With still three months to go before PATS Sandown opens its doors, organiser Annie Dyke has announced that all exhibitor stand space has been sold.

Having attracted a record number of 141 exhibitors, more space has been allocated at Sandown Park, making it the biggest PATS show ever.

Visitors can expect a warm welcome from companies like Hills Pet Nutrition, Beaphar, Sharples & Grant, Burgess Pet Care, Nestle Purina, Mars Petcare and Pedigree Wholesale.

And as well as meeting up with a long list of PATS regulars, visitors will be greeted by a host of new faces and new products when the show takes place on Tuesday, March 19, and Wednesday, March 21.

A growing number of companies are choosing to exhibit for the first time as they see PATS as the perfect opportunity to showcase their products to retailers and overseas distributors.

In the past few years The Hutch Company have not exhibited at trade shows but 2013 will be different.

“Sandown will be our first PATS, and March will be the perfect time to show our ranges of rabbit hutches, chicken coops, kennels and bird tables,” said retail marketing manager John Brimm. “There will be some great money-saving promotions on offer over the two-day event and we are looking forward to meeting existing and new customers, as well as overseas visitors.”

Another newcomer to PATS will be Safedog, who produce crash-tested car crates. The company will be using the exhibition to meet potential distributors and retailers to sell their crates in the UK.

Safedog’s Gill Arney said the timing of the exhibition was perfect in helping to fulfill their needs. “During the past year we have introduced hatchback crates to the range – before then we only had crates suitable for estate cars, 4x4s and people carriers. PATS will be our first chance to exhibit the entire range.”

As a relatively new company in the pet sector, Simpsons Premium are looking for exposure and feel that PATS is the best option for achieving their goals.

"All of our 13 products will be new to most of the pet trade,” said Terry Barber, from Simpsons Premium. “At PATS we will be concentrating on the launch of our 80/20 dog food. We are focusing on the UK market but we’ll be hoping to meet international distributors and retailers too.”

Teddy & Lu are another pet food newcomer to PATS and the company’s Dominique Baptiste is hoping to raise the profile of the brand.

“We want to show how gourmet pet food can be exciting for both the pet and its owner,” said Dominique. “We’ll be unveiling what we believe is the most exciting and nutritional meals for dogs. We have combined our knowledge and passion to create a product that is healthy and nutritious. PATS will be the perfect opportunity to tell people about our brand.”

Gaining brand awareness and new business are also the prime objectives of PATS first-timers Su-Bridge Pet Supplies.

Su-Bridge director Ian Manning said: “We’ll be launching our new dog food brand ‘Lovejoys’ at PATS so we want to see as many people as possible, including international visitors.”

Envirosmart have been exhibiting their Smartbedz range at PATS for the past two years and have re-booked for Sandown. 

“It is such a good chance to speak to a lot of retailers in a short space of time,” said Envirosmart’s Nigel Bateson. “This is ideal for a company like ours because we’re growing fast and we always have new products to show people.”

For more information visit www.patshow.co.uk or call 01892 862848.

With so many new products to see and exciting plans to discuss, visitors to PATS Sandown are now being urged to register for free show entry.

Other benefits include free parking, free catalogue, free programme of seminars and dog grooming demonstrations and many special offers.

You can register online by clicking here

This year’s Crufts will be the launch pad for a new innovative temperature alarm for dogs.

AnimAlarm is the inspiration of former three-day event rider Victoria Davidson. She has spent her whole life owning and working with animals and for many years had worried about the comfort of her own dogs and horses while travelling with them in various vehicles.

Ideally suited for breeders, working dog, show dog and pet owners who have to transport their dogs around the country, this special device monitors the temperature in the car and triggers an alarm to your mobile phone via a Text message when it reaches a temperature that could seriously damage the health of the animal.

Although attention has been drawn to the dangers of leaving dogs in stationary vehicles what people don’t realise is that the temperature in a vehicle often varies to upper and lower extremes very quickly while in transit.

