Ancol Pet Products has told Pet Trade Xtra that the company objects to the ruling made by the Advertising Standards Authority that promotional material for its poop bags was misleading, and will be seeking further advice.

Sales director Sarah Lane said :"Although we provided the manufacturing data with regards to the bags being biodegradable, as a responsible supplier, we have decided to carry out testing on random batches of bags, to support the claim that they are biodegradable. The ASA ruled that our claim on the website, that the bags “make less impact on the environment” was misleading. The ruling does not apply to the bags themselves or the packaging, it applies purely the statement on the website, or any advertising material claiming that the bags “make less impact on the environment”

"Our bags are fit for purpose and biodegradable as stated and please see the data below to support this. We take this ruling very seriously, and pride ourselves on responsibly sourcing our products. As a family run business we are very aware of the environment and try to make positive contributions to helping the environment, one example of which is we installed solar panels to our warehouse and so now we are using only renewable energy in our day to day running of the business."

Manufacturing data and Ancol's comments sent to ASA:

We have carefully studied the report and the findings of your investigation. Here at Ancol Pet Products we are proud to be one of the only pet accessory suppliers to produce Bio-degradable bags. We have invested a lot of time and money into this range to ensure that our customers receive a quality bag and that the bags comply with the guidelines of being Bio-degradable.

Below I hope to explain the manufacturing technique we use and the reason why we feel this is the best option.

After studying your report it would appear that the issue is with the way the bags Bio-degrade.

“We consulted DEFRA over the topic of oxo-biodegradable plastics. We understood that oxo-biodegradable plastics degraded quicker in the open environment than conventional plastics. However, we also acknowledged that there were concerns that plastic fragments and smaller, microplastics were left behind, which could have a harmful effect on the open environment, and in particular marine life.“

It would appear our Bio-degradable bags are being reviewed and tested against Compostable standards, rather than Bio-degradable standards.

The definitions we have for reference for ‘compostable’ ‘degradable’  and ‘bio-degradable’ are:

• Degradable: The ability to break up into smaller pieces. Degradable packaging products will not break down into their natural organic components, just smaller pieces of the original product.
• Biodegradable: The prefix “bio” refers to the way in which a product will degrade, in this case, via a biological process, bacteria, fungi etc. The product will biodegrade into carbon dioxide, water and biomass from the action of naturally occurring microorganisms. Green waste is biodegradable.
• Compostable: A product biodegrades within a time frame of 4 to 6 months. Green waste is compostable.

We would class our bags as ‘biodegradeable’ and, more specifically ‘oxo-biodegradable’, falling in line with the definition below:

Oxo-biodegradable plastic, made from polymers such as PE (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene), and PS (polystyrene) containing extra ingredients (metal salts) and tested according to ASTM D6954 or BS8472 or AFNOR Accord T51-808 to degrade and biodegrade in the open environment. These salts catalyze the degradation process to speed it up so that OXO plastic will degrade abiotically at the end of its useful life in the presence of oxygen, much more quickly than ordinary plastic. It has then been converted into small-chain organic chemicals such as ketones, alcohols, carboxylic acids and low molecular mass hydrocarbon waxes which are no longer plastic and biodegradable by bacteria which are ubiquitous in the terrestrial and marine environments. The timescale for complete bio degradation at any time or place in the open environment is much shorter than for "conventional" plasticswhich, in normal environments, are very slow to biodegrade[2] and cause large scale harm.

Plastic produced for our Poop Bags used D2W, meaning our Poop Bags fall into this category. For more information of D2W please check official website below: http://www.symphonyenvironmental.com/d2w/. 

We are confident that our poop bags are fully biodegradable due to the addition of D2W. Whilst we have considered ‘compostable’ poop bags, we have found these have many disadvantages including:

• Compostable plastics rely on food stock, and space to grow food-stock.
• Compostable plastics can require industrial composting, meaning the high intensity and high temperatures that are not found on our customer’s compost heaps.
• If your bio-plastics end up in the recycling stream the materials that were meant to be recycled could become unstable, brittle, and useless. Bioplastic material might actually contaminate the recycling process if not separated from conventional plastics. 

As we take all environmental and product quality issues very seriously we are in the process of conducting a recent accelerated degradation tests and will keep you updated. Unfortunately, we will not see the results for 6 – 8 weeks. This test is designed to accelerate the aging process so it can prove the bags Bio-degrade, as specified, we will of course share these results with you in due time.

The Advertising Standards Authority has told Ancol Pet Products not to use any future promotional material that advertises the fact its Refill Poop Bags are biodegradable, ruling that the claims are misleading.

The ASA said Ancol must ensure that its future advertising did not mislead by making environmental claims unless it held adequate evidence to substantiate those claims.

A product page for dog waste bags on www.ancol.co.uk, seen on 2 March 2018, featured text which stated "Refill Poop Bag Rolls...These thick waste bags are biodegradable to lessen your dog's impact on the environment".

