A successful tea shop owner is bidding to save a well-established pet shop which has deteriorated in recent times because of the previous owner’s poor health.

Ila Gamble, the owner of Ila's Little Tea Shoppe on Trinity Walk, Nottingham, hopes to restoreneighbouring business Kaye's Pet Centre back to its former glory. The pet shop has been running since 1946.

Ila told her local newspaper, the Nottingham Post: "The previous owner put a sign in the window saying he wanted someone to take over the business. We had no money whatsoever because all our money went into the tea shop but they just wanted to someone to take over.

"I believe that it was brought to me for a reason. The owner said that he would be happy for us to have and keep it in the walk.

"We wanted to bring it back as a pet shop because so many people have a lot of memories here."

Ila and her husband Darren have plans to renovate the space to improve the welfare of the animals on sale as well as the services they offer.

The couple will be doing a number of renovations, including better cages for the rabbits, an aviary for the birds and improved tanks for the fish.

Ila is also planning to rename the shop Ila's Little Pet Shoppe in line with her tea shop.

Read the full Nottingham Post story by clicking here

PATS Telford will be presenting state-of-the art grooming demonstrations and talks on both days of the show at The Telford International Centre on Sunday and Monday, September 23-24.

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.

With an increasing number of pet retailers introducing grooming salons into their stores, the PATS programme of talks and demos will provide invaluable insights into this side of the business.

“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.”

Mathew, who is organising the grooming programme at PATS Telford, is a competitive groomer both in the UK and internationally, and also owns Barkingham Park Pet Spa and The Welsh Grooming Academy.

PATS organiser Gordon Thomas said: “We’re really excited to be running such a full programme of grooming talks and demonstrations in association with British Dog Groomers' Association and The Welsh Grooming Academy.

“The grooming features were a highlight of last year’s PATS Telford and it’s great to be staging such an exciting programme again. We’ve made the Grooming Workshop area even bigger this year as a result of its popularity. If you’re thinking of adding grooming to your pet business, make sure you visit PATS Telford.”

The exhibition hall at The Telford International Centre will be packed with stands showcasing new products. To register for free entry to the show and to view the full list of exhibitors visit www.patshow.co.uk

PATS TELFORD GROOMING PROGRAMME

Here are some of the highlights over the two days. More details and timings to be confirmed.

• Kelly Davis & Mathew Spry - Higher Diploma Grooming Demonstrations and Higher Diploma Questions and Answers
• Mel Overand - Handstripping Border Terrier 
• Francisco De Assis - Everyday Salon Creative and Ideas
• Georgia Fuller - Bichon Frise Pet Perfect 
• Beccie Woods - Handstripping Schnauzer 
• Fee Brook - Clipping Spaniels well
• Francisco De Assis Ferreira De Vasconcellos From Germany - Poodle T Trim
• Kelly Davis - Pet Westie traditional style made easy (Level 3 Dipoma) 
• Kelly Davis - C&G New Level 3 fast track discussion, questions and answers 
• Beccie Woods - Clipped Schnauzer breed standard styling

There will also be demonstrations on the Karhia Hand Stripping machine; information on tools and products for the everyday groomer; plus tips and tricks to increase salon revenue.

For those interested in taking the PIF Higher Diploma, five people can take along their dogs for the Kelly Davis Higher diploma examiner to talk to you about your dog, what you need to do to achieve this higher level qualification, is your dog a good choice for the exam and where you could improve for higher marks? Special passes will be given to the five selected people. If you are interested contact Mathew Spry by email matt@barkinghampark.co.uk

A new kitchen, ensuite bathroom, large garden and a. pet…new research by IAMS unveils exactly what makes a house become a forever home...

