The senior managers of The Company of Animals have acquired a majority stake in Billy+Margot in a strategic move to create a powerful new force in the pet industry.
The Company of Animals have expanded rapidly in the last few years with its specialist dog training and behaviour ranges and the partnership with Billy+Margot will open up their global customer base access to a unique range of premium dog food and treats. Steve Driver, Managing Director of The Company of Animals says: "Billy+Margot bring fantastic innovation to the pet food sector, it's a brand driven by its core values and an obsession with quality. Our partnership will see our sales and marketing efforts combined to ensure the range is more widely available. We are very excited at the prospect of working alongside Marie as she has got an amazing passion and drive for her business as well as an educational background that enables her to bring brand new ideas and concepts to the pet food market going forward' Founded just over three years ago by Marie Sawle, Billy+Margot found instant fame following Marie's appearance on BBC Dragons' Den. She secured a large investment from Deborah Meaden who saw massive potential in the first ever Iced treat for dogs. Since then, Billy+Margot have developed many other dog products including a range of venison treats, training biscuits, popcorn with seaweed, fish treats and, more recently, a range of complete wet food. All along Marie ensured that all new products were manufactured using the highest quality ingredients sourced in the UK. As part of the new deal, Deborah will exit having seen her investment grow threefold in as many years. Deborah says: "Marie has created and built a superb business which has held true to its values of Quality and Innovation. I am very proud to have been part of their early journey and confident the new partnership are well placed to seriously impact this huge and growing market." Marie says: "I am delighted to be joining such a strong, professional and passionate team but more importantly for me was that we share the same ethics in our vision for the future of the business." These values have helped the brand become a household name and Billy+Margot products are now sold in nearly 700 outlets in the UK and has achieved more recent export success with retail outlets and distributors in Europe and the Middle East. New products are about to be launched and the tie-up with The Company of Animals will enable these to be introduced to a far greater number of stockists in the UK and abroad.
Pictured: Dr Roger Mugford, Paul Nolan with Fudge, Marie Sawle with Margot, Steve Driver and Paul Marshall.
 |
|
|
|
PetQuip announces finalists for its prestigious Awards
 The finalists for the prestigious PetQuip Awards have been revealed with Beco Pets, Bern Pet Foods, Best In Show (Lanchester Gifts), Collarways, Group 55 (Animology), Hownd, Nutriment, Pet Munchies, Pet Revolution, Scruffs and Sureflap competiting for the Pet Product Innovation of the Year title. The overall winners will be announced at a special Awards Party on September 27 after the first day of PATS Telford...
Group55, who won Exporter of the Year in the 2014 Pet Awards, are finalists in three categories this year.
 The PetQuip association has revealed the final 41 names going forward to the judging process for the PetQuip Awards 2015. The judging is due to take place on September 8.
Now in their third year, the PetQuip Awards are a popular addition to the pet industry calendar with places on the shortlist being hotly contested.
PetQuip’s director general, Amanda Sizer Barrett (pictured above presenting Group55 with the Exporter of the Year gold) said: “Interest in the awards has made 2015 the busiest year yet and we are thrilled at the response from the pet industry.
'Companies have realised how good even being shortlisted can be for their businesses, and, of course, if they go on to win, the accolade can be promoted in many ways to help further enhance a firm’s reputation and sales."
The winners, together with the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, will be announced on September 27 at the PetQuip Awards Dinner & Party which is taking place in the Telford International Centre, Ludlow Suite, in association with PATS Telford. With over 100 retailers already booked to attend, the awards evening will provide an ideal opportunity for networking with colleagues, customers and industry bodies in a relaxed atmosphere, with ticket prices comparable to local restaurants making it an even more attractive proposition.