The ASA received one complaint suggesting the bags were made of a material that was not capable of biodegradation.

In response Ancol said that its bags were produced using a controlled-life plastic technology, which was added during the manufacturing stage of production of their bags. The company stated that the material used converted everyday plastic products into materials which were biodegradable in the open environment.

The ASA considered that consumers would understand the term "biodegradable" to mean the capability of a product to disintegrate and decompose safely and relatively quickly in the open environment, leaving nothing behind.

The authority stated: “We acknowledged Ancol’s comments with regard to the additive and its ability to control and shorten the life of normal plastic products and packaging. However, no evidence had been provided to demonstrate this and that the product was consequently biodegradable.

“We consulted Defra over the topic of oxo-degradable plastics. We understood that oxo-degradable plastics degraded quicker in the open environment than conventional plastics. However, we also acknowledged that there were concerns that plastic fragments and smaller, microplastics were left behind, which could have a harmful effect on the open environment, and in particular marine life.

“We understood from Defra that oxo-degradable plastics left in the open environment degraded (broke up into small fragments) in two to five years, and that biodegradation of those plastics could only occur once they had fragmented. We considered that this length of time was not in line with how consumers were likely to interpret the term 'biodegradable' as set out above.

“Because of those concerns and because no testing or evidence had been provided to demonstrate the bags ability to biodegrade, we concluded that the claims that the product was biodegradable and would lessen the impact of dogs on the environment were misleading and had not been substantiated.”

The full ruling can be viewed by clicking here

Despite the news that British pub chain Wetherspoons is closing its doors to all dogs on 10^th September, research conducted by Meerkat Meals, Compare The Market’s new 2 for 1 dining reward scheme, has found that 46% of British dog owners would actually dine out more often if they could bring their pet.

According to the findings from Meerkat Meals, this latest move from Wetherspoons may leave its customers hounding them for a U-turn, with the majority of those asked (62%) agreeing that there are not enough dog friendly restaurants in the UK. 

Sadly, over two thirds of Brits (67%) are unaware of any local dog friendly restaurants where they can dine out with their beloved pet and over a fifth (21%) of dog owners would be willing to travel up to nine miles to ensure they can dine alongside their pooch.

Julie Daniels, Head of Meerkat Meals, comments: “Eating out with friends and family can be a special occasion so it’s no surprise that bringing our beloved pets along only adds to the fun. According to our research, there’s a clear demand for dog owners to dine out with their pets, so making sure our four-legged friends get a seat at the dining table could be a great way for restaurants to encourage more customers through the doors.”

Hundreds of pet product manufacturers have confirmed there is only one place to be this September…and that’s exhibiting at PATS Telford.

The showpiece event, taking place on Sunday, September 23, and Monday, September 24, will be packed solid with more than 200 leading firms eager to exhibit their products and services to visiting UK and international buyers.

The mood amongst the exhibitors is one of eager anticipation as the biggest-ever PATS Telford moves closer.

Jo Amit of HOWND, summed it up by saying: “PATS Telford means business! We look forward at HOWND every year to the show. It is the perfect platform to launch new products and meet customers face to face. We’ve seen an increase in visitors to our stand from overseas, which is testament to show’s growing popularity. We’re launching our first range of vegetarian hemp treats and a new product designed for dog groomers and are very excited to see the reaction at Telford.”

It’s a view shared by Katie Goldsmith, of Collarways, and Suzanne Rothman, of Pet Munchies. Katie said: “PATS Telford is a great way to showcase our new products, as well as meet existing and new customers, and network with other suppliers. We always enjoy the atmosphere from build-up to breakdown and it is a highlight of our year."

And Suzanne added: “PATS attracts such a  wide variety of quality buyers and retailers, and is the perfect opportunity to  bring on board new business. We are so excited that we will also be showcasing new products for all to see at Telford.”

Inspired Pet Nutrition, under the Wagg brand, were the first company to book a stand with PATS when the exhibition launched in 2009, and have been exhibiting ever since. Trade Sales Director Ben Anderson said: “At IPN we believe in the concept of a trade show – how else can you fully display your entire range of products to your customers under one roof?

“The PATS team are experienced, knowledgeable, approachable and go out of their way to ensure the show is a success each and every year. We’re looking forward to another successful 10 years and thanks to all the team at PATS for their hard work in organising such a well run trade show.”

So why should buyers from pet stores and garden centres attend this year’s PATS Telford? Here’s what visitors can expect:

• More than 200 exhibitors including a record numbers of newcomers – 63 in total
• All the latest pet product launches under one roof
• Informative talks from leading experts from across the industry
• Top class demonstrations from groomers
• Unrivalled show offers and competitions

One of the major successes at PATS shows over the years has been the New Product Showcase, sponsored by pbwnews. Last year at Telford a record number of new products – over 300 in total – were on show in the designated area. From all the entries, a panel of independent retailers will decide the winners of the prestigious New Product Awards, which will be presented at the PetQuip Awards Dinner on the Sunday evening.

