Leading pet retail boss Dean Richmond says he has no plans to retire even though he has been honoured by a PetQuip Lifetime Achievement Award. “They can’t get rid of me that easily,” he said. “I love the industry and I love working.”

Dean, the managing director of PetFamily whose brands include the Pets Corner chain of stores, was speaking after his Lifetime Achievement at the prestigious PetQuip Awards last month.

What does receiving an industry Lifetime Achievement Award mean to you?

I am extremely honoured to receive such an award from my industry peers.

Were you surprised by it being awarded, bearing in mind you’re only 46 years of age?

Haha, yes I was and comments from friends have been similar.  They suggested it might be the trade’s way of saying that they’ve had enough of me!

So there are no plans to retire yet?

Certainly not. I love the industry and love working.

Pets Corner is known for being a champion of animal welfare, has that always been the case?

The real change happened when I became manager of our Brighton store in 1992. It was our third opening and I implemented many industry firsts there including sealed, air regulated animal units, birth certificates and breeder checks. Lucy, our head of training, has taken this legacy and made us the industry leader in welfare. We lose money selling pets because of our welfare policies.  https://www.petscorner.co.uk/difference/#selling-pets-the-right-way

What are the other brands you’ve introduced into the PetFamily business?

Great & Small is our accessory brand and has been for many years. Dogwood, our Natural Grooming Spa, was started a few years ago, as well as McAdams, the world’s first pet food made from whole chicken. The most recent addition is Yora, which took us five years to develop. It’s been a real challenge, which makes me even more proud of it. I want this unique product to be for the independent trade and I hope they embrace it as it gives the trade something truly unique with which to fight the corporates.

You must have received offers for your business in the past, have you ever been tempted to sell it? 

I get offers all the time but I am not interested in selling.  When the time comes for me to final retire I’d hope the business will be bought by the staff and the business will remain family orientated as it has been for the past 51 years.

What motivates you every day?

Creating new brands, improving people’s lives by giving them a business that allows them to develop and grow, and turning ugly, desolate buildings into attractive, productive places of work.

What sets your brands apart from the rest? 

Each of our brands has a unique message and most of them have been world firsts. All are best and better and enhance pet health.

What do you like about the pet industry? 

I don’t like the pet industry, I love it!  I like the fact that we are selling to pet owners who (mostly) do it for love.  Buying for your pet is not a chore.  I also think that this positivity means that generally people working in the industry are nice, decent people – that certainly that is my experience and I have many friends in the trade whether retailer, supplier or manufacturer.

In the citation announcing Dean Richmond’s Lifetime Achievement, Amanda Sizer Barrett, director general of PetQuip, said:

“The winner of this year’s PetQuip Lifetime Achievement Award has lived less than half of what we hope will be a long and happy working lifespan, but he has already packed a lifetime of achievement into his career to date!

The winner works in a company that can trace its roots back to 1968 and today it employs a workforce of around 950 and operates as far North as Newcastle and as far South as Weymouth.

The privately-owned, family business achieves sales of over £50m annually and is investing £9m currently in new stores.

The chief executive believes that in a world where online shopping is increasingly important, there is still a place for businesses on the high street and via retail outlets where service still matters.

His career may not have appeared initially to be auspicious. He attended a business course at his local College, but left after six months, then worked as sales adviser then manager in his parents’ shops for 10 years before buying the business at age 25.

In a recent interview, he said: “I look at where I am now and sometimes cannot believe it. I was always very ambitious. I have never had any strategy, except to make each shop work, and go on to open the next one.”

When asked whether, when he had made his first million, did he want to slow down?, his response was:

“That figure did not make me feel any different. I could not slow down because I love working and we only had 61 shops at the time.“

He says the secret of his success early on was just sheer determination and hard graft. A typical day would start at 6.30am loading the van with stock then working in the shop until 6 or 7pm. “I would carry on working at home until late on projects to move the business forward. I used to get paranoid that my competition would be working when I wasn’t and forge ahead. I still do. I’m proud that our company leads our industry on promoting animal welfare, and improving how pets are sold and cared for.

“I hated school and as far as I could remember I just wanted to work for myself. I used to make bird-feeders in my bedroom and sell them at school, pet shops and garden centres, delivering them on my bike. I think my lack of academic ability early on was made up for by the sheer number of hours I worked.”

He intends to carry on working “until I drop” because he gets bored when not busy and would miss the stimulus of work.

He believes In giving something back to the community. Many of the company’s staff started with the firm very young and almost all of the senior management team has come from the shop floor and some of them had difficult starts in their lives. They give 2 per cent of the firm’s profit to charity, in particular Canine Partners, which trains assistance dogs. In addition, they give more than £100,000 worth of food and products to local charities each year.

In addition our winner is planning to support young people from underprivileged backgrounds to start their own businesses.”   

Final preparations are being made as the AQUA 2019 industry exhibition gets set to open its doors at Telford International Centre at 9.00am on Wednesday, October 16th.

With an impressive number of exhibitors and a packed showcase of new products, there will be lots to keep visitors busy during this eagerly awaited aquatics and water gardening industry event.

The excitement has been building for months with over 80 companies planning their new launches around AQUA 2019.

Now the wait is almost over for both exhibitors and visitors…and the two-day show can soon begin.

With so many exciting plans it could easily be a memorable year for attendance numbers as well.

OATA Impact chairman Dr David Pool said: “We’re certain that time spent at AQUA 2019 will prove to be both memorable and valuable. A lot of planning and hard work has gone into organising this show and I’m confident visitors will have an enjoyable and profitable visit.”

Aquarium Systems UK is one company that acknowledges the benefits of exhibiting at such a prestigious show. General manager Dale Lewis said:

“We are looking forward to AQUA 2019. This show has always been well attended so it gives us a great opportunity to showcase our new products to the retailers of the UK. There is also a great social side to the show. I hope 2019 will be bigger and better than ever.”