"Quite a number of exhibitors from the show are using the event to entertain valued customers, as the catering in the Ludlow Suite is excellent," said Pat Flynn, PetQuip’s trade association manager and event organiser. Visit www.petquip.com/awards for a booking form or simply telephone 01959 565995 to pay by credit card. Ticket prices include reception drinks, a three-course meal with wine and dancing to a contemporary DJ to round off the evening (or networking in the relaxed atmosphere of the adjacent bar). Exporter of the Year - Beco Pets
- Group 55 (Animology)
- Pet Food UK
- Pet Rebellion
- Scruffs
- Tasty Bone
Pet Product Innovation of the Year - Beco Pets
- Bern Pet Foods
- Best In Show (Lanchester Gifts)
- Collarways
- Group 55 (Animology)
- Hownd
- Nutriment
- Pet Munchies
- Pet Revolution
- Scruffs
- Sureflap
Marketing Campaign of the Year - Beco Pets
- Hownd
- Pet Food UK
- Pet Rebellion
- Sureflap,
- Town & Country Petfoods
Wholesaler/Distributor of the Year- Bestpets
- Pedigree Wholesale
- Peregrine Livefoods
- Vital Pet Products
Supplier of the Year - Denes
- Group 55 (Animology)
- Guisapet
- Mutneys
- Pet Rebellion
- Scruffs
UK Retailer of the Year - Bents Garden Centre Pet Department --Warrington
- Pets Corner UK – Crawley
- Pets Korner – Stamford
- Wags & Whiskers Pet Boutique -- Stockton on Tees
International Retailer / Wholesaler of the Year - Caramira Pet Trade Ltd – Estonia
- Eye4Pets --The Netherlands
- Meiko – Switzerland
- Whesco – Denmark
|
|
Rumours are rife that online pet care retailers MedicAnimal, Pet-Supermarket and PetMeds have gone into administration.
The MedicAnimal and PetMeds websites have the following statement: Oops! We are extremely popular at the minute and unfortunately you may not be able to access our site temporarily. We are working as fast as our paws can manage to get this fixed. The Pet Supermarket website has the message: Down for maintenance Social media and a forum on moneysavingexpert.com is full of comments from frustrated customers who have placed orders with the online retailers. To view customers comments on the moneysavingexpert.com website about the problems they’re having with the online retailers in question click here.
|
|
|
‘Entry level’ brand DogStar launched by makers of Animology
With a global reputation for developing innovative pet products that offer strong branding, exceptional shelf appeal and superior performance at an affordable price point, the creator of Animology, Group55, is launching an ‘entry level’ brand called DogStar...
With a global reputation for developing innovative pet products that offer strong branding, exceptional shelf appeal and superior performance at an affordable price point, the creator of Animology, Group55, is launching an ‘entry level’ brand called DogStar.
Launching an initial range of five quick rinse, low foam, PH Balanced shampoos, the only thing entry level about DogStar is the price.
Retailing at just £2.99 for a 300ml bottle and with five fragrances including Bubblegum, Zingy Lime, Pink Grapefruit, Raspberry & Vanilla, and Honey & Shea Butter, these products will be unveiled to visitors at PATS Telford, making a trip to the Group55 stand (A6) a must! Find out more by emailing enquiries@group55.co.uk
|
|
 Beaphar UK has pledged a £1 donation from the sale of every pack of Beaphar One Dose Wormer for Dogs to Hearing Dogs for Deaf People sold during Worm Awareness Week, which starts on September 27.Hearing Dogs for Deaf People is a national charity whose mission is to train hearing dogs to alert deaf adults and children to important sounds and danger signals, providing independence, confidence and companionship. However, deafness is more than just hearing loss; hearing dogs also help to relieve the stress, isolation and loneliness that deafness can often bring. Almost 10 million people in the UK are deaf or have a hearing loss- that’s 1 in 6 of the population and the problem is growing. It costs a total of £40,000 for the breeding, training and lifelong care of each hearing dog for the expected 10 years of its working life. Each £5,000 raised allows Hearing Dogs for Deaf People to start a puppy on an 18-month journey to become a hearing dog of the future. Beaphar UK has been running a national Worm Awareness Week for many years, the aim of which is to highlight the importance of worming pets regularly. By worming a pet every 3 months with a vet strength treatment such as Beaphar One Dose Wormer for Dogs or Beaphar Cat Granules for Cats, owners can be sure to keep worms at bay. To support this very worthy charity and watch your worming sales grow at the same time, call 0333 0066236 or email info@uk.beaphar.com to schedule a worm control training session or find out about our worming campaign for 2015.
|
|
More than 6 million pets are at risk of contracting killer diseases such as parvovirus and feline leukaemia, according to vet charity PDSA.