Visitors will also be able to listen to talks from prominent industry figures and witness demonstrations from the country’s leading dog groomers.

Renowned pet marketeer J.Nichole Smith will be a keynote speaker on both days of the show, and she said: “Most of my work is in the States, so I love the opportunity to get to know pet brands in the UK. Last time I spoke at PATS the sessions were totally packed – standing room only - and that's a great feeling. I met some wonderful entrepreneurs, and I can't wait to come back!”

The grooming programme, in association with British Dog Groomers' Association and The Welsh Grooming Academy, will include some of the country’s leading groomers. The demonstrations will highlight the knowledge and expertise required to complete traditional grooming techniques successfully as well as showing off a few modern and creative ideas as well.

“Myself and other members of BDGA are really looking forward to delivering two days of interactive demos/seminars at PATS Telford this year,”

said Mathew Spry, acting chairman of BDGA. “This exhibition is one of the most enjoyable events out there. A welcoming environment with new products, free samples and an opportunity to network and learn is always a great day out in my book.”

Parking is free at the Telford International Centre, and everyone will receive free tea and coffee, and a free show catalogue.

PATS Telford is definitely THE place to be this September so make sure you register for free entry to the show at www.patshow.co.uk where you’ll also find a full list of exhibitors.

Recruitment specialist Lynda Ward, founder of Pet Trade Solutions, says employers needing sales people are increasingly asking for hard workers.

She comments: “Prior to founding Pet Trade Solutions in year 2000 I had spent 18 years in challenging field sales roles in the pet industry, introducing new brands and increasing distribution so I know how hard the job can be but also how hard work pays off.

"The mental and physical highs and lows of these roles can be exhausting and take their toll on people who do not have the right attitude but there are some who will just cruise along and are simply ‘order takers’. 

"My experience in man-management was that the latter are the hardest people to manage … it’s possible to teach people to sell but almost impossible to teach them to have a good work ethic.”

Lynda goes on: “Observing people working on trade stands at dog shows or trade events can sometimes give clues … for example the salesperson who rebuffs potential customers by deliberately not meeting visitors’ eyes as they walk past or not engaging with them as they browse the stand. 

"Conversely, believing that the bright bubbly character who is excelling in those situations when they are surrounded by fellow workers and on a high with the buzz of an event will continue to bring in orders when out in the field alone and having to be proactive, enthusiastic and energetic day after day after day can be a fatal mistake.

"Employers need sales people who will roll up their sleeves and work hard to be successful and it is my job to put the right people forward to the right companies … knowing the people plus how difficult and frustrating the roles can be and understanding the trade itself admittedly does make my job easier!”

Lynda is always happy to personally advise on any aspects of recruitment and marketing strategy and can be contacted on 07946 743784 or at lyndaward@pettradesolutions.com

Five generations of expertise in animal nutrition and 100% Irish ingredients are at the heart of Go Native – a new complete range of grain-free dog food, treats and dental sticks from Connolly’s Red Mills.

The Connolly family has been making animal feeds in Co Kilkenny, Ireland since 1908 and has used that know-how and commitment to quality to create this ultra-premium, grain-free range.

Go Native has been developed by nutritionists and vets at Connolly’s Red Mills’ purpose-built facility and crafted in their kitchens. Go Native is a complete diet for all dogs, whatever their size, breed or age.

 When only the best is good enough – sourcing the finest Irish ingredients

Connolly’s Red Mills are very particular about using trusted suppliers and only the best, carefully  sourced, natural ingredients are selected for Go Native. 

Fully traceable and sustainably sourced, Go Native food contains 70% meat from a single meat source  – either organic herring or salmon or free-run chicken and turkey  – combined with superfoods like v kale, spinach, broccoli and carrot.

Connolly’s Red Mills’ stringent quality control goes a step further– they even make the poultry feed that’s given to the duck and chicken they select for Go Native.

Recipes include Duck with Apple & Cranberry, Organic Herring with Carrot & Kale, Organic Salmon with Spinach & Ginger and Chicken with Potato & Broccoli.

Go Native grain free meaty treats contain 30% meat and come in four varieties: salmon, herring, duck and turkey. They are cold formed  to ensure all of the nutrients are locked in and suitable for dogs over six months.

Go Native dental super sticks have a unique rough texture and spiral shape to reduce tartar build-up and the formation of plaque and come in two varieties: Carrot & Sweet Potato or Pumpkin & Broccoli. The dental super sticks also contain ground peppermint for fresh breath.

The utmost care and attention to detail at every step

All ingredients are tested in Connolly’s Red Mills’ on-site laboratory and the entire range is grain-free, reducing the risk of allergy. Go Native also contains no wheat, maize, soya or corn, so is 100% gluten-free as well as free from genetically modified ingredients.

“A century of know-how, care and attention at every step has gone into creating this exceptional dog food range,” said sales and marketing director Gareth Connolly. “We’re proud that Go Native is produced using the highest quality, sustainably-sourced, Irish ingredients.”