• The ideal home costs Britons an average of £250,621
• 58% of Brits reveal having a pet is the number one factor in making their house a home
• Other must-haves include a garden, ensuite and dream kitchen
• Over a quarter of Brits admit that being unable to keep a pet is the worst thing about renting

Getting a foot on the property ladder is a significant milestone but when it comes to purchasing a property, the number of bedrooms (60%), location (53%) and garden (52%) are the three must-haves for Brits. However, according to new research from IAMS, making that house a home involves getting a pet (58%), enjoying a large garden (49%), fitting a brand-new kitchen (34%) and installing an ensuite (31%), putting the estimated cost of creating a forever home at an average of £250,621!

With over 8.5 million dogs and 8 million cats kept as pets in the UK1, it’s no surprise that the research indicates that we’re a nation of animal lovers. Almost six in ten adults reveal their furry family member is the number one factor in making their house a home, while a quarter (26%) complain that being unable to keep a pet is the biggest bug bear about renting.

When it comes to the UK’s preferred pets, it seems that dogs come in first place, with almost one in three of us (30%) admitting that a dog is key, while 22% confess a cat is the essential factor to making their house a fur-ever home!

Further illustrating the fundamental role our four-legged friends play in our lives, over half (56%) of us claim the lounge is the heart of the home, which is perhaps no coincidence given it’s also the room in which our pets are said to spend the most time. In fact, half of us (50%) admit our dogs influence what we watch on the telly by barking in reaction to certain programmes, and while cats aren’t as vocal, they tend to hog the sofa with 60% refusing to move whenever their owner attempts to sit down2!

However, despite the fact we put our pets at the centre of our households, there are thousands of dogs3 and countless cats without homes in the UK4. With the arrival of National Pet Month, IAMS has set out to shed some light on this issue. Working with several animal charities across the country, IAMS has introduced I AM HOME, a charitable initiative which aims to raise awareness of the benefits of pet adoption and connect the thousands of rescue cats and dogs across the country with a loving family and a forever home.
 

IAMS Veterinary Training Manager, Kellie Ceccarelli, comments, “As a nation of animal lovers, we enjoy a close bond with our pets. We treat them as members of the family and as such they occupy a truly special role at the heart of our home. However, sadly not all cats and dogs are given this opportunity.

 At I AM HOME we try to remind people to consider pet adoption by working with more than 25 rescue centres across the UK as well as providing IAMS premium nutrition to animals in need, ensuring they benefit from a 100% complete and balanced diet and enjoy a healthy, active life while they wait to be united with a caring family. In fact, we’ve donated over 60 tonnes of pet nutrition to rescue and rehoming centres across the country. That’s the same weight as 16 elephants!”
 
Case Study:

Adopting a pet is often the beginning of a beautiful relationship and can be an incredibly fulfilling experience. For instance, Miracle the dog was rescued by his pet parents, Amanda and Tobias. Since arriving at the family home in 2014, he has become the soulmate of their son Kyle, who has cerebral palsy and autism. Miracle has developed a special bond with the little boy. He instantly calms Kyle, unlocking his world and bringing joy to the family. In saving Miracle, Amanda admits that she was also saving herself and her family.

For more information on I AM HOME, or to find out how you can get involved and help your local pet shelter or charity, visit IAMS UK on Facebook or go to www.iams.co.uk

Bone china will certainly be clinking in eager anticipation whilst kettles will be whistling with joy at the thought of National Tea Day (April 21-22) which is almost upon us.  And yet, whilst we sit down and sip our favourite Rooibos, Builder’s, Green, Oolong  or Darjeeling, spare a thought for our four legged friends who will once again have to settle for a bland bowl of lukewarm water...or will they?

Doggy’s Cuppa is a daily tonic packed with beneficial herbs assembled by Kent-based canine specialist vet Veneta Kozhuhrova who has a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeon’s approved Master’s Degree.

According to Veneta, "I constantly found myself diagnosing and resolving a series of frequently recurring yet debilitating minor doggy ailments from digestive and urinary health to dehydration immune support and even flatulence!  There are massive disparities between the best and worst dog foods in the marketplace which means many dogs are consuming kibbles or wet food devoid of taste, best in class ingredients or nutritional worth."