Studies have shown that the passenger compartment of a vehicle with the air-conditioning set to 27°C (80°F) can often mean that the temperature in the rear of the car can reach up to 32°C (90°F) which is dangerously high for a dog. Similarly a car that gets too cold can also trigger health problems.

“The advice now is to travel with your dog in a protective cage in the boot of the vehicle but how can you be sure that your dog is comfortable?" said Victoria.

"Dogs are especially vulnerable to heat-related illnesses; they can only cool off by panting and perspiration through the very few sweat glands in their footpads.

"Even short exposure to excessive temperatures, hot or cold can cause the body’s cells to stop working properly and release harmful chemicals which can lead to nerve and liver damage, heart problems, brain damage and even death.

“AnimAlarm now ensures that your dog is travelling at an appropriate temperature in your car and takes the guess work out of it for you.

"The device is simple to use with both Fahrenheit and Centigrade settings. It also has an Eco mode for long term monitoring so it is ideal for use when checking the temperature in kennels, conservatories, barns and other outbuildings.

'You can change your nominated mobile phone in seconds via a Text message and it is supplied with two chargers, a double USB car charger, a double USB home charger and USB lead.”

AnimAlarm has already received positive feedback from vets and public sector organisations that use working dogs as well as from customers who have bought and used the product.

Kevin Dover, a top Championship Corgi Breeder who has to transport his dogs all round the world, said: “AnimAlarm now gives us peace of mind that our valuable dogs are happy and comfortable in transit.

"It was not possible before to know exactly what the temperature was in the back of the car but now we have the reassurance that we need that if there is a dramatic change we are fully alerted and can take action.”

For more information visit www.animalarm.co.uk or email victoria@animalarm.co.uk

Picture caption: Championship Corgi Breeder and Show Judge Kevin Dover with Victoria Davidson who founded AnimAlarm (below).

Offering retailers a fantastic new sales opportunity is the LitterLocker, an innovative system offering a convenient way to deal with soiled cat litter.

A proven seller in overseas markets the LitterLocker is now available in the UK, exclusively through Pedigree Wholesale.

All cat owners will know that soiled litter has an unpleasant odour. The LitterLocker is odourless thanks to its unique Air-Seal multi-layer barrier film.

Simply scoop the soiled litter into the LitterLocker and odours will be locked in. Soiled litter can be stored for up to two weeks, but can be emptied at any time.

When the bag is full, just open the unit, cut the bag and dispose of it. Then pull more film from the refill, knot the bag and pull it to the bottom of the bin.

The refill, which holds the barrier film, lasts for up to two months on average for one cat. The unique design of the unit ensures that the bag remains airtight once clumped litter is in the bag. The LitterLocker is being supported in store with a comprehensive marketing and promotional support package.

Eye-catching, pre-merchandised free standing merchandising units are available which include consumer information leaflets and the option for a point of sale video.

The LitterLocker retails at £19.99 with refills at £6.99. There is a special launch promotion offer on the LitterLocker unit of £9.99 – for more information on this offer speak to your Account Manager or contact the Customer Services Team on 0115 982 3900 or email sales@petproducts.co.uk

A dog owner has "pet-proofed" her house for Christmas after her rescue dog nearly died from eating a set of fairy lights.

Charlie, a seven-year-old crossbreed from Southampton, swallowed a 1ft length of lights and needed emergency surgery to have them removed.

Sharon Fay took him to the city's PDSA PetAid hospital after finding bits of wire sticking out of Charlie's faeces. An X-ray showed a "large mass of wires" in his stomach.

She said the accident made her realise Charlie was a "repeat offender", because vets also found a shoelace inside him when they removed the lights.

"Back in March he ate one of my scarves and needed an operation to remove it, but I thought it was just a one-off incident," she said.

"I've had dogs all my life and have never known a dog act like this before - I'll certainly be keeping an extra close eye on him from now on and have Charlie-proofed my house now."