Go Native Dog food is packed using Connolly’s Red Mills’ unique Nutrient Fresh Management System.

To celebrate the launch of Go Native, Red Mills hosted a special dinner party for some very special four-legged guests. They all thoroughly enjoyed themselves, plates completely cleared with not a morsel of Go Native left behind. The meal was then polished off with a tooth-cleansing Go Native Dental Superfood stick before the guests headed home with goodie/doggie bags.

Check it out here: https://www.redmills.ie/products/pets

To find out more or to register your interest in becoming  a stockist, visit www.gonativedogfood.com

When it comes to customer service the Fish4Dogs Events Team have gold-winning standards and now they have a certificate and rosette to prove it!

For it wasn’t just the showring action that came under close scrutiny at the recent Gatcombe Horse Trials but its exhibitors, who were ‘mystery shopped’ by BETA – the British Equestrian Trade Association – throughout the event.

Fish4Dogs was awarded ‘Gold Stand’ status for the “passion, enthusiasm, knowledge and overall on-stand welcome” which its team demonstrated.

The company has an extensive annual show programme, attending more than 30 championship events, family dog shows, charity fundraisers and specialist conferences where dog professionals come together to share and learn.

Said Jo Little, Head of Marketing: “Our show team is very experienced and has a true understanding of our products. They listen to owners, to understand their concerns and outline the benefits of fish in the right context – whether it be joint and mobility concerns, looking for great coat and skin condition, or simply providing an easily-digestible protein source to provide dogs with the energy they need to thrive.”

Each member of the show team is a brand ambassador. They often join the Fish4Dogs family having previously been a customer whose pets have benefitted from a fish-based diet. This gives them the confidence to be able to speak to other pet owners at shows and this passion for dog welfare shines through.

The team also have experts on hand to whom them can refer more complicated questions including Fish4Dogs professional veterinary, nutritional and technical specialists.

The trade stand emphasis is always on letting the food speak for itself – a try before you buy approach rather than the hard sell.

“We are advocates rather than sales people - friendly, empathetic, champions of fish. The purpose of our attendance is to share our story, enthusiasm, give out samples, and take the names of interested owners for follow up. We are delighted when dogs discover something new. For us, it’s the connections we make through the dogs that makes attending shows an absolute pleasure.”

A dog-owning couple have set up a new franchise delivering premium quality pet food door to door to customers in the Preston area. The new business forms part of Bolton-based Heights Farm Premium Pet Foods’ operation, which has seen rapid expansion in the north of the country in the past six months.

Alison and Steve Critchley, who have been married for over 31 years and live in the Rossendale Valley with their beloved Saluki, Chance, have run various businesses over the years and have also had their separate careers.

Together they owned a grocers off license in Church, just outside Accrington and for 22 years, Alison has worked as a Teaching Assistant working with children in the primary sector.  Steve also worked in transport for over 40 years and for the last 15 years has owned his own road haulage company.

Alison has wanted to change jobs for quite a while but never really knew what to do. She explains: “I have always loved animals, especially dogs, so I then started to look at different franchises with animals in mind. Quite a few left me disappointed and I began to lose interest in ever finding the right one. Then in February this year we saw Stephen, the Founder of Heights Farm and chatted for a while about his products, we got our dog a sample or two and went home. We then went on their website to find out more about their hypoallergenic food range for Chance and saw that there was an opportunity to buy a franchise and downloaded a prospectus. We read all about it and were so impressed at how the company had grown from their own beloved dog, Milo having allergies. At this point we were already interested.

“The following month, March, we went back to the Farmers Market in Helmshore and spoke to Carole who is the franchisee for the BB postcode area. We chatted to her for a while, asked lots of questions and she told us the PR area was available and to give them a ring. So we arranged a meeting and more or less straight away decided this was the opportunity I’d been looking for. Stephen and Sarah say that the third time you see Heights Farm you’re more likely to buy something but for us the third time we saw them we bought a franchise! I think one of the things that impressed us the most was how Heights Farm Pet Foods is a family run business and the passion they all have for what they are doing and I wanted to be part of that family!”

Stephen Ward, founder and owner of Heights Farm Premium Pet Foods, set up the company in response to his own experience of the pet food industry when his Douge De Bordeaux Mastiff, Milo started to develop a number of allergies which started to make his life very tough. Despite being put on a prescription diet by the vet and taking a course of steroid tablets, the vet bills started to mount and Milo’s itchy skin condition continued once he stopped taking the tablets. Prolonged use of steroids could also have had serious side effects such as liver and kidney damage and it was only after switching to a salmon- based hypoallergenic dry food that many of Milo's symptoms started to clear up.

 “For the first time Milo was actually happy, his patchy coat had started to heal and the redness had almost gone. Stool quality was also greatly improved.  It turned out that Milo was in fact wheat and wheat gluten intolerant.