Doggy’s Cuppa is a range of eight herbal brews made with human-grade ingredients (De-tox urinary, Soothing for digestion, Slimming for obesity, Rejuvenation for old dogs, Evening & Morning Brews, Fitness working dogs & Calming angsty dogs) at affordable everyday price points that can be consumed either as a drink, (not hot!) as a herbal gravy poured on top of their food or even a dry topping.’   

Doggy Cuppa’s ambitions go far beyond the Independent Pet Food sector and online to include dog friendly establishments (boutique hotels, cafes and pubs).

www.doggyscuppa.com

Bern Pet Foods has launched ORIJEN’s brand-new product, ORIJEN Tundra for cats. ORIJEN Tundra follows the Biologically AppropriateTM concept that award-winning ORIJEN formulations are renowned for.

Made with authentically fresh regional ingredients inspired by the Tundra region. Mirroring Mother Nature, ORIJEN Tundra features unmatched inclusions of nourishing WholePreyTM ratios that reduce the need for synthetic additives in ORIJEN pet foods. ORIJEN Tundra is bursting with 85% meat, game and fish ingredients, the remaining contains 15% fruit, vegetables & botanicals.

ORIJEN Tundra is brimming with fresh Boer Goat, Wild Boar, Venison, Arctic Char, free-run Duck & Mutton. ORIJEN provides a natural source of virtually every nutrient a cat needs to thrive. Featuring 40% richly nourishing protein, and a limited 18% low-glycaemic carbohydrates, ORIJEN nourishes all cats and kittens according to their evolutionary and biological needs.

Produced by Champion Pet Foods and distributed by Bern Pet Foods in the UK and Ireland, ORIJEN pet foods are prepared to Biologically AppropriateTM and fresh regional ingredients standards.

ORIJEN Tundra for cats is available in 340g and 1.8kg bags with an SRP £6.45 & £36.49 respectively.

For more information contact Bern Pet Foods on 01737 767679 or email sales@BernPetFoods.co.uk.

The humble dog is no longer just man’s best friend – it has now overtaken close family members in our affections, according to a new survey by consumer brands specialist investor Piper, in association with pet lifestyle website PetsPyjamas. Piper currently has two leading natural pet food brands in its portfolio, Barking Heads and Forthglade.

More than half (55%) the UK’s dog owners say they ‘prefer’ their pet to the rest of their family, a figure rising to 69% among under 44-year-olds. 97% declare their dog is their ‘greatest pleasure in life,’ while more than half (54%) allow their pet to sleep in the family bed. Two thirds (66%) of under 44-year-olds say they have chosen a dog ‘over parenthood for now’.

Humans also fare less well than other species when it comes to charitable giving. 77% of those surveyed say they donate to animal charities, compared with 51% who back those supporting humans.

The results, taken from a nationwide survey of 865 dog owners, reflect the ever-increasing humanization of the pet industry in which UK consumers spend more than £11.6 billion each year.

In other findings:

• Three quarters (77%) of respondents buy shampoo/conditioner for their dogs and half (51%) purchase clothing.
• An overwhelming 98% give their dogs treats, 84% at least once daily. When asked why they gave their dogs treats, more than a third say they do so ‘to make them happy’ (37%) and ‘to show them I love them’ (35%).
• 13% of owners have pet food/services subscriptions in which food is tailor-made for their dogs.
• Nearly four out of five owners (78%) take their dog with them when going on holiday in the UK.

Natalie Thwaites, associate partner at Piper, said: "The UK’s love affair with dogs is clearly stronger than ever. These results are very interesting and support the trend in humanisation as consumers increasingly seek the same level of quality in pet food and products as they would for themselves. A dog’s life is very much a charmed one in UK households."

Karen Hanton, co-founder at PetsPyjamas, said: "Our mission at PetsPyjamas is to help dog lovers (and their dogs!) feel comfortable and welcomed when travelling both in the UK and overseas. The survey results are totally consistent with our experience that trips are chosen with Fido’s happiness and enjoyment right at the top of the list!"

