The RSPCA is stocking a select range of ‘Cruelty Free’ certified shampoos and mists from HOWND, a new dog grooming brand for happy and healthy dogs.

As the UK’s leading animal welfare charity, the RSPCA want to see an end to animal suffering in the name of science. Borehamwood-based HOWND is one of the few pet product brands globally to receive the ‘Leaping Bunny’ stamp of approval from Cruelty Free International, which can be seen on all HOWND product labels. This is the only international guarantee against animal testing.

“In order to become certified by the Cruelty Free International Leaping Bunny programme, we had to open our supply chain to monitoring and meet external audit requirements,” explains Jo Amit, co-founder of HOWND.

“Having the Leaping Bunny seal of approval is a huge milestone for us, as we know that customers care passionately about how products are manufactured and tested, along with the affect they have on their pets’ happiness and wellbeing. 

“Our mission is simple. We want to make high-quality pet care products and accessories, all in the name of our pets’ well-being and happiness. That’s why we’re proud to be certified by Cruelty Free International, and to establish this partnership with the RSPCA.”

Created by Mark Hirschel and Jo Amit, HOWND had released a total of 10 products across two distinct ranges of conditioning shampoos and body mists. Each product is beautifully scented and intended for use on either puppies, adults, or senior dogs.

The RSPCA is stocking three 250ml shampoos, and one 250ml body mist: HOWND Keep Calm Conditioning Shampoo, HOWND Yup You Stink! Conditioning Shampoo, HOWND Golden Oldies Conditioning Shampoo, and HOWND Keep Calm Body Mist.

Each of these products can be purchased via the RSPCA’s online shop. For further information about HOWND’s new range of products, visit www.dogslovehownd.com or call a member of the team on +44 (0)20 3004 5255. 

"Pet food labelling is governed by EU legislation for the labelling of animal feed.  We don’t have our own set of rules, nor do we come under the legislation for human food labelling. The legislators state what information must be on the packet and how this must be presented. As we fall under animal feed, some of the terminology used is more tailored for the farmer rather than the pet owner and we’re working hard to ensure these terms are better understood.

"Current legislation means that manufacturers can label ingredients by category e.g. ‘meat and animal derivatives’, or by providing a full list of the specific ingredients present. Both formats are widely available on the market and the consumer can make a choice.

"The term ‘meat and animal derivatives’ is set by the legislation and it refers to the animal based ingredients in the product. The EU considers this the most appropriate term which can be easily translated by the different member states."  

Why do we use category descriptions?

PFMA said: "Industry uses by-products from the human food chain and because of this, raw material supplies can vary during the year.  Manufacturers may therefore use ingredients from different animal species based on supply levels. All the materials selected are of equal quality and provide the same nutritional benefits to the animal.  Listing ingredients by category means some producers can select ingredients based on supply without having the high cost of changing labels constantly, helping reduce costs to the consumer.

"For consumers who prefer to buy a pet food with a full ingredients listing, there are many products available on the market."  

PFMA went on to claim that safety and optimum nutrition was of paramount importance. "The quality and safety of our pet foods is of paramount importance to us.  Beyond the legislation, industry has adopted a number of Codes of Practice which members of the PFMA follow. Our members manufacture their diets in line with the FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines which detail the nutritional needs of cats and dogs at the varying life-stages. These guidelines are peer reviewed by independent veterinary nutritionists throughout Europe and are regularly updated. Prepared pet food is grounded in science and owners can have absolute confidence in the food they buy."

Where can a consumer find out more?

"To support consumers, pet food manufacturers often provide full product information on company websites and all companies have care lines for consumers to get more information.  

"PFMA is also proactive in this area as we recently produced a Fact Sheet on ‘Understanding Pet Food Labels’, along with a short 2 minute film on how pet foods are made including what ingredients are used, the nutritional expertise within the industry and the legislation by which industry is governed."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b05sd7d2/rip-off-britain-food-series-2-episode-8

PFMA has produced a two-minute animated film on how pet food is made for cats and dogs.

You can watch it by visiting http://www.pfma.org.uk/pet-food-film/

Total sales for Pets at Home, which floated on the stock market last year, have risen to almost £730 million, the company announced this week.

The pet store chain said underlying profits are set to come in at £120 million.

Speaking after the release of the results, Pets at Home chief executive Nick Wood said he was delighted with the group's performance in the 12 months to March 26.