“It was at this point that we felt our dog had been almost held in a state of disrepair. We contacted the veterinary practice explaining that the root cause of Milo’s condition was the wheat- based food that they had been supplying us. Every meal consumed was a trigger and the steroid was then the expensive sticking plaster that never actually fixed anything.

“This experience got us thinking how many more pets and pet owners had been in the same situation as ourselves?

“Poor Milo relied on us for his health and wellbeing and we had been passively making things a whole lot worse through misguidance at considerable expense.

“So after lots and lots of research and investment we decided to come up with the most amazing hypoallergenic blend of complete dry food that would in effect be a health food for dogs and cats with a very special and clinically proven ingredient-Green-Lipped Mussel. The extruded kibble is exposed to a steam process that gives a honeycomb texture inside, aiding digestion. The complementary natural ingredients such as Kale, Carrots & Peas, Yucca, Rosemary, Seaweed etc. also complete this natural dry food.

“Trials were carried out and the samples went down a storm. In May 2009 we took the brave step to establish our very own premium pet food company named after our family home Heights Farm Premium Pet Foods. The product range starts from puppy through to adult with proteins such as Chicken, Lamb and Salmon. We believe that if your animal benefits from the Green-Lipped Mussel daily you build an excellent bone and joint structure that will support your animal well throughout all life stages. There is no need for a senior type of product although we do offer our Dietary+Plus food which is great for maintaining/losing weight. Our products come in 2kg and 15kg sacks and are very keenly priced within the premium graded equivalents.”

Heights Farm has enjoyed steady and consistent growth through word of mouth. The model is based on a very personal one to one service, with unique products, not available on the high street, at a keen price and giving outstanding customer care levels, with a convenient delivered to the door service. Heights Farm Premium Pet Foods supply nationally with a next day delivery service and internationally within 2-3 days delivered by their courier network and offer free delivery within Blackburn, Burnley, Clitheroe, Bolton, Bury, Manchester and Districts, Oldham and Districts, Preston and Districts, Todmorden, Wigan, Rochdale Oldham  Halifax, Keighley and Skipton areas from their fully liveried and kitted out Ford Transits.

Heights Farm offers sample packs which allow pet owners to try before they buy.

For further information on setting up your franchise visit the Heights Farm Premium Pet Foods website: www.heightsfarmpetfoods.co.uk

Natures Menu is celebrating Puppy Awareness Week with hundreds of top dogs across the UK successfully graduating from Puppy School.

Puppy Awareness Week is an initiative which aims to help puppy buyers be aware of how to find a responsible breeder, and a healthy, happy puppy. To mark the special week, Natures Menu has been rewarding top pups with tasty nutritious treats, as well as offering advice to pet parents on responsible raw feeding and how to provide a complete and balanced diet as their pups grow into dog-hood.

The young puppies and their owners have undertaken a comprehensive programme over the last six weeks learning all the obedience basics to give them a good foundation for life. A number of puppies across the UK have graduated including, Layla the Mati-Poo from Hertfordshire, Fred the Cavachon from Gloucester and Rex the Labrador from Kent. 

Alongside Puppy School, Natures Menu offers some top tips for new puppy owners this Puppy Awareness Week:

• Nutrition: Ensure you give your puppy the best start by feeding them a healthy, natural diet.  Natures Menu works closely with a team of in-house vets to design complete and balanced raw meals, cans and pouches, and natural, raw inspired complete dry puppy food to nourish your growing puppy. Raw Puppy Nuggets, cooked pouches and cans can be fed from weaning and include a range of natural, nutritious and wholesome ingredients for pups under 20 weeks of age.
• Immunisation: Young puppies do acquire some immunity from their mothers to protect them during the early weeks. However, over time this fades and needs to be replaced by vaccinations, so ensure you discuss this with your vet to find out what’s required.
• Socialisation: Try and introduce socialising with other dogs, adults and children as early as possible. During this process, they will also need to get used to a wide range of events, environments and situations. Puppy parties run by your vet and puppy trainer are a great way of increasing your puppy’s socialisation skills with some useful training and behavioural tips thrown in too. Puppies can all react differently in various situations and a trainer will be able to advise you on how to handle particular events.
• Reward-based training: During training, food treats will be needed to reward your puppy when they perform desired behaviours. Puppies will work for very small rewards so make sure the treats are no bigger than a small pea to ensure they don’t get full up too quickly and to keep them healthy. Puppies will work harder for smelly, moist food, so Natures Menu’s Real Meaty treats are ideal, made from 95% real meat.
• Patience and praise: Getting a puppy is life-changing and while it can be rewarding, it can also be a challenge. To start with you’ll need to develop a relationship with your puppy, so they build trust. Offering praise to them when they do something good can help this along. Some puppies don’t grasp things straightaway, so it’s important you persevere and keep trying.Shouting, screaming or physically correcting your puppy can have a serious detrimental effect on your special bond and make training difficult in later life. In some dogs, it may even lead to aggression. Always keep training sessions positive with plenty of rewards and seek a professional trainer to help you through those more exasperating times.