For Red Sea Aquatics, the exhibition is an essential part of the company’s sales strategy. “I can’t wait for AQUA 2019 to start. We have so many new products launching it is an incredible opportunity to showcase exactly what we do to the best of the UK aquatics industry. I’m really looking forward to seeing you all there,” said national sales manager Andy Lister.

Garden Aquarium is a new exhibitor and director Gemma Thomas said the company was excited at the prospect of showcasing its products. “We’re really optimistic about what the show will bring and looking forward to meeting new and existing customers. We will be exhibiting our Clear View Garden Aquarium range along with some new products for 2020.”

An exciting addition to this year’s exhibition is the aquascaping demonstrations by American-based Luis Navarro, who will aquascape four unique tank designs during the show. These inspiring designs will provide retailers with ideas on how they can inspire their customers to create something special in their own tanks.

Every visitor who attends the demonstrations, sponsored by ALF, will be in with a chance to win one of the four fully aquascaped aquarium sets worth £700 (RRP) each.

On arrival at Telford International Centre, a large majority of visitors are expected to head for the New Product Showcase, which will have a huge presence at the exhibition. All entries in the Showcase, sponsored by pwwnews, will be judged by a panel of independent retailers for the New Product Awards on the first morning of the show.

The Awards will be presented to the winners at a sold-out AQUA dinner, in front of an audience of over 500 people from the trade after the first day of the show.

As well as getting to see all the new products to be launched on to the market, visitors will be well looked-after during their stay. There are extensive catering facilities, and everyone will receive a free tea or coffee, and a lunch voucher. Visitors can also benefit from free parking next to the exhibition hall.

There’s still time to register for free entry on the AQUA 2019 website www.aquatelford.co.uk where a full list of exhibitors can be also be found.

Opening times

Wednesday, 16^th October, 2019: 9.00am-5.30pm

Thursday, 17^th September, 2019: 9.00am-4.00pm

• 32% of pet owners are guessing the correct size of their pets’ food portions.  
• 62% of pet owners have never asked their vet about weight management advice for their pets.
• 26% of pet owners do not know the ideal weight range for their pets.

The findings from a national pet obesity survey have revealed a worrying number of pet owners are not paying enough care and attention to the size of their pets’ food portions, highlighting how incorrect portion control may be fuelling the UK’s pet obesity crisis.

Over 500 UK pet owners took part in the survey, which was conducted by national pet food manufacturer, Burgess Pet Care and the UK’s largest supplier of veterinary scales, Marsden, to share their thoughts and attitudes towards pet obesity.

32% of owners admit they are only guessing the correct amount of food that they feed to their pets instead of following the recommended dietary guidelines. The survey also highlighted a lack of owner knowledge in response to weight management for their pets.

40% of pet owners admit they could improve their knowledge of what constitutes a healthy diet and 62% of pet owners admit they have never asked their vet for weight management advice for their pets. 

Dr Suzanne Moyes MVB MRCVS, Veterinary Director at Burgess Pet Care said: “Accurate and regular weighing of both pets and their food portions is essential to ensure they maintain a healthy weight.

"As well as ensuring their pets are following a healthy diet full of nutritious foods, pet owners should also carefully monitor the food intake of their pets by paying close attention to portion sizes in order to avoid overfeeding, which is one of the biggest contributing factors to obesity.     

“Obesity can lead to a variety of different health and wellbeing issues, including osteoarthritis, diabetes, cardiac disease and cancer. To help prevent pet obesity, provide your pets with a nutritious and controlled diet and ensure they’re getting regular exercise. Be sensible with treats, avoid feeding them scraps and be sure to visit a veterinary professional if you have any concerns about your pets’ weight.”

Pet obesity is a massive problem in the UK and is widely regarded by veterinary professionals as one of the top three welfare concerns for UK pets. 26% of pet owners do not know or are unsure about the ideal weight range for their pets. These latest findings reveal new concerns regarding the UK’s pet obesity crisis and will help pet health professionals provide better weight-management support to the UK’s pets and their owners.

David Smith of Marsden adds: “The findings from this survey have revealed pet owners don’t always recognise that their pet is overweight. Accurate and regular weighing of both pets and their food portions is essential to maintain a healthy weight.

"It’s encouraging to see that 100% of respondents answered their pet’s weight is quite important or very important to them and we would strongly recommend that pet owners regularly weigh their pets to help keep track of their weight.”

The survey also found:

• 57% of cat owners believe their cat is the ideal weight
• 40% of cat owners guess their cat’s food portions
• 45% of cat owners could improve their awareness of what foods are dangerous for their cat(s)
• 70% of dog owners have never asked their vet about weight management advice for their dog(s)
• 55% of dog owners always measure their dog(s) food portions
• 45% of dog owners could improve their knowledge on what constitutes a healthy diet for their dog(s)
• 81% of guinea pig owners know the ideal weight range for their guinea pig(s)
• 10% of guinea pig owners have never weighed their guinea pig(s)
• 26% of guinea pig owners have fed their guinea pig(s) scraps or leftovers
• 78% of rabbit owners believe they know the ideal weight range for their rabbit(s)
• 29% of rabbit owners guess their rabbit(s) food portions
• 28% of rabbit owners believe they could improve their knowledge of what constitutes a healthy diet for their rabbit(s)

To see the findings of this survey in greater detail and for more information on how to monitor your pets’ weight, please visit the blog section at www.burgesspetcare.co.uk

In 2017, Sir David Attenborough released Blue Planet 2, a powerful, beautiful and terrifying nature documentary. With this, he has placed the devastating impact of single-use plastic and climate change into the forefront of the nation's mind. In turn, creating an increased demand for sustainable and ethical products.