PDSA is warning of a potential crisis due to the 6.1 million pets not receiving regular booster vaccinations and the 4.1 million cats, dogs and rabbits not neutered. This leaves pets exposed to a range of potentially deadly, preventable diseases such as leptospirosis, womb infections and certain cancers.
It comes as the charity today unveiled a special vet squad to help protect vulnerable pets. Its pet wellbeing ‘champions’, consisting of over 50 vets and nurses based across the UK, has been launched by PDSA thanks to a generous £550,000 funding award from players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
The new team will educate pet owners about preventive health and encourage uptake of thousands of vaccinations, neutering operations, parasite treatments and microchips to safeguard dogs, cats and small furry pets.
PDSA’s latest Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report has revealed that 6.3 million pets aren’t microchipped, meaning these animals are at higher risk of never being reunited with their owners if they go missing. As of April 2016, it will become compulsory for all dogs to be microchipped in England and Wales – a fact many dog owners are still unaware of.
Nicola Martin, PDSA’s Head of Pet Health and Welfare, said: “Thanks to the fantastic generosity of players of People’s Postcode Lottery this dedicated team of vets and nurses can do even more to promote preventive care across the UK.
“Their support means we can have a pet wellbeing ‘champion’ in every single PDSA pet hospital, making a huge difference in tackling some of the biggest welfare issues facing our nation’s pets.
“This new funding will help us to save more pets’ lives by educating pet owners about the importance of preventing the preventable.”
Last year alone, over 478,000 pet owners turned to PDSA for help to care for their pets - a figure that has risen by more than 50% in recent years. Annually, it costs over £60 million to run PDSA’s charitable service.
Julie Rougvie, Marketing Manager at People’s Postcode Lottery, attended the launch of the new pet wellbeing ‘champions’.
She said: “We’re thrilled that players of People’s Postcode Lottery are able to support PDSA’s new specialist vet team whose efforts will help protect pets in the UK.
“I’ve witnessed first-hand PDSA’s vital work treating sick and injured pets, so I know the funding our players are providing is going towards a great animal welfare initiative.”
Support from players will also fund a number of other initiatives including open days at the charity’s pet hospitals to engage with local communities, reaching over 150,000 pet owners with a preventive health checker, live Q&A sessions with vets and nurses on PDSA’s Facebook page and creating a new range of pet health advice materials.
For more information about PDSA visit www.pdsa.org.uk
|
|
 
Two pioneering dog owners have teamed up to put together an internationally supported conference on the subject of natural pet care.
The Natural Dog Conference is taking place in Birmingham on the weekend of December 5-6. Dean Barrow, creator of raw feeding blog Raw Dog Food (https://rawdogfood.co) and The Raw Feeding Directory (https://rawfeedingdirectory.com), and dog trainer & events organiser Caroline Griffith feel the event is long over due here in the UK. They are keen to create a community through the conference, a chance for like-minded people to meet, learn and support each other in their natural pet care choices. Four of the world’s top holistic veterinarians feature in the line-up alongside a research doctor of wolf biology and behaviour and world renowned pet blogger Rodney Habib. The collaboration of knowledge, science and understanding into natural canine care will be the first of its kind in the UK and an opportunity for dog owners to discover what really is the truth when it comes to natural pet care, and what opportunities are available to them.