Craig Taylor, Managing Director at Natures Menu said: “Congratulations to all of the young puppies graduating from puppy schools across the UK this week. Welcoming a new puppy can be a busy and exciting time and with everything else you have to understand, finding the right diet for your new addition can be overwhelming. At Natures Menu, we like to keep it simple with a full range of raw and natural foods that are perfect for puppies and super gentle on little tums.

“With the help of our team of vets we have put together a feeding guide on weaning puppies onto a raw diet and through our sponsorship of Puppy School, we are working towards educating new puppy owners on the benefits of natural and raw feeding.”

Gwen Bailey, Founder of Puppy School, said: “We’re delighted to be celebrating the graduation of some of our 2018 classes – they should be incredibly proud as they have achieved so much in just six weeks and are a true credit to the tutors and their owners who have worked so hard. We look forward to hearing how they progress after their graduation.

“Working with Natures Menu has enabled us to inform and educate puppy parents on the importance of nutrition and the benefits of raw feeding. I’ve personally seen some amazing results in some puppies and adult dogs when they switch to raw. I’m a complete convert myself after feeding this to my own dogs! They do so well on the diet and wouldn’t feed them anything else now.”

Natures Menu has been creating 100% real wholesome food for pets for over 35 years, and became an official sponsor of Puppy School in 2016 to offer a range of benefits to clients joining puppy classes, including a free advice manual, free treat samples and a voucher for clients to spend on Natures Menu products.

Bigger and better than ever before, ‘Pets at Glee’ will be a thriving section of Glee, designed to make it even easier for garden centre pet buyers to directly source 2019 ranges, whilst also benefitting from unrivalled networking and educational content.

A ‘Pets at Glee’ entrance (Hall 19) will drive retailers right into the heart of the pet area, whilst a special pet seminar stage will also be making its debut at the show.

Marking a significant investment for this new era of Pets at Glee, the seminar stage will offer insight into the latest trends shaping the pet care sector such as the humanisation and premiumisation of pet products, as well as interactive content that can be implemented instore to boost pet care within the garden retail environment.

The new look ‘Pets at Glee’ will also be a hub of information, innovative new products and business advice that will enable those 70% of garden retailers who currently offer pet products to boost their business in the year ahead, helping them to take a slice of the £5billion spent on pet products, food and accessories annually in the UK.

Entry to Glee is free of charge to all pre-registered visitors.  Simply register via the Glee website www.gleebirmingham.com/register. 

Following the success of the increased exposure of its pet collections to the garden and leisure sector, RSW International Limited has announced it will be launching an RSPCA collection of licensed pet products at Glee 2018.

This collection (a small selection featured above) will include product related to; play, travel, cooling, and feeding.

With the addition of the RSPCA collection RSW’s 2018 and 2019 pet offering is promised to be larger than ever, as their team of buyers and designers have been working flat out putting together new and exciting product.

Previously featured in Issue 26 of Pet Trade Xtra the company's cooling range took the market by storm, and it sold out of key products within days of this feature going live.

RSW International's quality and price driven pet collections include brands such as; Smart Choice (play & pamper), Delicious (treat), Sweet Dreams (beds & bedding), and World of Pet (essentials) have seen major growth within garden centres in recent times.

Lee Kennerley, Head of Garden & Leisure at RSW International, said: "We have altered our approach to the garden & leisure industry with our pet collections. We have implemented a growth strategy over the last twelve months which included the further development our pet collections within this sector. It was obvious from feedback received that there was a gap for credible alternatives to what garden centres were already being offered by our competition.

"Although our main goal as a business was to offer a consistent supply of good quality price driven product, which included a large offering, whilst offering great customer service. I am happy to report that although we were slightly taken back by the response we have had over the last few months, we have managed to meet customer demands and delivered a healthy 95% of product ordered.

"To support our increased client based we have recently added a new Business Development Manager to our team, now offer display options, put together a dedicated website for our garden & leisure customers, and have increased our product offering too. We are proud to be associated with a worthwhile charity such as the RSPCA and our teams of Buyers, Designers, and Quality Assurance team have been working hard over the last six months to put together a great quality range of licensed product at amazing price points. And we are all very much looking forward to its launch at the forthcoming Glee exhibition."

RSW will be exhibiting at Glee 2018 from 10th to 12th September 2018 in Hall 6 (Stand S70-T71)

Should you need any information on RSW's pet collections contact Lee directly 07940 567615 or lkennerley@rswint.co.uk or go to www.rswint.co.uk

The RSPCA name and logo are trademarks of the RSPCA used by RSW International Limited under licence from RSPCA Trading Ltd. RSPCA Trading Ltd (which pays all of it’s taxable profits to the RSPCA) will receive a minimum of £30,000 from the sales of this product range over 3 years.

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A man has been charged following a break-in at a pet store in Camberley in June.