Environmental issues which were once brushed under the carpet have gone mainstream, with unprecedented media coverage. The build-up to this point was long, slow and arduous for anyone who campaigned for sustainability and against single-use plastic. These individuals played a huge part to get us to where we are today.

Now we walk along shop aisles to find disruptor brands using compostable packaging, filled with ethical and sustainable ingredients. They are battling it out for shelf space that was previously dominated by unsustainable products from industry dinosaurs. There’s still a long way to go, but it’s moving in the right direction.

While researching the launch of their wet food, Beco, the ethical and sustainable pet brand, found that the mass market now looking for the same when purchasing for their dogs.

A survey of Beco’s customers found that sustainably sourced ingredients were one of the top three elements owners looked when choosing their dog’s diet, along with grain free recipes and recyclable packaging. Over 40% of the dog parents involved in the survey consider these three features a top priority when choosing their dog’s food.

Beco is one of the challenger brands offering healthy, ethical and sustainable products, keeping dogs happy while reducing their impact on the planet.

In 2018, the UK spent £1.7 billion on dog food. With the majority of pet food manufactured using mystery meat or meat meal, this protein source tends to be made from untraceable meat and fish. The public is now demanding guarantees on the ethics and sustainability of their dog’s diet.

George, Beco’s founder, said “it’s always been difficult to tell what is in our dog’s food with industry specific terminology and carefully worded ingredients. It’s encouraging to see that people are now demanding more from their dog food manufacturers in terms of quality, traceability and sustainability. We are happy to be answering their call.”

Since 2013, there has been a 7.4% increase in premium pet foods in the UK. The global organisations who have dominated the pet food market for decades have been re-branding their catalogue in an attempt to stay relevant to this new wave of conscious pet owners.

Beco is one of the brands taking on the industry giants. In doing so, they have created a new category for healthy dog food that is based around the traceability, ethics and sustainability of ingredients.

What does ethical mean?

Ethical means wild where possible and farmed with respect. Longer lives in stress-free environments.

What does sustainable mean?

Sustainable means sourcing low-carbon ingredients as locally as possible and fishing responsibly without damaging marine eco-systems.

What is sustainable packaging?

Sustainable packaging harnesses the latest technologies to be made from renewable resources. It is 100% recyclable and can be transported efficiently to reduce the number of trucks on the road.

Beco Pets have expanded their current natural dog food range by launching a wet food. They only use healthy, ethical and sustainable ingredients packaged in tetra pack, one of the most sustainable forms of packaging available today. They have created a nutritious diet for dogs that reduces their impact on the planet.

Danish Design has announced that its popular plush toy range is now filled with 100% recycled fibre made from plastic bottles.

Plastic pollution can now be found on every beach in the world, from busy tourist beaches to uninhabited tropical islands. Approximately 5,000 items of marine plastic pollution and over 150 plastic bottles litter each mile of beach in the UK.

"We switched our pet bedding filling over to the recycled fibre last month, saving around eight million plastic bottles a year from reaching landfill, our natural environment and the oceans. We now can do the same with our toys and increase this number significantly by doing so," said Rob Newsome, director of sales and operations at Danish Design.

Following a hugely successful show at Telford last month, PATS Sandown on 9-10 February 2020 looks set to be another must-visit event for pet retailers and buyers.

Bookings for the Sandown Park showpiece in Surrey are impressive, with many industry-leading exhibitors already committed to the event. These include previous exhibitors such as Anco, Beaphar UK, Danish Design, Dorwest Herbs, flexi, IPN, Johnson’s Veterinary Products, Kong, Marriages, Natures Menu, Petlife International, Pet Munchies, Pet Trade Innovations, Royal Canin, Sky Pet Products, Symply Pet Foods and Trixie, amongst many others.

For a full list see the PATS website www.patshow.co.uk.

“We are really excited about our exhibitions in 2020 after two wonderful events at Sandown and Telford this year,” said organiser Gordon Thomas.

“The new show dates for PATS Sandown in 2019 – a Sunday and Monday in February – allowed exhibitors to launch products to the trade early in the year, giving retailers the chance to stock them in time for major consumer events like Crufts. So we are pleased to announce we’ll be sticking to this winning formula.

“The major pet brands have already booked their stands along with a host of new suppliers, and visitors to this premier Spring show can be certain of seeing all the new launches under one roof. It’s reassuring to know that the pet industry continues to get right behind the UK’s number one pet retail show brand.”

Inspired Pet Nutrition (IPN) was the first company to book a stand at PATS Sandown when the exhibition was launched in 2009. It has showcased its popular Wagg and Harringtons brands at every show since.

IPN’s sales director Ben Anderson said: "PATS is always an extremely well-organised event and it’s great to see such a broad range of exhibitors across all sections of the pet trade.

“The show is the perfect platform for new product launches, and we are already looking forward to Sandown where we will be showcasing our new Harringtons treats.”

PATS prides itself on attracting the key decision-makers and buyers from UK and international companies. The recent winner of the PetQuip UK Pet Retailer of the Year - Just for Pets - is one of the many major retailers to make the PATS Sandown and PATS Telford shows key dates for its calendar.

The chain has 16 stores across the Midlands and Cambridgeshire. General manager Paul Lewis said: “PATS is a great showcase for everything that is available under one roof. It gives you the opportunity to build relationships not only with suppliers but also with other retailers, so you can continue to build your business, ask for advice and help each other out.”

Visitors to the show will be able to see an unrivalled array of new-launch products, watch demonstrations from the country’s leading dog groomers and listen to talks from prominent industry figures. For all the latest news on PATS visit www.patshow.co.uk

Twenty-year-old Callum Griffiths is the CEO of Clydach Farm Food for Dogs and his success hasn’t gone unnoticed. This month Callum’s natural pet food company is shortlisted for not one but two awards for Clydach’s exceptional range of high meat, digestible recipes.

The NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards took place this week where Callum took home ​the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Wales. The awards ​celebrate the hard work and inspiring stories of entrepreneurs.

Callum has always had a passion for animals and began breeding chicks from his parents’ cockerel and hen when he was just 13.

From that he moved to hatching hundreds of chickens as well as creating his own chicken food and now, his biggest venture... pet food for dogs exported all around the world.

Clydach is also one of just three companies that were shortlisted for the Manufacturing Start-Up of the Year at the Wales Start-Up Awards. When it comes to manufacturing, ethical responsibility is something that Clydach Farm Group takes very seriously.

Committed to supporting UK farming and agriculture by not only sourcing the best ingredients, but by building lasting, loving and personable relationships with farmers across the British Isles – which also means Clydach get the pick of their crop as well as ensuring they get a fair deal to sustain their own businesses too.

The Clydach range of pet food marks itself as being of exceptional quality – and it is. A 100% grain free range and free from any artificial colours, flavours or preservatives,

Clydach’s dog food is bursting with a high end range of natural meats, fish and poultry including:

• Free range English Venison from deer raised on flora and fauna as they roam the rolling open countryside of protected estates and parks
• Sustainable Scottish Salmon sourced from North West Scotland
• Ethical Suffolk Duck from Red Tractor assured farms
• Welsh Lamb, grass fed on the rich Welsh landscape of the Snowdonia National Park

For more information email hello@clydachfarmgroup.co.uk, call 0800 088 7965 or visit www.clydachfarmgroup.co.uk

Ruffwear completes their AW19 season with the launch of major lines designed to enhance and inspire outdoor adventures with canine companions.

The Overcoat Fuse Jacket is a unique 2 in 1 jacket-harness combo designed to make getting outdoors even easier. It combines the structure of Ruffwear’s best-selling Front Range Harness with the warmth and weather resistance of the Overcoat Jacket, giving dog owners a convenient alternative to layering.

Meanwhile the lightweight, multi-use Flagline Harness, is the latest addition to the core Ruffwear harness range. It offers a no step, easy on/off design with a supportive chest/belly panel, padded handle, and three points of leash attachment. Perfect for ‘Houdini’ dogs and those needing extra assistance, the Flagline brings the most-loved features of Ruffwear’s core harnesses into one hybrid design.

For 25 years, Ruffwear has sought The Road Less Travelled and this October launch is set to inspire even more adventure-seeking humans to discover new trails, new adventures, and new challenges with their dogs at their side.

Rob Hughes, managing director of Accapi Group, Ruffwear’s exclusive distribution partner across Europe said: “Each of these new lines demonstrates Ruffwear’s dedication to creating products that enhance and inspire canine adventure with zero compromise on quality.

"With each season Ruffwear are evolving and innovating their range, integrating customer feedback and trail testing, to make dog gear that performs at the highest level.

"We are delighted to bring these products to the European market where we are already seeing strong demand from our customers.”

For more information on Ruffwear’s new Autumn collection visit https://ruffwear.co.uk/

A US Secret Service dog has been honoured with a Medal for devotion to duty by the UK’s leading veterinary charity, PDSA, for protecting the then President and First Family from an intruder who attempted to gain access to the White House. 

Special Operations Canine, Hurricane, who worked with his handler Officer Marshall Mirarchi for four years, received the PDSA Order of Merit* – known as the animal equivalent of the OBE.

Hurricane was trained as part of the USSS Emergency Response Team and provided specialist protection to the White House and its grounds. 

Now retired from service, Hurricane flew to the UK from Washington in style courtesy of British Airways. He will receive his Medal from PDSA at a special ceremony at the House of Lords. 

He is the first international animal to receive the honour, which was instituted in 2014 and has been awarded to just 30 other recipients.

Commenting on the award, PDSA Director General, Jan McLoughlin, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Hurricane and Marshall to the UK for today’s presentation.  Hurricane had a truly outstanding career with the US Secret Service, and went above and beyond the call of duty when an intruder tried to gain access to the White House. Despite suffering a ferocious assault he never faltered from his duty.

“Through our Animal Awards programme, PDSA seeks to raise the status of animals in society and honour the incredible contribution they make to our lives. The PDSA Order of Merit was introduced to recognise animals for the exceptional devotion to duty.

“Hurricane’s achievements certainly fulfil this criteria and warrant the highest recognition. We are thrilled that he has become the latest recipient of the PDSA Order of Merit.”

Hurricane’s story

US Secret Service Special Operations Canine, Hurricane, is famed within his Unit for his outstanding drive, determination and courage. He may be small in stature, but his power and tenacity know no bounds.

On 22 October 2014, these attributes were tested to the limits. Canine Handler Officer Marshall Mirarchi and Hurricane were on duty at the White House with the US Secret Service Emergency Response Team (ERT). Suddenly and unexpectedly, a man vaulted the White House fence and sprinted across the lawn, towards where President Obama and his family were residing.

The man’s intentions and state of mind were not known, but it is the job of the Secret Service to prevent any threat to the President.

The first attempt by a Secret Service canine team to stop the intruder was unsuccessful but fortunately Officer Mirarchi and Hurricane were stationed nearby and ready to offer their support. Seeing the first struggle, Mirarchi gave the command and Hurricane flew into action. He made contact with the suspect, intending to push him back to the perimeter fence.

In the ensuing struggle, Hurricane was kicked, punched and swung through the air. Despite this violent, repeated assault, his jaws were locked onto the suspect’s arm and he never gave up. He continued to drive forward and finally grounded the intruder, enabling armed officers to take him into custody. 

Though severely battered, Hurricane refused to be beaten and carried out his duties faultlessly. 

Hurricane retired on health grounds in September 2016. Officer Mirarchi believes the ordeal on the White House lawn that night contributed to his physical issues.

