition and there was a great deal of excitement around its expansion into pet care.

Pet Brands Commercial Director, Nigel Moult, says he was delighted by the response and the stand design.

"The team did a great job of showing how striking the new Cath Kidston range can look in store. Cath Kidston loaned us some iconic Stanley dog models, inspired by Cath's own beloved Lakeland Terrier. We also used one of Cath Kidston's instantly recognisable wallpaper prints and vintage furniture, as well as trophies and rosettes to really set the scene. The products really took centre-stage though judging by the excited reactions of show visitors."

Positioning the stand in the British Pavilion was a natural choice given the British heritage of the Cath Kidston brand and interest from UK and International retailers alike was strong, with a real demand for export.

Nigel notes that the launch to end consumers in September is already projected to be so successful that a range extension is being discussed for 2020.

"For pet owners who love their pets and want their homes to look beautiful too, the range has so much to offer. We were thrilled to see that others shared our vision of the potential for the Cath Kidston brand in pet care and look forward to seeing it in pet shops, garden centres and Cath Kidston stores."

The full Cath Kidston pet care range is available to view at the Pet Brands showrooms. For further information, contact 01924 459573.

HiLife has unveiled a new look design for the pouches, boxes and bags in its popular natural range of cat and dog food, while reassuring pet owners that their four-legged friends can still enjoy the same great taste.

Featuring beautiful illustrations, rather than photography, the new 'HiLife its only natural' packaging depicts a playful brown and white dog and a cute black cat, framed by a flutter of tonal leaves.

Highlighting the range’s all natural recipes, the new look also showcases key ingredients and the percentage of meat or fish is proudly displayed on the front of each pack.

Designed to catch the eye whilst clearly sharing the recipe content, this distinctive design will stand out from other brands on the shelf.

Owned by Town and Country Petfoods, the company developed the 'HiLife its only natural' range using 100% natural ingredients such as meat, fish and garden vegetables.

Produced with the health-conscious pet owner in mind, each of the hand-prepared dishes contains no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives - meeting the growing demand for natural pet food made with high quality ingredients and attention to provenance.

Tony Parkinson, Managing Director at HiLife, said: “For the 9 million dogs and 7.5 million cats in the UK, owners only want the best food for their pets, scrutinising food quality more closely than ever before.

“With a growing group of pet owners now looking for the same level of quality in pet food as the food they feed themselves, it was important that the new packing for our HiLife it’s only natural range clearly shows what pet owners can expect. We also want to offer our customers packaging that not only stands out in the shops but looks great stacked in their kitchen cupboards too.”

The new look 'HiLife it’s only natural' range is available for retailers to order now. Visit www.hilifepet.co.uk for more information.

OATA joined fellow trade associations and other experts this week during a special outreach hearing held in Cambridge by the Environmental Audit Committee as part of its inquiry into the impacts of invasive species and their management.

Assistant Chief Executive Dr Tracey King spoke on behalf of the ornamental aquatic industry, explaining how the trade sees its role and responsibilities with regard to the movement of a range of non-native species, from fish to plants, across the globe and into the UK. 

During two evidence gathering panels the committee of cross-party MPs questioned researchers from the Biosecurity Research Initiative at St Catharine’s, where the event was held, as well as practitioners, NGOs, border authorities and trade associations. In a departure from usual parliamentary procedure the hearing was held away from Westminster and was opened to the public to attend.

During her questioning by MPs, Tracey’s main points included explaining the main pathways for ornamental species to enter the UK, outlining the checks and balances that legal trade must go through and highlighting the lack of scrutiny of online/e-commerce sales.

She also pointed out the lack of a central portal for people to find out about banned species. She also raised examples of best practice in New Zealand and Holland which the committee might be interested in and highlighted the lack of direct engagement with the industry when it came to horizon scanning by the government for issues.

“Taking part in these kinds of inquiries, by putting in written submissions and attending hearings like this one, are really important because we hope that MPs want a fully rounded picture of what is happening with non-native species and the work our industry is doing to highlight the 'no release' and be plant wise messages to customers,” said Tracey.

The Committee will use the sessions to inform a major report with recommendations to Government, due to be published this autumn.