James Latham, 48, of Bagshot Green, Bagshot, was charged with burglary following the incident at Two By Two Pets on June 11.

The shop in Ansell Road allegedly had one of its window smashed and a total of four charity boxes stolen.

Arthritis Research UK, Cats Protection, RSPCA and Chimney Farm Rescue charity boxes were stolen from the store.

Staff believed the cash value inside of the Chimney Farm Rescue box was around £80, with no substantial amounts of money in the other boxes.

Full story can be found on the Surrey Live website. Read the full story by clicking here

Pet experts are urging owners to spare a thought for their pets this September, as they reveal that dogs and cats may get the blues as children return to school.

When pupils return to full time education, dogs and puppies may suffer from separation anxiety which can result in a change in their animals’ behaviour at the start of the school term.

Research by Pets at Home* revealed that more than four in ten children (44%) admitted to having more fun with their pet than they do with their friends or siblings with more than half of children surveyed (63%) spending more than an hour interacting with their furry friend each day. This time spent with their pets is likely to decrease suddenly as children return to school this September.

Dr Maeve Moorcroft, Head of Pets at Pets at home said: “After being surrounded by family for a few weeks, pets get used to the fun and attention families bring them, but a sudden empty home can affect them.

“Even well-behaved pets start exhibiting strange or unruly behaviour when this happens, but there are actions you can take to minimise this, especially with dogs and puppies.”

Now back to school season is officially here, Pets at Home has developed some top tips for preparing your dogs and puppies for the social change ahead.

1. Gradual preparation is the key: If your dog is used to always being in the same room with you or following you around, try asking them to stay while you leave the room for a short time. Reward them when they can do this calmly. If your dog can tolerate this exercise, try leaving the house briefly and then come back. This will gradually condition your pet to withstand longer periods alone.
2. Provide an enriching, pet-friendly environment: Keep a special bag of dog toys that you take out only when you plan to be away. This way your dog or puppy will associate you leaving with something fun and positive. By leaving a radio or television on a low volume, pet owners can also mask any outdoor noises that may startle their pets during their absence.
3. Alternate attention times: Alternate times where you pay your pet attention and times when you don’t. If you have children, explain to them that a dog or puppy needs alone time too. This will condition them to see your absence as a normal experience.
4. Do some physical activity: Where possible, try to walk or play with your dog or puppy before you leave so they’ll be more inclined to relax and possibly sleep whilst you’re away.
5. Know your pets breed: Each dog is different and will experience being alone differently depending on their individual personality and breed. Your dog or puppy may be quite independent and not mind being alone for a few hours, while other may struggle more to adapt to the social change.

“The return to school can be a busy, exciting, and sometimes stressful time for families, and pets are very sensitive to this. Preparing them for the change is vital”. Maeve adds.

“Luckily, while dogs are social animals that love company, they can also learn to like time by themselves. The good news is with the right training and preparation. Your dog will learn to handle, and maybe even enjoy, their time alone.”

On 22nd August the Government announced that it will ban the sale of puppies by pet shops, online dealers and third party sellers. Michael Gove declared, at a speech at Number 10 Downing Street that “we will eliminate puppy farming”.

Nutriment has been strong supporters of Lucy’s Law campaign to end the horrors of puppy farming, since it’s inception. Peter and Ryan represented the company by supporting the campaign on the Prime Minister’s doorstep.

Peter Nicholas, Director of Nutriment said: “This is a transformational and historic day for the UK and for animal welfare. Our values as a business extend far beyond keeping our dogs as healthy as possible through scientifically researched nutrition. What utterly drives us is our fundamental love of dogs. We have given our full support from the start to vet Marc Abraham who founded Lucy’s Law and saw a way to prevent this abhorrent practice.”

Ryan Winwright, Trade Manager at Nutriment said: “To be here today is fantastic and to know that along with our customers, we’ve played a part in getting this campaign turned into an actual result, makes everything worthwhile”.

As Nutriment continues to invest in further innovation and grow, it is also making sure that the company’s ethics hold steadfast.

Managing Director Suzanne Brock wants Nutriment to be known as one of the UK’s most trusted brands. “The company has been the main sponsor of PupAid (also started by Marc Abraham) for the past 2 years and we’ve been raising awareness of the effects of puppy farming on pups and their mums. Helping affect change in an area we are so passionate about is vital to us, not just as an organisation, but as importantly, as individuals.”

Over the next three years, two thirds of the UK Petcare category growth will be driven by natural products like new clean-eating petfood brand NUTRO.

Containing the finest natural ingredients, the NUTRO range provides owners with clean and wholesome meal choices for their pets.

NUTRO Wild Frontier is grain-free and made from an impressive 70% of animal ingredients (90% in wet food), meaning it is over 40% total protein and packed with rich sources of venison, beef, turkey, chicken and fish, for a taste that dogs and cats love and full of the ingredients they need.

NUTRO is being showcased at PATS Telford later this month.