The PDSA said Charlie would have died without surgery.

Sophie Bell, senior veterinary surgeon for the charity, said: "Over the years I've seen plenty of cases of dogs swallowing strange objects - socks, dummies, rubber ducks, but it's the first time any of us have treated a dog that has eaten fairy lights.

"A foreign body of this nature could easily have caused severe internal injuries so Charlie was very, very lucky. He was also fortunate the glass didn't cut his mouth or throat.

"And he could have been electrocuted if he'd bitten through the wire when the lights were switched on."

A Sheffield vet is reminding animal lovers that puppies and kittens are not the only pets that are put at risk when given as Christmas presets…reptiles are vulnerable too!

Jonathan Dow, of Park Vets in Millhouses, said there had been a surge in the popularity of pets like stick insects, African snails and bearded dragons in recent years.

But he fears that – just like the more traditional cats and dogs – many are forgotten about after people receive them as presents for Christmas.

He has made a call for people to make sure they are buying the right gift this year.

Jonathan, a certified exotic animal practitioner, said: “There are many important things to consider when giving a pet as a present. Do they really want a pet, can they afford to look after it properly, is it an impulse or well researched present and is the pet likely to be captive bred rather than from the wild?

“Pet insurance should be taken out to cover any medical or surgical emergencies, plus an exotic pet should always be registered with a qualified vet.

“And if you are buying this pet as a gift for a family member or friend make sure they really want to care for it even in up to fifty years time – as many species can live for a long time.”

Specialist clinics for new exotic pet owners, as well as fact sheets on various species, have been put together by Jonathan.

Peanut butter for birds is a totally new concept for the UK bird care market. Exclusively designed and produced in the UK by CJ Wildlife, this blend of peanut butter is especially formulated for garden birds to give them a high-energy boost throughout the year.

Peanut butter for birds can be fed directly from the jar, spooned out onto a bird table or placed into a special holder designed to securely fit the jars.

CJs wildlife advisor Martin George said: ”Peanut butter is a fantastic source of energy for garden birds, especially during the cold winter months.

"But please note, peanut butter intended for human consumption is not suitable for feeding to garden birds due to the high additional salt content.

"Both flavours of our peanut butter are specially formulated with no salt added and are safe use in the garden.”

Each recyclable glass jar contains 330g of CJ Wildlife's peanut butter blend and is available in two flavours – original and with mealworms (SRP £2.99).

Peanut butter original provides a highly calorific boost to garden birds during the winter months (665 calories/100g).

Peanut butter with added mealworms is perfect for breeding season – protein rich mealworms are vital for young broods (660 calories/100g).

Also available from January 2013 is a promotional starter pack of wooden holder and jar of peanut butter with mealworms (SRP £6.95)

POS material is available to help highlight and explain the concept in-store

For more information visit www.cjwildlifetrade.com

Dog Rocks, the product used to help prevent urine burn patches appearing on lawns, will officially launch into the US market at Global Pet Expo.  

“It has taken us six years to get ourselves into the position where we can realistically service the American market in terms of stock levels and cash flow but we are now ready to roll,” said Carina Evans, Dog Rocks Business  Development & Sales Manager.  

Dog Rocks will work hand in hand with All Points Marketing as one team to support and grow business at retailer and distributor levels. 

"Having visited Global 2012 and Interzoo 2012 we have some really exciting contracts underway. Sales are beginning to snowball, just as they did in Europe. These are exciting times,” added Carina.

Bill Hoffman, President of All Points Marketing, said: "We are always looking for unique and innovative products to introduce to the pet industry.

"Dog Rocks is a proven seller providing pet parents with an all-natural solution to yellow spots in their lawn caused by their pet’s urine. We are proud to represent Dog Rocks in the USA."

Sheba has launched a new Fresh Choice range, designed for smaller meals spread throughout the day.