As part of the continued support for the preservation of hedgehogs, Spike’s Hedgehog food has partnered with registered UK charity, the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, to offer a 10p donation to the charity with every purchase of their special stickered packs of Crunchy Dry and Semi-Moist food.

From the 1st April, all packaging will display the donation message to help encourage consumers to feed their garden visitors and in turn help our spiky friends thrive in their natural environment.

Camille Ashforth, product manager for the Spike’s World brands, said: “The health and abundance of wild hedgehogs is of utmost importance to us at Spike’s World and our focus is to educate the general public on the need to care for these creatures whose numbers are declining rapidly.”

“Alongside educating consumers, we are passionate about providing continued support to wildlife rescues and charities wherever possible, often donating food for hedgehogs when intakes are at high levels or supplies are low.”

As part of ongoing plans, Spike’s will continue to undertake crucial research with wildlife hospitals to further improve their recipes, along with continued new product development.

Fay Vass, Chief Executive, said: “We are very grateful to Spike’s World for their support, we hope lots of people will assist their hedgehog visitors by purchasing a quality food for them which will also result in a donation to our Charity to help us continue with our work. As well as food, we would ask people to offer shallow bowls of water for hedgehogs in their garden, especially during dry hot weather.”

Spike’s Crunchy Dry food is available in 650g and 2.5kg, RRP starts at £3.99 and Spike’s Semi-Moist food is available in 550g and 1.3kg, RRP starts at £4.79. 

Hedgehog hospital approved, Spike’s foods are a complementary feed to supplement a hedgehog’s natural diet full of all the vitamins needed to keep hedgehogs healthy.http://www.spikesworld.co.uk

For more information on stocking the Spike’s range, please contact your Pets Choice representative on 01254 54545 or email sales@petschoice.co.uk

Pet food brand, Vet’s Kitchen, has announced the winners of its latest weight loss initiative, after launching an appeal to find dogs and cats from across the nation to take part in its Biggest Loser challenge earlier this year.

As part of the challenge, Vet’s Kitchen generously supported pets and their owners by providing three weeks of free calculated portions of Vet’s Kitchen’s Light Food for dogs or Ultra Fresh Salmon and Chicken varieties for cats, specifically calculated for a steady and controlled weight loss.

Following a very tough judging process, Teddy, a three-year-old Collie Labrador cross Poodle and six year old tabby, Tiggy have been announced as the Biggest Loser’s in the dog and cat categories and have won a year’s supply of Vet’s Kitchen food!

Before embarking on their new diet, owner’s submitted measurements of their pet’s weight, waist and chest alongside photographs, before doing the same following completion of the three week challenge. The results at the end of the three weeks revealed that all the pets who took part in the challenge successfully lost weight and inches.

Jenny Philp, managing director and practicing vet at Vet’s Kitchen said: “We were delighted with the outcome of the campaign with all of the pets losing a total of 41.6 inches from around their waist and chest and had a combined weight loss of 18.4kg, which is fantastic!

“We are passionate about educating the nation about the importance of feeding the right food to our pets, to ensure we keep them healthier for longer. Both Teddy and Tiggy are a great example of how feeding your pet the right food can have a huge impact on their health and wellbeing and we hope that the results inspire other pet owners to do the same.”

The only pet food brand with an in-house vets practice, Vet’s Kitchen is passionate about improving the health and wellbeing of the UK pet population through innovative products and services, developed with expert knowledge and insight.

Offering a range of high nutrition pet food, all of Vet’s Kitchen’s products are hypoallergenic and free from wheat, beef, dairy and soya, containing no artificial colours or flavours. Wherever possible, Vet’s Kitchen combines locally-sourced, natural ingredients with the team’s expertise and latest technological advances to create food designed to give our pets long and healthy lives.

To find out more about Vet’s Kitchen, visit www.vetskitchen.co.uk

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Police have made an arrest following a theft of £50 from a till at a pet shop in Evesham.