 “There are similar events which take place in the States, Australia and other countries but no one seemed to bother with the UK market, so after working with Caroline at one of her seminars, I asked if she wanted to help bring over some big names and put on an event like this and it went from there,” said Dean Barrow. “The conference is aimed primarily at consumers who are already raw feeders. Since raw feeders tend to be quite clued up about their dog’s health, they often in turn research vaccinations and dog behaviour more so than kibble feeders. We feel the areas of expertise offered by our speakers are very tightly knit and complement each other perfectly. “That's not just to say it's for raw feeders only. We’re also welcoming those who want to learn more about their dog’s health and how to better care for them. “We also expect a number of vets/vet nurses will attend, more so the younger generation as based on attending smaller events, they seem to be the ones who are more open and willing to adopt the uprising trend of raw feeding. We are also looking to offer CPD for the event too.” For more information visit http://naturaldogconference.com
|
|
Pets Corner has announced a new commitment to protect their network of suppliers by boosting their approach to best business practice and fair trading.
Already an advocate of supporting the success of their suppliers, the company will start by introducing a new policy to improve supplier cash flow by making quicker payments.
From 1st August 2015 all suppliers with a turnover of £5 million or less will be paid within 14 days of the date of invoice. The industry average currently stands at 60 days.
The family run business, which has been trading for nearly 50 years, buys from suppliers around the world but wherever possible the company will source from UK suppliers. Currently 78 per cent of their purchases are products made in the UK.
Commenting on the move, Dean Richmond, Managing Director at Pets Corner, said: “It has been a long, hard slog to get Pets Corner to where it is today.
"We have had to get all the help we could from our suppliers along the way, often needing extended credit. We were the minnow compared to them back then but now, in many instances, we are the dominant partner so we think it is important to ensure we play our part in supporting them.
"We know how cash flow plays a crucial role in the success of business and that’s why suppliers with a turnover of £5 million or less are going to be paid within 14 days of invoice.”
He continued: “We are known for having unique and exceptional products and this is because we use specialist suppliers who are often very small. We want to help them to grow.”
Pictured: Co-owner Steve Charman (left) with Dean Richmond, Managing Director of Pets Corner.
|
|
Pets Corner has been providing the nation with pet supplies since 1968, and they are now excited to be opening a new store on North Street, Ripon.
On 22nd August the doors of the brand new Ripon store will open to the public for the first time.
The local pet store’s focus surrounds its desire to provide the best possible advice to help customers care for their much loved animal family members. The new store will include an extensive range of naturally sourced, quality products for a range of furry, feathered and scaly companions.
Sara Sharp, Store Manager at Ripon Pets Corner, said:m“Having grown from a small corner pet shop, Pets Corner, an independent family enterprise, has rapidly expanded over the years to become one of the leading ethical pet businesses in the UK.
“It’s really exciting to be opening the new Pets Corner store in Ripon. My staff and I, having undergone extensive training in animal husbandry, pet behaviour, animal treatment and medicine and nutrition, are raring to go and looking forward to advising the local community on all their pet issues and day to day questions.”
|
|
|
|
|
Wolverhampton pet shop gets new owner
After 50 years' hard work at his beloved pet shop, Rob Patheyjohns is stepping down from Small Livestock Supplies Ltd. The shop has been taken over by Minders Pet Suppliers...
After 50 years' hard work at his beloved pet shop, Rob Patheyjohns is stepping down from Small Livestock Supplies Ltd. The shop has been taken over by Minders Pet Suppliers.
The business, on Queen Street, Wolverhampton, has been in his family since 1939, originally managed by his uncle before being passed onto his father.
Mr Patheyjohns, 66, from Penn, started as a 16-year-old Saturday boy in 1965 before working his way up to become owner and manager.
"It's obviously been a big part of my life since I was 16, but the day has come to finally say goodbye," he said.
"I didn't do very well at school and my dad let me work at the shop to make ends meet. I fell into it really and told him I'd only give him three years, and here I am today.
"My kids, wife, uncles, cousins and aunties have all worked here. We've ran out of family we can call upon.
"It's the right time to pass it over, we're very happy to have the chance to be enjoying a new chapter in our lives."
Mr Patheyjohns eventually took over the shop in around 1980 when his father fell ill. His wife Jennifer, a former nurse at Wolverhampton's New Cross Hospital, also helps out.