Hurricane’s heroic actions that night thwarted a serious security breach. He stood between an aggressive intruder and the US President, who was at home with his family. Hurricane’s devotion to duty and service, while enduring a horrific personal attack, make him a worthy recipient of the PDSA Order of Merit. 

Award reaction

Marshall Mirarchi, Hurricane’s former USSS handler and adoptive dad, said: “Hurricane was such a legend within the Service. He loved working and his talent for the job impressed me every single day. That night, he stepped up and delivered under circumstances that no amount of training could prepare him for. I have never witnessed such violence toward a dog before but it didn’t stop him from doing his job. 

“I am so proud of him and extremely thankful to PDSA for honouring his service and actions in this way. We are very pleased to be in London to receive the honour – Hurricane has travelled in style with British Airways and is receiving the full VIP treatment, just as he deserves.”  

Thomas Sullivan, Chief of the Secret Service Uniformed Division, said: “The Secret Service Uniformed Division canine programme is, without a doubt, one of the best in the world, and Officer Mirarchi and Hurricane executed their mission flawlessly. The entire Secret Service is proud of Officer Mirarchi and Hurricane and all the men and women and canines that do that job every day.”  

New York Times best-selling author Maria Goodavage, who nominated Hurricane for a PDSA award, said: “I first met Hurricane and Marshall when I was researching my book, Secret Service Dogs. When I heard what happened that night and how impeccably Hurricane behaved, I was absolutely blown away. The skill and talent of these dog teams is second to none and I am completely thrilled to be here to see Hurricane honoured with the PDSA Order of Merit.”

Carolina Martinoli, British Airways’ Director of Brand and Customer, said: “When we heard that Hurricane and his owner Marshall needed help getting to the UK to collect an award, we knew we had to step in. We were delighted to be able to fly them over in style and add a touch of magic to their special journey. We’ve never had a more photographed celebrity on board!” 

The airline surprised Hurricane and his owner Marshall by pulling out all the stops making it a journey to remember as part of its BAMagic100 campaign. The airline ensured that Hurricane and Marshall were given full VIP treatment picking them up in a limousine from their house, surprising them with personalised check in desk and flying them both over in Club World (business class) to the ceremony. 

About PDSA

PDSA is the UK’s leading veterinary charity, providing free and reduced-cost veterinary care to the pets of people in financial need. The charity strives to improve the wellbeing of all pets’ lives through providing preventive care, educating pet owners and treating pets when they become sick or injured. Today, PDSA treats around 470,000 of the UK’s most vulnerable pets a year, through its nationwide network of 48 Pet Hospitals. For more information about the charity visit www.pdsa.org.uk. 

During the month of October leading Yorkshire-based pet accessory company Collared Creatures will be donating 25% of the value of the sales from any of their pink Harris Tweed collars to the Breast Cancer Now wear it pink campaign.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a worldwide annual campaign taking place in October, involving thousands of organisations, to highlight the importance of breast awareness, education and research.

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Breast Cancer Now, (the merger of the two charities, Breast Cancer Care and Breast Cancer Now) aim to get as many people as possible involved in raising awareness and funds to help support their life-saving research and life-changing support. The fundraising activities come to culmination with wear it pink day on 18 October.

Around 55,000 woman and 370 men are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the UK and around a further 7,000 people are diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) each year. Funds to the Breast Cancer Now charity help to fund pioneering research helping to save countless lives and also help to provide care and support to those people who are affected by a positive diagnosis.

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 their 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.

Julie Greaves, founder of Collared Creatures, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the wear it pink campaign. Breast Cancer touches the lives of so many people in the UK and it is important to raise awareness of checking yourself and the importance of early diagnosis. Breast Cancer Now carries out such good work in terms of research, care and support for patients.”

For further information on Collared Creatures visit: www.collaredcreatures.com

The best news service every week.

Subscribe for free by clicking here

Lincolnshire police would like to speak with two men in connection with a theft from Pets at Home in Boston.

On October 4th one man entered the Queen Street store and took a variety of dog harnesses worth £366 from a display. A second male then placed the harnesses into a bag before both males left the store without paying.

The men are described below:

Suspect 1- between 60 to 70 years old, bald, wearing glasses, a white short sleeve shirt and a blue body warmer.

Suspect 2- middle aged, brown short hair, wearing a blue top.

"If you know who these men are or can assist with our investigation please contact us in one of the following ways," said a police spokesperson.

By calling 101 quoting the reference 329 of 4th October 2019.

By e-mailing control@lincs.pnn.police.uk - please remember to put the reference 329 of October 4th in the subject box;

You can also contact the police through the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.

Natures Menu has donated 1,000 pouches of dog food to Wood Green, The Animals Charity.

As seen on Channel 4 in ‘The Dog House’, Wood Green matches homeless dogs, as well as cats and small animals, with new owners, making a huge difference to the lives of pets and owners across the UK. The charity rehomes around 4,000 pets every year, some in need of urgent medical care with others needing lots of training and TLC.

Wood Green also provides free advice and support to pet owners so they can enjoy a mutually rewarding and happy relationship with their pets.

To ensure our canine companions in the charity’s care get the very best quality food, Natures Menu has donated one thousand pouches of Country Hunter Succulent Duck and Chicken & Duck dog food pouches to the centre.

Stacey Hamilton, Fundraising Team Co-ordinator, said: “We are extremely grateful for the generosity Natures Menu has shown us. We are always looking for support and so this delivery will help us provide nutritious food for the many dogs in our care. Every bite will be gratefully received and support their journey to a forever home!”

Craig Taylor, Managing Director of Natures Menu, adds: “Wood Green is a worthy charity and one that we are keen to support. After seeing the amazing work they do on ‘The Dog House’ we wanted to help them the best way we could by donating nutritional meals.