The Ludlow Advertiser reported that burglars smashed their way into The Pet Food Shop overnight on Monday April 9 and into the early hours of the following day.

Sgt Alex Denney told the newspaper: "The suspect was arrested by my team the following day for other matters and is now in prison for a period. We will be visiting this offender prior to release and he will be interviewed for the Pet Food Store offence and some other matters.

"I would point out that there have been no similar offences in the locality since the arrest.”

If any person has any information that they feel would assist they can do this anonymously via www.Crimestoppers-uk.org or via telephone on 0800 555 111.

The full story can be read by clicking here

Dogs Trust closed its Evesham Rehoming Centre to the public after a dog showed signs of a viral infection, believed to be distemper.

According to reports in the Ludlow Advertiser, all other dogs at the centre are currently well.

A spokesman for the Dogs Trust told the newspaper: "One of the dogs at our Evesham Rehoming centre has started to show potential signs of distemper – a viral infection affecting dogs which is occasionally serious.

"As a precaution, we have closed the rehoming centre to ensure the health of other dogs on site.

"The dog recently came to us from another organisation, and has been in a confined area of the centre since arrival.

"We’d like to stress that all other dogs on site are currently well, and we are keeping a very close eye on them. We apologise to those planning on visiting our centre. Anyone with questions please call 0303 003 0000.”

The centre was due to partially re-open today (Thursday).

The full story can be read by clicking here

Tetra has launched a competition, open to all retailers, that rewards consumers who purchase any product from the Tetra pond range between now and 24^th August 2018 by giving them the chance to win one of two summer garden bundles, including a relaxing furniture set and BBQ.

All they have to do is head to www.TetraWin.co.uk and fill in the online entry form including the last four digits from the barcode on their product to qualify.

The competition aims to raise awareness of Tetra’s expansive pond range and its new product packaging, which offers clear and modern labelling to help communicate uses and benefits more easily for fishkeepers.

To support the activity Tetra has also developed a range of POS which is available to all retailers wanting to further communicate the competition to consumers.

For more information about Tetra visit www.tetra-fish.co.uk or join the conversation with Tetra UK on Facebook.

As well as being functional, embroidered dog collars and leads from Easy2Name will ensure the prompt return of your best friend if he or she decides to go walkies without you.

Having your dog's name and a contact phone number and additional information, if needed, on the collar offers peace of mind for you and safety for your dog.

A personalised collar is also great if you use kennels, and by adding a personalised matching lead there will be no mistaking who it belongs too.

Easy2Name collars and leads come in a range of sizes and colours and cost: dog collars (from £11.95), leads (from £12.95).

www.easy2name.com

10 facts about chameleons by James Alston writing for ExoticDirect pet insurance...

1. The biggest mistake people make about chameleons

A lot of people think chameleons change their colour based on their surroundings - sort of like camouflage. However, this isn't true. Chameleons actually change their colour due to a number of different factors, including their mood, changes in light or temperature, or the humidity of their environment.

Different chameleons will also have different colours. For instance, more dominant, attractive males will have brighter colours, and submissive males may be darker browns and greys. Women will change their colours based on whether they want to accept or reject a suitor.

So if you can't find a chameleon because it *is *blending into its surroundings, just turn the lights on and you'll be able to find it! (It might have been useful to have the lights on in the first place, though.)

Own a pet chameleon? You can insure him (or her) for £1,000 of vet fees with chameleon insurance from ExoticDirect.

<https://www.exoticdirect.co.uk/reptile-insurance/lizard-insurance/chameleons-insurance>

2. Chameleons have eyes in the backs of their heads

Well, not literally - but they can move their eyes separately, with each eye having a field of 180 degrees. This means they can see 360 degrees if they need to! This is useful because it means they can see predators coming from behind them, giving them a chance to scarper if they're about to get caught.

Compare this to humans: our eyes are on the front of our heads, giving us a narrower field of vision, but better perception of depth. This singles us out as more predatory than our chameleon friends - though as we'll see, they also have vision excellently adapted to being a predator.