The session can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0waB8awwqA (Panel 2 starts at 1hr 42) or a transcript will appear on the EAC’s inquiry page on Friday https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/environmental-audit-committee/inquiries/parliament-2017/invasive-species-17-19/

Leading Yorkshire-based pet accessory company, Collared Creatures, has introduced a fashionable range of Harris Tweed collars for dogs.

Harris Tweed recently came to prominence with the State Visit of the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump who was presented with a bolt of Harris Tweed by HM The Queen when they viewed items at Buckingham Palace from The Royal Collection together with other items of interest to reflect the President’s Scottish heritage.

Collared Creatures has been creating exquisitely designed handmade dog collars for over 6 years. They have spent many years sourcing the finest fabrics and fastenings to ensure that all our handmade dog collars are comfortable, durable and pleasing on the eye.

All of the handmade dog collars use 100% wool fabric that is hand-woven on the Isle of Harris in the outer Hebrides. The dog collars are available with an alumax clip, buckle or martingale style. All collars are lined inside with Kona Cotton fabric and have a strong webbing core inner for strength and durability and are fitted with a welded stainless steel D ring. 

The last three years have seen Harris Tweed remain "on-trend" and a regular feature in both High Street stores and on catwalks in couture collections and the increase in popularity has led to the training of a new generation of weavers to meet production demands.   

Harris Tweed is used by many well-known clothing and footwear brands and is used to make hand bags, purses and other fashion items. New markets are emerging within the BRIC nations and more traditional markets are reviving in the USA and Europe as well as East Asian countries including South Korea. Sales forecasts are optimistic for the cloth.

The Collared Creatures Harris Tweed dog collars are therefore the perfect pet accessory to complement the currents trends in fashion and should be an attractive option for pet and gift retailers to stock. They are available in an attractive range of colours and designs to fit any size of dog.

Collars can be gently machine washed, its advisable to place in a washbag or pillow case and tie up, to stop the metal hardware banging on the drum, stretch out to shape and dry naturally.

For further information please visit: www.collaredcreatures.com

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More than 40 animals, including 25 snakes, have been stolen from an exotic pet shop, leaving the owner feeling 'devastated'. 

Lancashire Police are investigating the incident, and believe the thieves gained entry through the roof of Ipets Pet Superstore, Rossendale.

The owner, who wished to remain anonymous, listed the stolen animals on Facebook:

• 15 royal pythons
• Two corn snakes
• An Argus monitor lizard
• Five bearded dragons
• A blood python
• A calotes lizard
• Two leopard geckos
• A Nile monitor lizard
• Two black rat snakes
• Two albino black rat snakes
• A Tai beauty snake
• Five Guineas pigs
• Three rats
• A bald rat

An Amazon tree boa was dumped outside and died.

A 9ft reticulated python, a species that can grow to well over 20ft and is the world’s longest, was left outside. It is recovering at the vets.

The owner has pleaded for the safe return of the missing animals and is offering a £500 reward for information that leads to police making an arrest.

Michaela Holt, from animal group Rossendale Responsible Rescue, said: “People should be aware they could be buying stolen animals and should contact the police or pet shop straight away.”

Read the full story by clicking here

Mars Petcare has promoted its former UK sales director Helen Warren-Piper to the post of general manager, a direct replacement for incumbent Deri Watkins who has taken over as regional president of Mars Pet Nutrition Europe.

With over two decades worth of experience in sales and marketing behind her Warren-Piper will leverage knowledge gleaned from her time at consumer goods giants including P&G, United Biscuits and Premier Foods.

She said: “We have some truly world-leading brands within our portfolio and my team is focused on driving growth through innovation, quality and purpose-led campaigns that really resonate with our consumers.

"One of the reasons I love working at Mars Petcare is because our associates are so energised by our purpose of creating a Better World for Pets, so I’m particularly excited by the task of translating this mission into fun and creative ways that connect back to our core business and brands.”

Louise Mackintosh, Managing Director of award-winning raw dog food manufacturer Poppy’s Picnic, has been appointed Vice Chair of the Pet Food Manufacturing Association’s Communications Committee.