Each Fresh Choice 50g pouch equates to one meal, and is designed so that cats can have a fresh meal from a new packet every time. “Cats naturally prefer small, frequent and fresh meals throughout the day, and the new Sheba Fresh Choice Mini pouches have been designed with this in mind," said Julia Nicoara, Sheba Brand Manager at Mars Petcare.

This new format is a great way to give cats smaller, succulent and well-balanced meals more often and give owners an excuse to provide their cats that extra bit of love and attention which we know they enjoy.”

Available at an RRP of £1.99, each pack contains six pouches.

Sheba will be supported by £4.6million of through-the-line activity, including in-store, advertising and PR support.

Retailers are advised to stock up on this latest range in anticipation of heightened consumer demand.

"The Sheba brand, now worth £42m, continues to innovate in the Super premium category to give consumers and their cats the quality and variety the look for," added Julia.

For more information visit www.mars.co.uk

A contender for Scotland’s oldest dog – Libby, a 20-year-old Border Collie/ Retriever cross has found a new home in Aberdeenshire following the death of her owner.

Libby was taken to the Banff & Aberdeenshire Rescue and Rehoming Kennels (BARRK) when her owner died and no family members were in a position to take her in.

But, thanks to BARRK and funds from a £6,000 grant from the Kennel Club Charitable Trust she is happy and settled in a foster home with long term foster parent Tanya Croucher.

Elizabeth MacKenzie, Secretary of BARRK said: “When her foster family took her to see a new vet, the vet couldn’t believe her age until he checked on the records that I got the previous vets to fax over. He was so shocked to find out she was 20.

"She really is a great dog and is very happy and settled in one of our long term foster homes where all her veterinary needs are met by us.”

Tanya said: “Libby suffers from epilepsy and is partially deaf and blind and also has arthritis in her back legs but this does not stop her - she still thinks she is a puppy and loves to play with my three other dogs.

The Kennel Club Charitable Trust recently gave BARRK a grant of £6,000 to assist with its work helping dogs in the region and neutering costs. This money has been put towards Libby and dogs like her, helping them live out their life to the fullest and has also helped prevent the birth of more unwanted dogs in the area.

Elizabeth continued: “We incur huge vet and kennel costs in any year so having a separate neuter fund is crucial for us. The grant from the Kennel Club Charitable Trust will enable us to continue to encourage owners that neutering is not only good for dogs’ long-term health but also prevents unwanted puppies and allows us to help more dogs like Libby.”

An employee of a pet cemetery burgled his employers’ premises because he was desperate for cash to pay off a drugs debt.

Malcolm Lee Pritchard, of Holywell, Wales, admitted burglary at offices and the dwelling at Brynford Pet Cemetery and was jailed for 14 months when he appeared at Mold Crown Court.

Pritchard, 28, turned up for work the following morning as if nothing had happened – but was identified from CCTV footage. He had burgled his place of employment and had stolen more than £600 in cash.

Pritchard had entered the office and then the flat upstairs where the parents of the business owners lived, although they were away at the time.

Judge Hughes said it was clear he was badly affected by alcohol and cannabis at the time. He also took into account a letter from his then employers “who very charitably say that they hold no grudge against you,” the judge said.

Pritchard wore dark clothing and was said to have an improvised face mask and socks on his hands, presumably to avoid leaving finger prints, when he committed the burglary.

Prosecutor Gareth Preston told how Pritchard searched the office and then went into the flat above. He stole cash from the office and from the wardrobe of the living quarters.

The burglary was discovered the following morning, the CCTV was viewed and Pritchard was identified as a result.

He admitted the burglary, said he knew the property because he worked there for some 18 months, and knew where there was a savings tin because he had previously decorated the flat.

Pedigree is launching DentaStix Fresh which targets the causes of bad breath and keeps dogs’ mouths healthy.

Incorporating all the benefits of standard DentaStix, such as reducing tartar build up to 80%, they also contain a unique active ingredient blend of Green Tea Extract and patented Eucalyptus Oil.