Sometimes it might be useful to have 360-degree vision, though - nobody likes being sneaked up on!

Check out how to set up chameleon's vivarium heating, UV, humidity, dinking and vivarium size. https://www.exoticdirect.co.uk/news/chameleon-vivarium-setup-advice

3. Chameleons like it hot

59 unique species of chameleon live on the island of Madagascar and are found nowhere else. This is over a quarter of the world's 202 species. This might not come as a surprise to those who know that 90% of the wildlife found on Madagascar is found nowhere else on Earth! Aside from this, chameleons like to live in warm, tropical regions. Don't we all? You can find them predominantly on the mainland of sub-Saharan Africa.

4. Chameleons come in a lot of different shapes and sizes

The largest chameleon by length is the Malagasy giant chameleon, also known as Oustalets's chameleon. Some members of this species have been measured at almost 70cm, and are one of the species endemic to Madagascar (meaning they don't naturally live anywhere else).

At the other end of the scale, you have the *Brookesia micra* chameleon, also from Madagascar. These tiny little fellas grow to a maximum of just under 30 millimetres. These miniscule chameleons are one of the smallest reptiles in the world, and juvenile chameleons can fit on the head of a matchstick. Very cute - but be careful to watch where you're walking!

5. Chameleons have extremely powerful tongues

Excluding their tail, some chameleons' tongues can be twice the length of their body. Their tongues consist of both muscles and bones and can bend round to grab their pray. Chameleons' tongues are extremely quick and powerful, sometimes exceeding accelerations of 41g. This means they can grab their prey within fractions of a second, making it impossible to get away. If humans could do this, it would make grabbing that last biscuit from the tin much easier! Unfortunately.

6. Most chameleons eat on things you wouldn't want to find on your dinner plate

The majority of chameleons survive by eating insects, and some complement this diet by feeding on foliage and fruits. Some larger species eat up to 50 large crickets every day. Others may be a little more carnivorous, and feast on small birds and even other, smaller chameleons. So while it might be useful having a tongue that can shoot out and grab cookies, you probably won't want to use it to eat a chameleon's diet.

7. Chameleons are tree-huggers

Most chameleons like to set up camp in trees, and as such are highly developed to traverse trunks and branches. They have five toes on each foot that are grouped together into bigger bunches, with the toes on the hind feet reversed. These feet allow chameleons to grip on to rough or narrow branches with ease, aided by the sharp claw on each toe.

Chameleons also have prehensile tails, which means their tails are highly adapted to gripping on to branches and allowing them arboreal locomotion, or, in layman's terms, a life living in the trees. Chameleons' tails are able to curl several times around a branch, helping them to balance and hold on.

8. We all know that guy who likes to show off

Like most animals, male and female chameleons look different. Though not particularly social animals, males usually have horns and spikes, while females don't. Not just for show, though, these bodily decorations are used when a male has to protect its territory from another chameleon, and some of the spikes can help them blend into their environment.

9. Chameleons have good eyesight for a lizard

Chameleons' eyesight has developed both to help them catch prey and, as we've seen, to help them escape predators. They can focus their eyes relatively well, meaning they can judge distances and spot prey between 5 and 10 metres. Chameleons can also see ultraviolet light, which isn't visible to humans.

Chameleons that have been placed under ultraviolet lights may be more likely to reproduce, and are more sociable. Ultraviolet light helps to keep chameleons healthy when they are in captivity.

Though they may have relatively good eyesight, chameleons have poor hearing, only able to hear noises between 200Hz and 600Hz, something you might wish you had when the person next door is keeping you up all night.

10. Chameleons take a while to hatch, and don't live very long

Most female chameleons dig a hole to lay their eggs in, and the foetuses develop in the egg. These eggs can take anywhere between 4 and 12 months to hatch, with baby chameleons looking like smaller versions of adult chameleons. Some eggs from the Parson's chameleon can take as long as 24 months to hatch. The number of eggs depends on the species and can range from just 2 or 3 to as many as 200.