"As a company that specialises in quality raw and natural pet food, we understand the importance that wholesome food can have on a pet and we want to ensure every dog at Wood Green enjoys their food. By supporting such a worthwhile cause, we can help more dogs receive the food they need to thrive.”

The charity has rehoming centres at its headquarters in Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire, as well as Heydon, Hertfordshire and Wood Green, North London.

For more information about Wood Green, visit https://woodgreen.org.uk/ or to find out more about Natures Menu, visit https://www.naturesmenu.co.uk/

Dog food brand Billy + Margot delivered two large pallets of their wet food to the Dogs Trust in Newbury this week.

Helen Ellwood, Head of Commercial Sales and Marketing, said: “We hope this goes a little way to supporting the incredible work of the Dogs Trust, and lots of lovely pups get to enjoy our tasty food!”

Raw pet food company Poppy’s Picnic and Bradford-on-Avon pets store DOGHOUSE kicked off the Dogs For Good Dogtober campaign by holding a fundraising event that raised over £1,000.

The money will be directly donated to Dogs for Good’s ‘Dogtober’ campaign, which raises money to support their life-changing training for dogs that provide assistance to people with health conditions such as autism, dementia and learning disabilities.

DOGHOUSE has been stocking Poppy’s Picnic raw dog food for over a year. As both are local businesses based in Wiltshire who are passionate about canine health and wellbeing, founder of Poppy’s Picnic, Dylan Watkins and DOGHOUSE’s Ruth Warren have formed a close professional bond. 

Dylan explains: “Since donating to mark Mental Health Awareness Week earlier this year, we’ve closely followed the work of Dogs for Good and have been keen to raise further funds. Involving the local community seemed like a great idea and we immediately thought of DOGHOUSE which is more than just a shop, it’s a lively destination what with its cafe and facilities. It was a pleasure to work once again with Ruth and the team to bring the event to life.”

Donations were made through purchases of specially made pupcakes, ‘puppaccinos’, and raffle ticket sales. In return, customers were in with a chance of winning a Poppy’s Picnic raw dog food Hamper, a box of DOGHOUSE’s doggie toys and treats, a full body dog grooming session, a bottle of Champagne and a consultation with Canine Nutritionist and broadcaster Anna Webb worth £150. 

DOGHOUSES’ Founder, Ruth Warren comments, “We love collaborating with Poppy’s Picnic. Our relationship is more than supplier and customer. Our values are closely aligned and we’re all keen to make a difference to dogs’ lives with good nutrition and products. We turned the fundraiser around in just a couple of weeks and are incredibly grateful to our customers who generously donated.” 

Poppy’s Picnic’s relationship with Dogs for Good began earlier this year when they were introduced by their celebrity ambassador, west-end star and Emmerdale actress, Gemma Oaten. 

On hearing the amount raised, Gemma said, “I'm glad to see Poppy's Picnic and Dogs for Good continuing to work together. As an ambassador for both organisations I've had the pleasure of seeing the difference Dogs for Good makes with their charitable work, and how Poppy's Picnic's food changes dogs' lives. To see two projects I'm passionate about working together brings me great joy and both parties should be proud of the amount raised." 

The donation from Poppy’s Picnic is the company’s sixth charitable donation this year, having previously supported the British Heart Foundation, eating disorder charity, SEED, Pawprints to Freedom Rescue, Bath Cats and Dogs Home and Dogs for Good. DOGHOUSE also regularly supports charitable causes having raised money for Bowel Cancer UK and unique events such as stand up paddle boarding with dogs.  

Research commissioned by the insurer MORE TH>N has unveiled that the average household cat or dog smokes the equivalent of 3,285 cigarettes per year, through passive smoking.

Launched in conjunction with the Stoptober campaign, the research found that smokers who own pets smoke an average of nine cigarettes in their home each day despite the majority knowing their habit could be harmful to their pets.

Vaping is seen by many official bodies to be the leading quitting aid for smokers wishing to kick the habit. It is estimated that cigarette smoking is responsible for 100,000 deaths in the UK each year. As a quitting aid, Public Health England cite that vapes are 95% safer than cigarettes, providing a viable solution to improve the health of smokers and smokers' pets alike this October.

Simon Manthorpe, CEO of Vapemate, one of the UK's leading e-liquid and vape producers, has commented on his own personal experience with vaping as a quitting aid:

"Smoking is a £6bn strain on the NHS and is the main cause of 80-90% of small cell and non-small cell lung cancers, demonstrating the cost of smoking in our society. Furthermore, an ever-increasing body of research continues to serve as a reminder to the nation of the dangers of smoking on our and our loved one's health. Solutions such as vaping can relieve both the financial strain of tobacco addiction, but can also serve as an aid to help rid the nation of one of our deadliest vices.

"My health has seen a marked improvement since I started using vapes as a quitting aid, and I would recommend responsible uses of vaping to anyone looking to quit smoking this Stoptober. If we could eliminate smoking then not only could we save huge amounts of lives in the UK, but we would improve the wellbeing of our furry friends; who ultimately provide huge boosts for our wellbeing too."

CSJ will be showcasing new products at ClickerExpo Luminos from 25^th to 27^th October.

As an Official Sponsor CSJ’s team will be joining up to 225 attendees and an exciting line-up of speakers at the Park Royal hotel nestled in the heart of Cheshire.

Visitors will experience a single-track program covering six topics led by six faculty members with a focused, in-depth look at problem-solving and some of the more popular and controversial aggression-treatment techniques. Experienced, practical trainers and knowledgeable behaviour analysts will discuss and evaluate several prevalent techniques and strategies, including:

• The Click to Calm method
• BAT (Behavioral Adjustment Training)
• CAT (Constructional Aggression Treatment)
• Counter-conditioning
• Functional Analysis
• Overview of problem-solving systems

With world-class trainers and applied behavioural scientists sharing the stage for three days ClickerExpo Luminos offers a unique and intellectually stimulating experience with a focused agenda.