This blend of ingredients is proven to help freshen breath rather than just masking the problem. Pedigree DentaStix Fresh is supported by a number of leading UK vet dentists.

With its unique X-shape cross-section and abrasive texture, feeding one Pedigree DentaStix Fresh a day helps keep teeth and gums healthy while freshening breath.

Isobel Miller, Brand Manager, Mars Petcare said: “Sadly, four out of five dogs over the age of three have some form of gum disease. Pedigree DentaStix Fresh are a great way for owners to help prevent gum disease and tackle the causes of bad breath, while ensuring their dog receives daily oral care that’s low in fat and free from artificial colours and flavours."

Functional Oral treats continue to be the fastest growing sector within the dog care and treats category, with consumers continuing to look for ways to reward their pet with a healthy treat.

Pedigree DentaStix continues to educate consumers and drive demand with its ‘recommended by vets’ on-pack stamp of approval. DentaStix Fresh is available in 7-stick and 28-stick packs to suit small, medium and large dog sizes.

For more information, please visit www.mars.co.uk

Dozens of animals have been killed in a suspected arson attack on a pet shop on the Isle of Sheppey.

A total of 12 birds, 12 hamsters and a few fish, mice and spiders died in a blaze that broke out at Sheppey Aquatics and Pet Supplies, in Sheerness, early yesterday.

Kent Police said it is believed the fire was started by an accelerant poured through the letterbox.

Firefighters rescued a dozen rodents, which were overcome with smoke, by emptying out one of their equipment bags and connecting an air cylinder to create an oxygen tent to bring them round.

They also saved reptiles which are now being kept with customers around the Island.

Kent Police are investigating the fire at the Rose Street shop, which broke out shortly before 3am.

Johnson’s has relaunched its Clean ‘n’ Safe Stain & Odour Remover, with new packaging and an improved, more effective formulation.

New Stain & Odour Remover has a powerful effective action formulated specially for pet stains and odours caused by pet 'accidents'.

Suitable for use on carpets, rugs, upholstery, water washable fabrics and flooring, it also helps control odours by discouraging pets from re-soiling the same area again.

Clean ‘n’ Safe Stain & Odour Remover has a RRP of £4.55, and a trade price of £15.15 per pack of 6.

For more information visit www.johnsons-vet.com

CSJ Specialist Canine Feeds were shortlisted for The International Trade Small to Medium Sized Company of the Year Award.

Now entering their fifth year, the International Trade Awards, sponsored by American Express Foreign Exchange Services, are the only UK wide business awards to exclusively recognise the excellence achieved by the UK’s leading exporters and importers.

“We are so pleased and proud to have been shortlisted for one of this year's awards as we believe we are unique within a very competitive industry - leaders rather than followers," said a spokesperson for CSJ Specialist Canine Feeds. 

"It is quite humbling to feel our hard work and success has been acknowledged when in such prestigious company.”

An animal rescue centre in north Shropshire has said it is struggling to survive as donations are so low and bills are increasing.

Grinshill Animal Rescue, near Wem, costs more than £40,000 a year to run and usually bosses have about £3,000 in the bank to get them through winter, but this year the account is ‘basically at nothing’ and staff have no more fundraising events planned until March.

Manager of the rescue centre, Jenny Martinez, said it had struggled before but things had never been this bad. The centre has been running for 22 years.

Mrs Martinez said the drop in donations coupled with the rise in bills had put staff in a difficult position.

She said: “We run totally on fundraising and donations from the public. It costs about £41,000 a year to run, plus about £8,000 we spend each year on vets.

“Bills have escalated, things like the heating bills, and overheads have gone up but money has gone down.

“I hope it wouldn’t go so far that the centre has to close, it is just a struggle.”

There are four volunteers and a number of dog walkers who help out at the centre. It can hold up to 18 cats and has room for 26 dogs.