Louise, who lives in Bristol, will in her new role be supporting the Chair of the Communications Committee, Kellie Ceccarelli from the global pet group, Spectrum. Louise will be attending and facilitating Committee meetings and, as required, acting as the Communications Representative at the Executive Committee. She will also support the PFMA Executive Team with media responses and decisions. As this is such a large and busy group, there is also another Co-Vice Chair, Laura Vallance of Purina.

With nearly 20 years experience working as a Brand Communications Specialist for some of the top PR, marketing and events agencies in the UK, Louise brings a wealth of experience to her new role. During her career she has worked on global brands such as Diageo, Powergen, Anadin, Birds Eye, Captain Birds Eye, AVIS, Kellogg's, Wickes, Disney,  Hamleys, Tesco,  CafeDirect, mysupermarket and Twinings.

Alongside Poppy’s Picnic founder, Dylan Watkins, Louise also represents Poppy’s Picnic on the PFMA Raw Producers Group. This group was set up to accommodate the growing appetite for raw pet food and to ensure best practice within the industry.

The group’s other aim is to provide professional support and communications to any pet owners wishing to feed their cats and dogs a raw diet helping to normalise this way of feeding pets.

Louise said: “I am absolutely honoured to be given this position on the Communications Committee with the PFMA. It is extremely rewarding to work with other colleagues who all come from such diverse sectors of the pet food industry to work for the common good- the well being of our pets.

"Our aim is to ensure best practice within the industry and to further improve the standards and quality of pet food. Our aim is also to ensure that all pet owners are given the correct advice and support so that they can feed their pets the best possible diet.”

For more information on Poppy’s Picnic fresh raw dog food visit www.poppyspicnic.co.uk

The brand behind the first ever ball launcher, Chuckit!, is again bringing innovation to the game of fetch with the launch of a new toy for Summer 2019 − the FetchFlight.

Responding to growing consumer demand for hard-wearing flight products, the new FetchFlight boasts a flexible unique EZ Grip design that ensures dogs and owners benefit from the convenience of easy pick up.

Made from high-quality rubber, the pyramid structure is designed to provide a softer grip on dogs’ mouths making retrieval easier whilst withstanding paws and jaws.  

Durable and robust, the FetchFlight features an inner sail that flexes with each flight, allowing better loft during play. Ideal for use on land, the FetchFlight comes in Chuckit!’s distinctive bright blue and orange colour for increased visibility, ensuring dogs never lose sight of their new favourite toy.

Will Baggaley, Brand Manager for Chuckit!, comments: “As consumers continue to seek out and invest in quality fetch toys, expanding our range of flight options was important to us. We know durable flight products are not always readily available for consumers and we’re excited to be launching the FetchFlight just in time for summer.”

Chuckit! showed the FetchFlight for the first time at the Pedigree Wholesale Trade Show. It has an RRP £12.99.

For more information on Chuckit! visit the website: http://chuckit-toys.co.uk/stockist-map.

Oscar & Hooch recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Medical Detection Dog Charity by promoting their Black and Red Medical Detection collars and leads.

The company has been a partner to the charity since 2012 and continues to donate money to them by giving away 10% of the proceeds of the sale of these particular collars and leads. It also provides each qualified dog with their own Black and Red Medical Detection Signature collar and lead.

Medical Detection Dogs are trained to detect the odour of human disease. It is at the forefront of the research into the fight against cancer and helping people with life-threatening diseases. The Bio-Detection Dogs are trained to find the odour of diseases in samples such as urine and swabs.

The Medical Alert Assistance Dogs are trained to detect minute changes in an individual’s personal odour triggered by their disease and alert them to an impending medical event. The charity receives no government funding for the work they do and rely entirely on the generosity of donations from trusts and the public.  

The dogs are a mixture of breeds including Labradors and working spaniels and are chosen according to their ability and it generally takes 6-8 months for a dog to reach a good level of performance. All the bio-detection dogs live in homes as part of a caring family with fantastic volunteer fosterers, and lead normal, happy lives as pet dogs. They are dropped off in the morning and picked up in the evening from the centre in Great Horwood near Milton Keynes.