The interactive conference is a deep exploration of the relationship between behavioural science and the practices of positive animal training, guided by the leading voices in the field and the CSJ team are looking forward to being amongst fellow dog enthusiasts at this exciting event.

See full details at https://clickerexpo.clickertraining.com/clicker-expo-europe/luminos-2019

For more on CSJ products visit www.csjk9.com or call 01745 710470.

Leading pet food brand, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, will be returning to the National Pet Show this year, promising to take visitors on an interactive journey through their pets’ life.

The National Pet Show will be at NEC Birmingham on the 2^nd and 3^rd of November 2019. The jam-packed weekend will showcase lots of amazing animals, as well as live performances, competitions, expert advice and shopping galore.

The Hill’s stand, located at C300, is set to provide visitors with an interactive experience for both dog and cat fans. There will be a Bark Park and Cat House with fun educational activities designed to educate visitors on their pets’ nutritional needs, how these change as they age and the way Hill’s food can support them with life-long health.

In the Bark Park there will be an age calculator for visitors to see how old their dog is in human years, and in the Cat House, a VR view finder using the transformative power of technology to allow cat lovers to see life through their cats’ eyes. An interactive digital weight tool will also allow visitors to identify whether their pet is at an ideal weight.

During the show, pet parents can also pick up a free sample of Hill’s Puppy, Adult or Mature dog food or Hill’s Kitten, Adult or Mature cat food and little ones can enjoy free dog and cat face painting.

Leading up to the event, Hill’s will be hosting a series of competitions on their Facebook and Instagram pages, with the chance to win a pair of tickets to attend the show. More details on how to enter can be found on their Facebook and Instagram pages.

Three vets from Southern Counties Veterinary Specialists took part in the Weymouth Iron Man 70.3 triathlon relay and raised £630 for the Vetlife charity, exceeding their original target of £500.

Despite the terrible weather they stayed committed to their goal and powered through, with Barney Dean running 21.1km, Phil Witte completing a 1.9km open water swim, and Tim Trevail cycling 90km. Tim said: “The foul weather did nothing to whet our appetite for the challenge!”.

They raised the money for Vetlife, a registered charity who confidentially support vets through tough and challenging times. The charity offers a 24/7 phone and email helpline; professional mental health support; financial assistance; information and resources. With wellbeing becoming an increasingly important topic in the veterinary industry this was a charity close to their hearts.

A Vet Life Fundraiser said: “Vetlife is an invaluable service which relies on public donations to run. Their work is increasingly important and the demand for their services is ever growing.”

Barney Dean was excited to take part in the triathlon, he said: “I was really excited to be taking part in the Iron Man 70.3 relay with Phil and Tim. They both trained really hard and I went for regular runs along the promenade at Bournemouth beach, and began increasing my mileage.

“I have always enjoyed taking part in sporting (particularly running) challenges and try to raise money for worthy causes whenever I do so. I completed the Isle of Wight Challenge (a 106km ultramarathon around the Isle of Wight) when I was an intern at SCVS in 2015. I have also completed a cycle tour across Europe in 2015, the Jungfrau mountain marathon in Switzerland in 2016, and numerous other regular marathons. I really fancied a new challenge but couldn’t face the idea of completing an Iron Man triathlon all by myself. Phil and Tim both regularly take part in swimming and cycling challenges, respectively, and so I thought the three of us would make a great team for the Iron Man 70.3 relay.”

Vetlife gave the clinicians a special thank you over Twitter: “A huge thank you to the superstar Vetlife fundraisers from @SCVS_Referrals! Thank you so much for your support.”

Barney, Phil and Tim are all extremely grateful for everyone’s support and appreciated the kind, supportive comments on social media from their wonderful customers.

The winners of the 2019 PetQuip UK Pet Retailer of the Year, Just for Pets, have had an astonishing change of fortunes since they went into administration just two years ago.

The future for the pet retail chain looked bleak in September 2017, until it was bought out of administration by Pedigree Wholesale. Almost immediately, the focus of the business changed to put the wellbeing of pets to the forefront – and some very brave decisions were taken about the future direction of the business.

Paul Lewis, General Manager, explained: “Our company strapline is ‘Passionate Pet People’ so we brought this to life in our stores.

“The other thing we did was to close our retail website in order to focus on the theatre and engagement within our stores to drive sales. As you will be aware this bucked the current trend of retail and was a risk - as we focused on bricks rather than clicks.”

This change of direction bought a new lease of life to the company’s 16 stores across the Midlands and Cambridgeshire. Staff were trained to provide support and advice around the premium products on sale, and shops were revamped to make them more engaging and inviting to customers, for example by placing large packaging-free natural treats ranges right at the entrance, creating a talking point and an inviting experience for pets and their owners.

Just for Pets is also looking to make some of its stores specialist shops, depending on the needs of the locality. The company is shying away from the one-size-fits-all approach practised by some other pet retail chains.

Paul said: “We see this desire to try new things as not only exciting for our customers and their pets, but our teams are constantly at the forefront of new initiatives. This makes their roles very interesting and engaging, making for a better overall customer experience.”

The experience of going into receivership was obviously a bleak one for the Just for Pets teams. But now they have pulled themselves up and are enjoying the new challenges and a brighter future.

The PetQuip Award judges said: “It was obvious to us that a significant investment of money, time and staff training had been made. To see a retail chain that is now back to sales growth, receiving positive customer feedback and offering market leading products and services to their loyal customer base couldn't be anything else but a winner.

“It was also obvious from a store visit to the site in Coventry that considerable expertise had been put to bear in the merchandising of the store, and there was a pride in the way that everything had been laid out.”