She said: "It was a sad day for us both, but life is too short, we've both worked hard and now have a lot planned for our future."
He said ever since he's known how to drive he's been in the shop every day, apart from the odd holiday, with Christmas Days being no exception.
New hobbies such as golf, guitar lessons, art classes and even cooking are now going to be taking up his time.
He added: "I'm intelligent enough to know when to retire. My kids have grown up so it's now our time to enjoy the high life and pursue other interests, something which we aim to do, for starters planning a holiday soon."
|
|
To hundreds of pets Val Henderson is their surrogate mum, and to their owners she is a godsend.
Over 18 years she has built a business from taking care of thousands of beloved family members – cats, dogs, rabbits and guinea pigs – and looking after their owners’ homes while they are away.
But she has finally handed over the reins of Paws Petsitting and what she calls “the loveliest job in the world” to her faithful assistant Tracey Steptoe, who has some big shoes to fill.
Mrs Henderson, who turns 60 today, said the goodbyes, the cards and the bottles of champagne she had received this week were testament to the genuine friendships she had built up with her customers.
The mother-of-two, who lives with her husband Jim in Grove near Wantage, Oxfordshire, said: “I’ve been in tears every single day this week.
“It’s not just the animals – my customers have become friends and now we have to say goodbye.”
Paws began life after Mrs Henderson was made redundant from her receptionist job at Day and Partners vets in Charlton in 1997.
Having grown up on her grandparents’ smallholding in South Wales surrounded by ducks, pigs, geese, chickens, cats and a dog, taking care of animals had been her dream job.
Taking calls from pet owners every day, it quickly became apparent there simply were not enough pet sitters around in Oxfordshire.
So when she was made redundant she immediately swooped in to fill the niche, and soon found it was all she could do to keep up.
She said: “I just have an affinity with animals.
“You know when you go into people’s houses and they have a cat that won’t come near you because she’s shy? – That cat will probably come and sit on my lap.”
At her busiest, Mrs Henderson was looking after more than 50 pets at once, working seven-days-a-week and sometimes making 50 visits in a single day.
Her one tip for pet owners everywhere is: “Get your pet microchipped. So many pets go missing in this area, and if they are found you won’t be tracked down unless they are microchipped.”
|
|
Police are seeking a parrot worth £2,000 that was stolen from a Cheshire pet shop in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
An offender threw a wheelie bin through the double glazed window of Timperley Aquatics in Stockport Road at around 3am on Tuesday, August 4.
They entered the store and then threw an empty lizard terrarium through a 6ftx4 ft glass aviary containing ‘Baby’ – an 8-year-old green winged macaw.
The female bird, whose actual name is ‘Charlie’, is a well know feature at the shop, known as ‘Baby’ for its habit of saying ‘hello baby’ to greet customers.
“It’s a targeted attack. They have known exactly what they’re going for. Baby is worth around £2000,” said pet shop manager Graham Ralston, who has helped hand rear the bird.
“There’s glass everywhere and feathers scattered all over the place. She must have put up quite a struggle. All her tail feathers have been pulled out.”
Green winged macaws can live until sixty years old. They are highly intelligent and form lasting attachments with their owners.
“She’s a gorgeous parrot. She’s going to be very stressed at the moment,” added Graham.
“We have a keypad lock on the door and there are signs they’ve tried to jimmy open that before throwing the bin.
|
|
A 3kg tumour the size of a football was removed from a small dog after her owner made a vet appointment thinking her pooch had put on weight and needed to go on a diet.
PDSA Vet Surgeon Laura Cartlidge, who operated on Staffordshire Bull Terrier Brunetta – Netta for short – said: “Netta’s owner was concerned she was putting on weight, but when we examined her we could feel an unusual mass, so we did some more tests, including an ultrasound, and discovered a large splenic tumour. Emergency surgery was the only option, though at fifteen-years-old, it was high risk.”
 Netta was admitted and the complex surgery took place the same day at Stoke PDSA Pet Hospital.