The fundamental training method is a reward based one using clicker training for all bio-detection work. Dogs are rewarded with a food treat or tennis ball play when they make an accurate assessment of the samples they are working on. It is hoped that in the future the dogs will be able to provide second line diagnostic support for cancers that are currently difficult to diagnose reliably, such as prostate cancer. The charity’s research will also inform and enable the development of electronic systems using the information that the dogs have told the researchers.

Claire Guest, CEO Medical Detection Dogs, said: “We are proud of the work of our dogs; their ability to detect human disease and save human lives is becoming better recognised every day. Partnering with Oscar & Hooch means our dogs wear a high quality lead and collar in colours that people now associate with our work. We are so grateful for the support of Oscar & Hooch in helping us to achieve our goals.”

Medical Alert Assistance Dogs are currently trained to assist people living with Type 1 diabetes, Addison’s, severe nut allergy, and PoTS. The charity also considers individuals with other life threatening conditions. Dogs are trained using samples collected from the client when they are experiencing an episode. The dogs are trained to identify the unique odours. The type of alert will vary depending on the needs of the client.

The total cost of training and placing a Medical Alert Assistance Dog is £29,000. The average annual cost of a bio detection dog project is approximately £150,000.

Elaine Steckler, Founder of Oscar & Hooch said: “At Oscar & Hooch we are very proud to be partners with Medical Detection Dogs. This fantastic charity work tirelessly in undertaking groundbreaking research and training medical assistance dogs, allowing them to identify dangerous health conditions with the people they live with.”

Style, comfort, practicality and durability are the hallmarks of the Oscar & Hooch brand. All collars and leads are machine washable and are handmade in luxury soft suedette made right here in the UK. 

Elaine Steckler from Oscar & Hooch along with Dr Claire Guest Co-Founder, CEO and Director of Operations of Medical Detection Dogs will be appearing on the award-winning The Queen Silvy Show in the USA on 23 July. The show which is broadcast on the Fishbowl network has a worldwide audience of 2.8 million listeners and goes on air at 5 pm UK time and is streamed online www.fbrn.us (grey stream)

For further information about Oscar & Hooch visit: www.oscarandhooch.com

For further information on Medical Detection Dogs visit: www.medicaldetectiondogs.org.uk

Hill’s Pet Nutrition has introduced a selection of tasty Stews to its existing Prescription Diet range, offering clinical nutrition with a gourmet look and taste that pets won’t be able to resist.

The new range, recommended by veterinarians, is designed to help alleviate and manage specific health conditions including urinary, kidney, digestive, skin, mobility and weight concerns.

The new range works like Prescription Diet and tastes like a stew, available in chicken or tuna, containing real vegetables and rice to provide additional nutrients pets need. The irresistible taste ensures pets come back for more while the rich aroma stimulates their appetite, drawing them to the bowl.

Hill’s believes that proper nutrition has the power to help support health and wellbeing, which is why the latest scientific research and clinical expertise is used to develop foods that address a range of health issues.

Prescription Diet Stews offer great benefits across the range including:

• Urinary Care - Clinically proven to help dissolve struvite uroliths in pets
• Derm Defense - Supports skin health and helps protect the skin barrier from environmental allergens
• Digestive Care - For the nutritional management of pets with gastrointestinal disorders and pets in recovery
• Metabolic - Metabolic is a breakthrough weight management diet for pets, that is clinically proven to safely support weight loss and maintenance
• Kidney Care - Clinically proven to support a longer and better quality of life in pets with kidney conditions

See additional information, benefits and the full product range here: https://www.hillspet.co.uk/prescription-diet/stew.

A Manchester pet and aquatic store with the distinctive name of Gay-Lyfe is to close after being in business for more than 50 years with the internet and changing shopping habits being blamed for the move.

"Things have changed over the years,” owner Mark Bootes told the Manchester Eveing News. “Kids used to have pets and now they have iPads. A lot of people in the area don't keep pets any more. That’s one of the reasons why we’re closing.”

The pet and aquatic store in Levenshulme was first opened by George and Norma Ormrod in 1965 before their nephew, Mark Bootes, joined the business in 1980.

It sold animals of all shapes and sizes, but it was tropical fish where Mark carved out a niche for the business.

"When we announced we were closing on Facebook, a lot of people said ‘oh I used to go there’. But that’s exactly it, people used to come to us but now they go elsewhere or buy online.”