Generally, chameleons don't live very long - some for up to 10 years in captivity, with some dying after as few as 2. Most will live longer in the wild, though perhaps not by very much. Poor chameleons!

ExoticDirect <https://www.exoticdirect.co.uk/> offer insurance for a wide range of exotic pets including reptiles; parrots; tortoises; small birds; small mammals, exotic mammals and birds of prey. Established since 1996 we're experienced and sympathetic, understanding the kind of problems exotic pet owners can face.

Since appearing on BBC 2’s  Dragons’ Den in January 2018, Poppy’s Picnic has continued to explode on to the UK pet food market with its range of raw food recipes for dogs.

Having turned down investment opportunities from four of the Dragons on the popular hit TV show, including a £60K investment from Dragon, Deborah Meaden, founders of Poppy’s Picnic, Dylan Watkins and Louise Mackintosh have gone on to smash their own crowdfunding target of £350,000 by raising nearly £600,000 in investment.

This will be used to develop more recipes (including a new range for cats) and will help to fund their ambitious expansion plans for the business.

Both Dylan and Louise have given up successful careers in advertising and marketing where they worked on some of the world’s leading global brands to concentrate fully on running Poppy’s Picnic.

Dylan, who is convinced that something big is about to happen in the raw pet food market, actually came across the diet by chance when he wanted to lose weight and improve his own fitness and wellbeing. This led him to think about the food that he was feeding his pet miniature schnauzers, Poppy and her two offspring, Katie and Slipper.

Horrified by some of the ingredients that he found in processed commercial dry foods, he set about making his own recipes from his kitchen using meat from his local Wilshire butcher combined with fresh vegetables. When a neighbour started to notice the improvement in the condition of Dylan’s dogs, this sparked an idea for a business and Poppy’s Picnic was born.

Dylan and Louise have been able to bring their own creative flair to the raw food market. Having spent a considerable amount of time and investment on market research they have managed to develop a brand which is both innovative and distinctive and sets it apart from the competition. With its distinctive pink packaging, quality ingredients and recipes handmade in Wiltshire by a fourth generation butcher, Poppy’s Picnic is a brand which is fun, vibrant and full of personality with a cartoon style.

Commenting on the aims of the business, Dylan said: “We have created food to cover all ages and types of dog. Our core COMPLETE range, which comes as mince and meatballs, is perfect for active dogs while our ENHANCED mince is ideal for the modern pet. We also have an EXPERT range of foods with a special purpose, like our Puppy Follow On Paste. Our BITES range includes air dried raw treats and bones.

“We want every cat and dog in the UK, and beyond, to have access to the best quality raw meals - the closest to what they would eat in the wild. It is our ultimate aim to make the raw food diet fun, easier and more convenient for pet owners to follow in order to encourage more people to start feeding their pets in this way”

Poppy’s Picnic has built an impressive team of experts around their brand including leading holistic vet Nick Thompson and nutritionist Moddie Lambert who have both been influential in promoting the raw diet in the UK. Poppy’s Picnic has also recruited the help of other leading marketers who have worked on some of the leading global pet food brands on the market.

Plans for the future include further investment in digital marketing and PR campaigns for the brand, a major retail and trade launch campaign, investment in larger premises and further expansion overseas having successfully launched Poppy’s Picnic in Hong Kong where it is already in pet shops and supermarkets.

For further information contact Poppy’s Picnic. Tel: 01380 716 599 email: woof@poppyspicnic.co.uk or visit the website: www.poppyspicnic.co.uk

The owners of a popular pet shop in Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire, are facing an uncertain future after being told they must leave their current premises by the end of the month, according to local newspaper reports.

The Kidderminster Shuffle has said on its website that Pet & Garden Supplies in Tan Lane has been given a few weeks’ notice to leave after property developer Bromford Housing purchased the land.

The developer completed work on its £10.5million School Gardens retirement village complex – situated opposite the shop - last month and said it needs the land for additional on-site parking.