DogBuddy.com launched its third annual Dog-friendly Pub Awards with the first ever Doggy ‘Think Tank’ to find out what dogs really want from a dog-friendly pub – is it tasty treats, pawsome playthings or just a good ol’ bowl of doggy beer?

The event, held at the famously dog-friendly pub, The Woolpack on Bermondsey Street, London, welcomed all kinds of pups to test some of the fun and essential components of a truly dog-friendly pub. DogBuddy created five different testing stations for the dogs to decide which aspects they each enjoyed the most.

• Treat testing
• Dog bed testing
• Doggy Beer testing
• Dog bowl testing
• Toy testing

Lisa Hens, Senior Scientific Officer at the RSPCA, who is one of the judges of the Dog-friendly Pub Awards  said: “It’s great to see establishments considering the needs of the dogs that might visit them and the Dog-friendly Pub Awards is a brilliant way to recognise this.

"Whilst letting dogs decide what they want from a pub in the ‘Think Tank’ is all just a bit of fun, it is important to consider the well-being of dogs in a busy, sometimes crowded, environment such as a pub, and to ensure that all their needs are catered for whilst there.”

Richard Setterwall, CEO and founder of DogBuddy adds: “With the launch of the 2018 Dog-friendly Pub Awards, DogBuddy is encouraging pubs across the country to embrace ‘paw power’ and welcome not just two, but four-legged customers as well.

"Not only will the awards show some well-deserved appreciation of existing dog-friendly establishments, but they also aim to promote dog-friendly values across all pubs nationwide, inspiring dog owners in the UK to discover and visit their local pubs.”

Voting is open from Sunday 26^th August 2018 - National Dog Day. Voting closes on Sunday 28^th October 2018 and winners will be announced Friday 9^th November 2018.  Anyone can vote for their favourite dog-friendly pub by visiting dogbuddypubs.com.

For every vote received in the Dog-friendly Pub Awards, DogBuddy will also donate 50p** to the RSPCA who rescue, rehabilitate and rehome thousands of dogs every year.

Electric shock collars for pets are to be banned in England.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove said the "punitive" collars "cause harm and suffering to our pets".

They are already banned in Wales and Scotland is also moving towards outlawing them.

The collars can be used to modify certain behaviours in animals, such as excessive barking, or straying beyond the boundaries of a property.

The pet's owner can administer a small electric shock via the collar when unwanted behaviour occurs.

Mr Gove said: "We are a nation of animal lovers and the use of punitive shock collars cause harm and suffering to our pets.

"This ban will improve the welfare of animals and I urge pet owners to instead use positive reward training methods."

Burns Pet Nutrition will be donating a quarter of its annual profits to a number of charitable organisations of part of its continued efforts to support community projects and animal charities, according a report on Wales Online.

The company’s record charity donation will help a number of charitable animal welfare organisations including its charity partners Dogs for the Disabled and Forever Hounds Trust.

A significant portion of the donation (£800,000) will be invested into the Burns Pet Nutrition Foundation, a charity established in 2007 by John Burns to improve the lives of people and pets across the UK with an emphasis on tackling the effects of social isolation in rural west Wales.

John said: "As the sole shareholder of Burns Pet Nutrition I am not beholden to investors seeking returns on their investments. I have decided that the company should be a force for good channelled through the work of our community team and The Burns Pet Nutrition Foundation.”

A full report can be found on the Wales Online website – click here

As leading exponents of well-rounded, nutritionally-primed pet food, there was never any question of a rural orientated operation like Cotswold RAW seeing tripe in anything but a positive light.

The vibrant Badsey operation has seen a significant interest over the last 4 months in its 2 tripe-themed offers: a much loved Beef & Tripe complete meal and an especially popular lamb’s Tripe Chunks offer that provides the perfect complimentary meal for your pet. 

There’s no escaping the undeniable truth that tripe (from a human perspective) doesn’t win any beguiling scent awards, and yet, for senior dogs with a declining sense of smell or frustratingly finicky hounds it’s the human equivalent of fresh coffee meets bacon baps.

Tripe is an all too natural element of both dogs’ and cats’ ancestral diets, because as self-sufficient hunters, they'd consume their prey’s entire stomach and associated entrails, which provided abundant access to essential vitamins and nutrients.

Green tripe is the easily digestible, untreated  contents of a grazing animal’s stomach or intestines; a fermented food which contains high quotas of the all-important healthy probiotic, lactobacillus acidophilus, that tackles harmful gut bacteria: e-coli, listeria and salmonella head on to keep your pet’s digestive system in fine fettle.

Better than that, Green Tripe is brimming with heart-healthy unsaturated fats, (nearly 50%) that in addition to providing top drawer, long-term energy, makes your four-legged friend feel nice and full, which is particularly helpful if your hound is following a carefully controlled, weight-loss diet.

According to Cotswold RAW spokesperson, Chris Brierley, "in addition to supporting our region’s rural economy, an integral part of what we do is help historically unfashionable cuts of meat find their feet!"