Though the shop is closing Mark will continue to import tropical fish from around the world with his colleague, James Best.

To read the full Manchester Evening News report click here

Picture taken from Gay-Life’s Facebook page.

Jollyes will be opening a new pet superstore store at Quora Retail Park in Skegness on Monday, June 24.

The new store will offer an extensive range of accessories, products and support for owners and their furry friends, including a pamper and groom experience, The Spa.

“Being able to work with animals each day and support their owners is something we are very passionate about,” says a spokesman for Jollyes. “The new store means that pet owners in the local area can access everything they need in one convenient place.

“What is really exciting is people can still visit when it fits around their busy and working schedules as the store will be open until 8pm.”

To read the full story on the Skegness Standard website click here

Yorkshire pet treat manufacturer The Innocent Pet has launched the UK’s first luxury birthday cake mix for dogs – so they can celebrate their big day too!

Founder Chloe Heaton said: “Every time we have a birthday in our family, our lurcher Bongo – the inspiration behind our business - always manages to steal a piece of the cake.  We thought it was about time we made him a cake of his own…but one that contained meat!”

Mum of two, Chloe, who runs the family business with her husband, Justin, at their factory in Wetherby, said: “It is easy to make - simply add eggs and water to the mix which contains air-dried British duck and a grain-free flour and fruit blend.  The mix can be turned into a large birthday cake or several cupcakes in less than half an hour – bakers can have their own Great Birthday Bark Off and decorate their bakes with an array of toppings such as cream cheese, peanut butter and treats. It is so simple and fun - even children can enjoy getting involved.”

The kit consists of 2 sachets: one with air-dried British duck and herb pieces (the duck has been carefully sourced from Red Tractor farms, and gently air-dried for up to 4 days to maintain nutrients and flavour).  The second sachet contains grain free flours, gluten free baking powder and a blend of cranberry, apple and nettle.

Chloe said: “With no added sugar or grains not only do dogs thoroughly enjoy this recipe, but it is a healthy alternative to other birthday cakes.  You could say that dogs really can have their cake and eat it - especially because they have the equivalent of 7 birthdays each year!”

Dogs are very much seen as being part of the family and people love to involve them in celebrations.  A recent survey showed that 75% of dog owners celebrate their dog’s birthday.

They’re inviting customers to share their doggy birthday cake pictures on social media using #birthdaybarkoff.

As well as the Birthday Cake Mix, The Innocent Pet produces a range of air-dried British meat treats and food for dogs and cats and also caters for small animals.

Wilsons Pet Food, a Perthshire-based pet food company that can trace its heritage back well over a hundred years, has appointed Dan Griffin as Head of Sales.

In the short time that Dan has been with Wilsons Pet Food he has already established 40 new stockists right across the country helping to popularise their growing range of cold press dry food for dogs.

He will also be helping to promote an expanded range of new products designed to cater for an ever-demanding consumer which will be announced in the coming months.

Having grown up with dogs on a family farm just outside Stamford, Dan already has a passion for the pet market. He has a background in working for start-up businesses taking new products to market and has worked in the food industry and the commercial side of FMCG where he executed the sales strategy delivering products into both independent shops and large retail chains.

His new role at Wilsons will involve establishing the commercial and sales strategy and building relationships with existing and new retailers, with a focus on independent stores.  

He will be working alongside Craig Wallace, the Managing Director of Wilsons Pet Food to grow and expand the business, while increasing brand awareness.

Wilsons Pet Food has made supporting the independent retailer their priority by not discounting online, offering free samples and point-of-sale material in the way of posters and by creating boosted posts online to support new retailers

Commenting on his new appointment Dan Griffin said: “I am extremely excited about my new role at Wilsons Pet Food. I have a passion for the brand and their expanding range of products.

"It is great to be promoting healthy pet food which is British made and manufactured by a long standing family-owned business with an amazing heritage.

"My aim is to roll out the cold press food and the new ranges to stores right across the UK. I will also be building relationships with breeders and dog trainers to help support small businesses and spread the awareness of the benefits of feeding Wilsons Pet Food.”

To find out more about Wilsons Pet Food visit www.wilsonspetfood.co.uk