He commented: “We are delighted to be delivering on expectations in our first year as a publicly listed company.

"We have seen strength across both merchandise and services, demonstrating the broad range of levers through which we will successfully deliver further profitable business growth.”

The group now has 400 stores nationwide and last week became a joint venture partner in a national veterinary business too.

Pets at Home opened 25 new stores in the current financial year, 61 vet practices and 50 in-store Groom Rooms.

The company attributed the strong performance to sales of advanced nutrition, health and hygiene and its VIP Club loyalty scheme.

The VIP scheme added 270,000 members in the fourth quarter, taking the total to 3.2million.

The Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association (OATA) is asking local authorities to support its position that fish such as goldfish should not be given away as prizes at places like fairgrounds.

As the fair season approaches, the UK trade body is asking local environmental health departments to check the terms of any licences issued to these businesses to make sure they comply with animal welfare standards.

OATA does not condone the use of fish such as goldfish as prizes at places like fairs, says its Chief Executive Keith Davenport.

“Fish are living creatures so anyone who wants to take on the responsibility of a pet should do so after careful consideration and research before the animal comes home. They should not be an ‘impulse’ acquisition, such as winning it at a fairground stall. 

“In the past we’ve received complaints from retailers following fairs and other shows offering live fish. Local retailers have, in some cases, been inundated by members of the public wishing to know what should be done with the fish they’ve ended up taking home with no tank set up and properly matured to welcome it. 

“We feel strongly that any business offering fish to the public by way of trade, whether that’s in a pet shop, garden centre or fairground, should at least meet the conditions applied by the local council to pet shops in that area, such as stocking, holding and water quality criteria. But we can’t see how these conditions can be achieved in a fairground situation. 

“Fish are vertebrate animals which mean they have the same protection for cruelty as other animals like dogs and cats. As the season for these forms of travelling entertainment starts to gear up we would ask local authorities to use their powers to prevent fish from being given away in prizes to an unprepared public.”

The full position statement from OATA can be found on its website at http://www.ornamentalfish.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Fish-as-prizes-apr-2015.pdf 

The Pet Charity has joined forces with Pedigree Wholesale to make it easier for pet businesses to offer customers quality pet care advice.

Thanks to a hugely successful launch of the Charity’s leaflets in December 2014, The Pet Charity has decided to expand their availability. Leading distributor, Pedigree Wholesale, will now be distributing The Pet Charity’s care leaflets, allowing pet services to order care information alongside product orders.

Sara Bazeley, Media & Campaigns Officer for The Pet Charity, says: “Making our care leaflets available through Pedigree Wholesale provides pet businesses with a stress-free solution to meeting 2013 Model Licence Conditions for Pet Vending. Easy access to industry-approved care information also encourages businesses to help raise pet welfare in the UK – by being sure that customers are clear on exactly what their pet needs to be healthy and happy.”

The leaflets are unique in the market-place, as they’ve been created in collaboration with vets and relevant welfare societies in order to provide standardised content the industry can agree on. The Pet Charity has collaborated with organisations such as the Kennel Club, International Cat Care, Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association, the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund and Reptile & Exotic Pet Trade Association.

The Pet Charity is keen to reduce the conflicting and confusing information available to pet owners, especially as the popularity of exotic pets is on the increase. By providing clear content, which is easily accessible to the public, will help to raise pet welfare in the UK by ensuring owners are more knowledgeable on their pet’s needs. The Charity encourages the public to talk to experts and seeing these leaflets in multiple outlets will reassure owners they are getting consistent advice to provide the best care for their pet.

The colour-coded and eye-catching leaflets cover small furries, reptiles, fish, birds and poultry.

For more information about The Pet Charity’s pet care advice leaflets, contact your local Pedigree sales manager or contact The Pet Charity directly on 01234 224506, email info@thepetcharity.org.uk or visit http://red2gouk.netprintmanager.com/TPC

Tetra has launched the Cascade Globe in direct response to consumer demand, making fishkeeping more accessible and aiming to attract more consumers into the hobby.

This high-quality, glass aquarium is able to fit in with the modern day lifestyle of many consumers, where space and time are at a premium.

The aquarium can conveniently sit on kitchen surfaces or office desktops, within living rooms or bedrooms, making it the most flexible of aquariums.

