It has been an amazing and eventful year for the UK pet industry with lots of companies making headline news (good and bad) as well as scores of exciting and innovative new products being launched. In this, the 50th and final Pet Trade Xtra bulletin of the year, what better way to look back on 2018 than through the Top 50 best-read stories?

Mutt & Co Pet Boutique (pictured above) in Hartlepool, Teesside, has only been open for just over a year and progress has been so dramatic that the store has been crowned UK Pet Retailer of the Year at the PetQuip Awards. It was the 4th most read story of the year.

To read any of the Top 50 stories just click on the link below and you'll be taken to the specific article.

1    IKEA recalls pet water dispenser after dog deaths - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 27 2018

2    Pet firm refutes claims it puts money before ethicsí - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 7 2018

3    B&M removes pet treat from shelves after dog death - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 10 2018

4    Revealed: Secrets of UK's Pet Retailer of the Year - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 39 2018

5    Raw dog food brand appears on Dragons' Den and accepts £60k investment offer - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 5 2018

6    Purina hits back at claims discrediting leading brand - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 8 2018

7    Pets at Home to close all seven of its Barkers high street stores - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 3 2018

8    TV soap star backs raw feeding initiative - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 29 2018

9    Mars Petcare expands vet side of its business - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 23 2018

10    Nutriment knock at number 10 - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 34 2018

11    Be prepared for the party season, says Pet Remedy - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 32 2018

12    Could this award-winning product take the market by storm? - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 38 2018

13    PATS Telford presents the ultimate grooming programme - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 16 2018

14    Innovative pet products wanted for new TV series - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 41 2018

15    Falling profits and closure threats – has the Pets at Home bubble burst? - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 47 2018

16   Centre of excellence opened for reptile welfare - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 29 2018

17    New pet store concept from Kennelgate  - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 31 2018

18    Canine kit exchange to aid animal charities - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 20 2018

19    Pet retail group Jollyes sold to private equity firm - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 21 2018

20    Big changes at Vital but it's business as usual - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 44 2018

21    Private equity firm sells off remaining stake in Pets at Home - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 4 2018

22    US pet food brand launches three new products in UK - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 9 2018

23    PetQuip Award winners revealed at glitzy event - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 37 2018

24    New-look Just for Pets unveiled at Coventry store - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 22 2018

25    Sainsbury's extends pet range with new food launch - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 3 2018

26    Pet industry counts cost as country store chain goes into administration - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 11 2018

27    Aldi launches cut-price pet range in stores today - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 8 2018

28    Pet product inventor enters this weekend's Dragons' Den - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 35 2018

29    Dog dies after eating treat bought from pet shop - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 42 2018

30    Dragons' Den firm takes pet food market by storm - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 15 2018

31    Firm calls for end to 'hypocrisy' in pet food market - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 35 2018

32    Amazon launches Wag, its own line of pet products - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 18 2018

33    Pets at Home pull out of another new store, the second time within a month - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 22 2018

34    Claims that poop bags were biodegradable ruled misleading - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 34 2018

35    Pets at Home faces £2million bill over store closures - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 4 2018

36    LeisureGrow acquires business interests of Petface out of administration - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 24 2018

37    From vet nurse to pet retailer...meet the driving force behind an exciting new business venture - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 14 2018

38    Pet food firm vows to eradicate smells from factory - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 9 2018

39    PATS Sandown 2018 New Product Awards revealed - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 12 2018

40    Pet food firms hit back at raw food claims - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 4 2018

41    Billy + Margot acquires premium UK pet food business Benyfit Natural - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 43 2018

42    Pet firm's food initiative to help endangered hedgehog - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 17 2018

43    Pet rabbit obesity is a problem and needs to be addressed - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 26 2018

44    Pet food business sets out ambitious plans for future - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 43 2018

45    Pets at Home ditches plan to open new shop in Skegness despite recruiting and training staff - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 19 2018

46    Pets at Home withdraws dog treats from shelves - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 32 2018

47    Change at the top for Pets at Home - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 40 2018

48    Dog toy gets set to become a Christmas bestseller - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 46 2018

49    Cheap cat food is no better than feeding it a McDonald's - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 30 2018

50    Pet retailer bucks online shopping trend - Pet Trade Xtra - Issue 4 2018