“When I started to remove the tumour everyone was shocked at just how large it was. It was the size of a small football, was 30cm in diameter and weighed over 3kg, it was one of the biggest tumours I’ve ever seen” continued Laura. “Netta is only a small dog, it was eye watering to see how huge it was.”
Worried owner Angela Ravenscroft (47) had noticed Netta was looking larger around the middle. She’d been sick overnight and seemed distressed. Angela said: “I took her along to PDSA thinking that we’d get some advice on how to put her on a diet. I was really shocked when they said it was a tumour on her spleen. Suddenly I thought I might lose her, it was awful.”
“When I got the call to say the surgery was a success and Netta was recovering quickly, it was such a huge relief. I’ve had Netta since she was eight-weeks-old and we’ve been through a lot together. I’m so grateful to PDSA for their help in giving us more time together, she means the world to me.”
Netta is just one of the nine thousand pet patients seen by the dedicated Stoke PDSA vet team every year. The Stoke PDSA Pet Hospital and the associated branch in Newcastle-Under-Lyme are funded entirely by generous public support, and can see as many as 160 pets every day. They provide more than 61,000 treatments a year, costing around £1m. Nationwide PDSA has a total of 51 Pet Hospitals which see over 5,000 pets a day – that’s 13 pets every minute!
PDSA believes that every pet deserves a happy, healthy life, and that no animal should suffer unnecessarily. For more information on PDSA, and how people can support their vital work, visit www.pdsa.org.uk
|
|
Pooch & Mutt has introduced Puppy Development to their highly successful Pocket Pack range, which previously included Calm & Relaxed and Fresh Breath.
Along with the new variety, the packaging of the Pocket Pack range has been updated. Each Pocket Pack retails at £1 and includes 9 hand baked, larger sized biscuits.
The award-winning company says its latest innovation ‘helps new puppy owners provide the best possible nutrition for their young dog at the first instance’.
Puppy Development Pocket Pack treats are a wheat free, ethical and natural reward to help with developing digestion in young dogs. With Omega 3 rich Flaxseed and Prebiotics alongside ethically sourced British chicken, the Puppy Development Pocket Packs are a great treat for busy puppy parents to feed.
The range of all-natural Pocket Packs include: - Calm and Relaxed – chicken, chamomile and l-tryptophan, aimed at helping anxious or nervous dogs with relaxation
- Fresh Breath – parsley, peppermint oil and chicory, formulated specifically for poor breath and oral hygiene
- Puppy Development – flaxseed, prebiotics, rosemary extract for puppies older than 12 weeks
The updated packaging includes a window, resealable top for busy dogs and the same natural, low calorie, wheat free recipe which can be suitable for dogs with allergies and sensitive digestion.
The award winning recipes have not changed and do not include any animal derivatives, by-products or wheat. The Pocket Pack treats include British, free run chicken that has been ethically accredited by PETA and winner of The Ethical Award from The Ethical Company Organisation. Founder Guy Blaskey states: “We are very proud of our new Puppy Development Pocket Pack and updated packaging, as our new packs reflect the premium product our customers want. With only the best, British ingredients in each pack, it’s no wonder the Pocket Packs are a top seller among British pet stores.” Each 45g pack contains 9 larger sized biscuits, which come in shelf-ready display boxes, each containing 12 packs. The Pocket Packs will be supported with leaflets. The RRP is £1.
|
|
Wildlife World’s has supplied its range of habitats, feeders and other products to Channel 4’s make-over show ‘Love Your Garden’ as well as the new four-part series of ‘The Autistic Gardener’.
The popular show, ‘Love Your Garden’ is now on to its sixth series, which will feature many of Wildlife World’s best-selling products. Hosted by gardening guru, Alan Titchmarsh along with David Domoney, Katie Rushworth and Frances Tophill, the eight-part series shows the team’s journey across Britain as they transform the gardens of deserving people, supported by donations from garden and landscaping suppliers.
Wildlife World has donated many of its products, including the Complete Butterfly Biome, the Bird Biome, Bempton Hanging Bird Table and Spiral bird feeder to the show for several redevelopment projects across the series.