It is a glass aquarium with filtration system to ensure clean water and fish wellbeing at all times. The design-led globe aims to make the fishkeeping hobby trendy again, driving further footfall into stores as well as generating additional and regular sales through cartridges, food and care products.

The aquarium comes complete with the highly effective EasyCrystal 100 Filter, which efficiently removes waste and ensures optimal water quality. The replaceable cartridges combine the benefits of high performance and convenience, ensuring fast and clean filter replacement and ultimate ease of use for the consumer.

The Cascade Globe is integrated with an impressive lighting unit. Eight LEDs are positioned directly above the tank for optimal distribution of light. A single low voltage power cord supplies both light and filter.

 “At Tetra, quality is at the centre of everything we do, and the wellbeing of fish is always at the forefront of any innovation," says Céline Rignault, Trade Marketing Manager at Tetra.

“We know fish, it’s our passion and we want more consumers to feel the same. With Cascade Globe, we hope to introduce more consumers into the fishkeeping hobby and provide the best-quality solutions to help them do this, while generating additional sales and repeat visits for retailers."

The Cascade Globe can be set up for specific species of subtropical fish, freshwater shrimps or plants: crucially those that can live at room temperature water. To assist with the set-up of the aquarium, detailed instructions accompany the product. These also advise consumers to speak with their local aquatic retailers for advice on the specific species that can live in the aquarium (Goldfish and Betta for example are not suitable inhabitants).

The Cascade Globe has an RRP of £49.90. For more information about Tetra, visit http://www.tetra.net/en

International pet product company PetSafe has just kick-started a nationwide campaign – PetSafe Pet Hero - to search for the UK’s most heroic hounds or courageous cats.

PetSafe Pet Hero is being rolled out regionally, launching initially in the North West, and will run until September this year.

The national winner will receive a year’s worth of PetSafe toys, as well as a pet friendly holiday worth £500, courtesy of Sykes Cottages. There will also be a £250 goody bag of PetSafe toys up for grabs for four regional winners along the way.

Celebrating pet heroes from all walks of life - from animals in the services, therapy and assistance pets, or simply a much loved pet who has brought joy to a pet owner’s life – there’s no hero deed too big or small to qualify for the PetSafe Pet Hero title.

To start the search, PetSafe has found inspirational dog Lucie, from Chorley, Lancashire, who was trained by Support Dogs - a national charity dedicated to increasing independence and quality of life for people with various medical conditions.

Her owner, Alice Boardman, whose son Alex was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, explains why Lucie is their family’s pet hero.

“Alex and Lucie’s first hour together was simply magical. Lucie, or as they call her at Alex’s school ‘The Wonder Dog’, has made previously stressful activities such as going to the supermarket a pleasure. She is more than a dog to us; she is the key to a better life.”

Angela Critchley, PetSafe International Marketing Director, says: “We have been overwhelmed by some of the amazing pet hero examples we’ve heard about to launch the campaign – there are some truly inspirational stories out there.

"It’s great to hear about the love and affection pet owners have for their special dogs and cats and we’re looking forward to sharing the hero stories over the coming months.”

Retailers can direct pet owners to the PetSafe microsite for further details bit.ly/PetSafePetHero. Entrants should forward their pet’s name, a photo and brief information to: PetSafe Pet Hero, Hattrick PR 6a Framingham Road, Sale, Cheshire, M33 3SH, Tel:0161 660 0993.

The deadline for entries is 15th September 2015 and the national final is being held on 3rd December 2015. 

Pictured above: Lucie and the Boardman family.

AQUA 2015, the UK’s premier water gardening and aquatics trade event, will stage its biggest ever show in October with a record number of 82 companies showcasing their products and services.

Visitors to the exhibition at Telford International Centre on October 14-15 can expect a busy and exciting show as all the exhibitor stands have now been sold.

The exhibition halls will be packed with companies from both the UK and overseas, and as well as meeting up with a long list of AQUA regulars, visitors will be greeted by a host of new faces.

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

All Pond Solutions Ltd supply aquatic products to hundreds of stores across the UK and Ireland and they’re looking forward to their first AQUA show.

“It promises to be a great event,” said All Pond Solutions general manager Charlie Kenton-O’Neill. “It’s the ideal stage to launch our new product ranges.

And as well as our own high-quality range of specialist aquarium and pond products, we also offer brands such as Aquatlantis, BOYU, Jebao, Marine Sources, Natural Color, and Twinstar.”