Paul said: “This award brings a huge sense of pride to the team, we are no longer the Just for Pets that went into administration…we are the Just for Pets that is 2019 PetQuip Pet Retailer of the Year. It is difficult to put into words how much that means.”

A pet shop in Carlisle is closing down after 45 years of trading with a decline in high street shopping being blamed for the store’s dwindling fortunes.

Nu-Pets on Lowther Street had hoped to have a refurbishment but this has now been cancelled.

Owner Tony Pieri told the News & Star: "Having reviewed the latest trading accounts and the continued decline in sales, we have sadly concluded, after 45 years of trading that the business is no longer viable and must close."

Mr Pieri, who runs the business with his son Ricky, said: "We have had to standby and watch the slow decline of the high street - obvious by the dozens of empty shops."

He says changes to parking on Lowther Street - from a disc zone to pay and display parking - several years ago also added to his worries.

To read the full story click here

Leading pet food manufacturer, Pets Choice, is setting its sights on growth with the addition of two new recruits to its sales team.

Jenny Kennedy, head of category & insights and Kelly Hall, national account manager – Grocery Retail, join the business with more than 30 years’ combined experience within FMCG, working with a host of national brands from petcare and soft drinks, to cereal.     

Jenny began her career 20 years ago on the graduate scheme with Sainsbury’s before moving into sales, and has spent the last 15 years in category roles working with major brands including Mars and Kellogg’s. In her new role, Jenny will play a vital role incorporating the shopper rationale into business decisions, as well as working with retailers to drive total category growth.

With 17 years’ experience within national account management and customer marketing for FMCG blue chip organisations, Kelly joins the team as a newcomer to petcare. Her responsibilities will include managing some of the company’s biggest grocery retail customers, including Tesco, Morrisons, Waitrose and Co-op.

Jenny Kennedy says of her appointment: “Pets Choice is a major player in the pet food market, with a plethora of fantastic brands in its portfolio.

“It’s a really exciting time to be joining the business as it looks towards growth plans for 2020 and beyond. I look forward to working with our retail partners, delivering the insights they need to really maximise profits from petcare and showing them just what the Pets Choice brands have to offer.”

Tony Raeburn, Pets Choice CEO, says: “Our people are a real asset to our business and we’re delighted to welcome Jenny and Kelly to the team.

“Their in-depth knowledge of FMCG markets is going to prove immensely valuable for us as we take the next steps towards meeting our ambitious growth targets; I have no doubt that they’ll do a fantastic job for us as we move into a new era.”

Pets Choice’s portfolio comprises 13 brands offering a variety of products for pets and wild animals, including leading petcare brand Webbox, whose product range extends to dog and cat food, treats and accessories.

For further information about Pets Choice and its brand offering please visit www.petschoice.co.uk

The British producer of naturally nutritious food for pets, Lily’s Kitchen, has unveiled an exciting new range of natural treats for dogs made with ‘proper meat’ aimed at pet parents looking for better quality treating options to give to their pets guilt-free.

The new range of five natural meaty treats are packed with proper meat and are full of valuable protein, as well as being gluten and grain-free making them easy to digest and ideal for dogs with dietary sensitivities. 

The range includes:

Chomp-away Chicken Bites – little bites made with freshly prepared chicken with a sprinkling of quinoa (an energy and protein-rich seed) and a dash of

gentle ginger (known to aid digestion).

The Best Ever Beef Mini Burgers – mini burgers packed with freshly prepared beef, with a helping of chia seeds (which contain omega 3, known to be good for skin and fur health) and kale (rich in healthy antioxidants).

Simply Glorious Chicken Jerky – tasty, tender golden jerky made with freshly prepared chicken and gently oven baked for a lovely, chewy texture.

Scrumptious Duck & Venison Sausages – succulent little sausages made with freshly prepared duck and venison and air-dried to chewy perfection.

The Mighty Duck Mini Jerky – mini jerky packed with freshly prepared duck, gently oven-baked for a lovely chewy satisfying texture. Packed with valuable protein.

Each resealable bag contains 70g of treats and has a high meat content, alongside other proper ingredients such as quinoa, chia seeds, spinach, kale and ginger. Rosemary extract is used in all of the treats as a natural antioxidant.

The top quality ingredients are combined and then gently baked and air dried to give the treats a chewy texture that dogs love. The new range comes in distinctive, colourful and bold packaging, with an emphasis on proper meat which is clearly signposted on front of pack. 

Comments Henrietta Morrison, Founder, Executive Chair and Global Brand Director of Lily’s Kitchen: “Shoppers are increasingly looking for more natural treats that are healthy enough to treat everyday, affordable and from a from brand like Lily’s Kitchen who they know they can trust. Natural treats are the fastest growing segment of the treats market and we’re seeing more and more space being allocated to healthy treats on retailers’ shelves.

“Our new range offers a wide variety of enticing snacking options, all high in proper meat, which is sourced from within the EU bringing even more consumer trust. Now pet parents can treat their dogs, who are beloved members of their families, completely guilt-free with natural, healthy options that taste absolutely delicious.”

The dog treat category is worth £488 million in the UK and is even bigger than wet and dry dog food, with 3.3 million dogs a day receiving a treat. It is the fastest growing segment (+3.5%) with shopper numbers growing +19% in natural dog treats in the last year alone.

Lily’s Kitchen’s new dog treats are suitable for adult dogs aged from 4 months+. They come in resealable bags which helps to keep them fresh for 14 days after opening. They can be given to dogs at any time of day – whether for training or just because they deserve a treat, and are designed to complement Lily’s Kitchen’s existing range of proper food for dogs.

Lily’s Kitchen has developed engaging POS for its new natural ‘proper meat’ treats for dogs to drive product visibility and impulse purchase in store. 

The range is available to order at sales@lilyskitchen.co.uk and +44 (0) 20 7433 6972.