But Jackie Carter, who runs Pet & Garden Supplies with husband Richard, told the Kidderminster Shuffle: “Our rolling 12 month lease ran out in February and we were told it wouldn’t be renewed as Bromford were looking to buy the land.

“We thought we would be given suitable notice but, at the end of March, we were told we had to get out in just a few weeks and it was a huge shock.

“The whole situation is emotionally draining as we have such little time to digest the news, clear this shop and find new premises suitable for us to carry on.

"As well as the animals in the shop, we also have two stray cats that have set up home here and will now have to be rehomed.

“And the response from all our customers has been incredible and overwhelming as we didn't realise how highly people thought of us. I can’t thank them enough.

“Some are angry and wanted to protest while others have been in tears. Their reaction is encouraging us to try to carry on with the business."

Pet & Garden Supplies has operated from the Tan Lane site for 12 years.

The full report can be read by clicking here

A dog owner has been reunited with her canine companion who was missing for over seven weeks following the rescue efforts of a pair of talented beagles who traced the missing pet and solved their biggest missing dog case to date. 

Two-year-old X Yorkie, Coco, escaped from her owner Zoe’s back garden whilst a dog sitter was looking after him. After five weeks of continuous searching but with no luck, Zoe was losing all hope of finding the missing pooch until she came across K9Tracker made up of Jenny Brown and her two beagles, Tiga and Yogi.

Using their exceptional noses and fantastic sense of smell, Tiga and Yogi, who are sponsored by Natures Menu, have helped to trace over 150 missing dogs and were called in to find Coco.

Zoe explains how she came across the two beagles: “Coco had been missing for over five weeks and I thought that I would never see him again. I was devastated and was telling my story to dogs in need charity, Paw, who recommended K9Tracker. I was willing to try anything so contacted Jenny straight away who was more than happy along with her talented pooches, Tiga and Yogi, to join the search.”

The rescue effort was by no means easy as every time that Zoe got close to being reunited with Coco, the dog would change path and the search would have to start all over again.

“Whenever Tiga and Yogi came close to locating Coco, he would bolt off and unfortunately, we would have to try and locate him all over again. It was really upsetting being in such close proximity to Coco and then him running off again.”

After a series of close encounters, Zoe received a call saying that Coco had been spotted in an allotment in Dover, eight miles away from home.

Jenny instructed Zoe to walk slowly towards the corner where Coco was hiding, sit down facing away from him and let her other dog Princess off her lead. Within minutes Coco was back safely in Zoe’s arms and they were reunited for good.

Zoe adds: “When I finally had Coco back in my arms, I was overwhelmed and burst into tears. I honestly didn’t think that I would see him ever again and feel so lucky to have been reunited with my beloved dog.”

Fuelled by Natures Menu, Tiga and Yogi’s amazing stamina proved to be imperative in helping to track down Coco as within the two weeks they were helping on the case, they covered over 20 miles of land across Kent. Coco’s case is just one of over 150 that Jenny and her beagle duo have helped solve, despite people previously saying it would be impossible for beagles to pick another other dog’s scent up.

Zoe concludes: “During the five weeks we were looking for him it seemed like an absolute lifetime, so I was relieved when the charity recommended K9Tracker as we desperately needed some help finding Coco. Jenny and her dogs were so helpful and professional, straight away it felt like we were making real progress with tracking down Coco. The two dog’s skills were amazing, they managed to pick up Coco's scent numerous times and could cover miles of ground every day.

“When we finally tracked him down to the allotment in Dover I was so relieved - it finally felt like the end was in sight! Coco wasn't coming out from his corner, so Jenny suggested the best way to get him to come back to you is to act like nothing’s wrong. I sat there waiting with our Chihuahua ‘Princess’, and just minutes later Coco appeared on my lap.

“I can't thank Jenny and her K9 tracking services enough, it's absolutely incredible that they could track Coco down after all that time. Being reunited with my little Coco has the best feeling ever, I won't let him out of my sight again!"