The company has also contributed its products to Channel 4’s new show, ‘The Autistic Gardener’ hosted by award winning Alan Gardner. The four-part series started in mid-July and tells the tale of a group of five very talented gardeners who like Alan are on the autistic spectrum. Over the four-part series the team are employed to transform domestic gardens into spectacular new landscapes, also with the help of generous donations from suppliers.
Many of Wildlife World’s products, including its Hedgehog Care Pack, Butterfly and Bug Habitat Feeder, the New England Bird Nest Boxes in pink, yellow and blue and the Beehive and Insect House are used throughout the show as part of the creative gardens created by the team.
Norman Sellers, Managing Director of Wildlife World, commented “’Love Your Garden’ and ‘The Autistic Gardener are both excellent programmes and we are honoured to have contributed to such great causes. Along with all the other suppliers, we have been a part of creating some wonderful gardens by both teams and we hope that the people will be able to enjoy our products for many years to come.”
The two shows have had very successful starts to their series with excellent reviews spreading across the internet and social media.
Catch up with ‘Love Your Garden’ and ‘The Autistic Gardener’ on Channel 4OD or for more information on the products, contact Wildlife World on 01666 505333, email james@wildlifeworld.co.uk or visit the company’s website at www.wildlifeworld.co.uk
|
|
Peterborough-based businessman Kevin Taylor is in training for a 73-mile charity walk in aid of the Three Counties Dog Rescue in Bourne, Lincs.
Kevin will be part of a team of four who will spend six days walking Hadrian’s Wall in September, completing an average of 12 miles a day on the path between Wallsend on the east coast of England across to Bowness-on-Solway on the west coast.
With a mission “to accept, care for and find homes for unwanted, lost and stray dogs", the Three Counties Dog Rescue has successfully re-homed more than 6,000 dogs and cats since its formation in 1971.
Kevin - managing director of Marlor Tooling, a Woodston Industry-based company involved in the design, manufacture and refurbishment of tools used throughout manufacturing to shape and drill metal – says:
“The charity has to raise around £150,000 every year. So, if I can contribute a little towards that while at the same time do something that helps keep me fit then it’s a win-win situation.”
Support for the walk can be donated at: https://www.justgiving.com/Yvonne-Ward4
|
|
A burglar has been jailed for breaking into a charity shop during a month long crime spree around Devon.
Michael Morgan is a serial burglar who moved to Devon from Wales to start a new life after being released from jail in May but went straight for just 16 days before he started breaking into shops.
He raided the Mare and Foal charity shop in Queen Street, Newton Abbot and stole a charity collecting tin from a butcher's as he struck at six locations in Tavistock and South Devon in the space of a few days.
He was caught because he left traces of blood at the scene of one break in at a bowling club and finger or boot prints at the other shops, Exeter Crown Court was told.
Morgan, aged 41, who was living in guest houses after moving from his home in Mynachdy Road, Cardiff, admitted three burglaries and asked for three more to be taken into consideration and was jailed for three years by Judge Francis Gilbert, QC.
He told him: "These were retail premises including a charity shop and a bowling club. You are a man with a long criminal record with 22 previous non dwelling burglaries and a total of 205 offences."
Miss Janice Eagles, prosecuting, said Morgan was released from jail in May and started committing offences in Tavistock just over two weeks later.
He broke into Odds and Ends and A Scent, which are both florists, and the Tavistock Pet Company.
He then moved to South Devon where he burgled the Victoria Bowling Club in Torquay, the Parkside Butchers in Paignton and the Mare and Foal Sanctury shop in Newton Abbot, where he stole cash.
Miss Eagles said he broke into the charity shop by pushing protective metal bars off a window frame and then ripped a safe off a wall before stealing money. He was caught by CCTV and a shoe print.
Morgan, who represented himself, said: "I moved to Devon to get away from home and came down here for a fresh start away from people who were involved with drugs. I got back into trouble. I apologise. I blame the drugs."
|
|
|
|