Aidan Wallace, of Nauticalia, said: “We’re new to the show and we’re really looking forward to it. We’ll be promoting a couple of our products – Netfloat and V-pump. Netfloat is a system of easy-to-install plastic nets which protect fish from attack by herons, cats, and seagulls. And V-pump will empty a pond, fish tank, or hot tub using only mains water as its power source.”

Norwood Aquarium Ltd is another newcomer to AQUA, and general manager Rob Street said: “We have been supporting the bricks-and-mortar aquatic trade for 50 years, and we have recently made significant investments in our infrastructure. We believe AQUA 2015 is an ideal opportunity to demonstrate these changes and show retailers why we believe we can offer them the best service in the trade.” 

Philip Nicholl, sales director of Hamac Trading Company, commented: “Several of our customers have recommended the AQUA show and we are excited about exhibiting this year, especially our new brand of water feature accessories called ‘Aqua Flo’.”

One of the most popular features at AQUA is the New Product Showcase, and this year it has been given greater prominence with a new and bigger home. 

Nearly 100 new products were showcased in 2013 when AQUA was last staged, and a higher number is expected this year. All the items will be entered into the New Product Awards, which will be judged by team of independent retailers on the opening morning of the show. 

In recognition of the growing importance of the New Product Showcase and Awards, there will 10 different categories compared to five in 2013.

The categories that now make up the Showcase and Awards are:

• POS/Merchandising Idea
• Reptile Product
• Pond Construction/Decoration
• Pond Pump
• Pond Filter
• Pond Food, Care and Accessories
• Aquaria and Furniture
• Aquarium Equipment
• Aquarium Food, Care and Accessories
• Aquarium Decoration

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 more catering facilities and everyone will receive free tea and coffee, and a free deli bag lunch. Retailers and buyers will also be invited to join exhibitors at an AQUA dinner on the first evening of the exhibition. The dinner, which will also be free, has been moved to a larger room to accommodate nearly 700 people.

Visitors can also benefit from free parking next to the exhibition hall, and will be able to take full advantage of a new events village called Southwater Square, recently opened close to the centre with a new hotel, restaurants, and one of the UK’s largest town-centre parks.

A full list of exhibitors can be found on the AQUA 2015 website www.aquatelford.co.uk. For anyone with inquiries call the AQUA hotline on  +44 (0) 1892 862848. 

To mark the launch of the new 4fleas spot-on products, Johnson's is giving away stock to the value of £1,052.75 (RRP) to one lucky retailer.

That's how much stock you can see in this Johnson's display stand...and it could all be yours if you're the winner of this special competition in Pet Trade Xtra.

To stand a chance of winning all you have to do is email the answer to the following question: 

In which decade was Johnson's Veterinary Products launched: (a) 1920s, (b) 1930s, (c) 1940s?

To give you a clue, the answer can be found in a special Johnson's Veterinary Products edition of Pet Trade Xtra, announcing the launch of the new range of 4fleas spot-on products. To view the issue click here

Email your answer, along with your name and the name of your pet store or garden centre, to neil.pope@tgcmc.co.uk

The first correct entry to be drawn out of the hat after the closing date on May 8 will win this amazing prize. No correspondence will be entered into.

The incident also promoted an investigation by bosses of the RSPCA.

Well-known dog lover Cowell has now spoken out to deny allegations of cruelty, telling the Daily Mirror newspaper: "Everyone knows I love dogs and we wouldn't allow an act to come on the show if it was unhappy or being mistreated.

"I understand the charities being worried but we saw the dog after the show and she was happy.

"There's a lot of real animal cruelty in the world and I think that's what they should focus on."

If you missed the Britain's Got Talent you can view it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1inR2b7PS5M#t=13

Hedgehog Awareness Week runs from May 3 to 9 and events are being organised all around the country.

Hedgehog Awareness Week is organised by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) and takes place every year. It aims to highlight the problems hedgehogs face and how the public can help them.

This year efforts are focussed on gardeners. There is so much that gardeners can do to help the hedgehog – very simple things like:

• Ensuring there is access into the garden (all that is needed is 5-inch square gap).
• Checking areas before strimming or mowing.
• Moving piles of rubbish to a new site before burning it.
• Ensuring netting is kept at a safe height.
• Checking compost heaps before digging the fork in.
• Stopping or reducing the amount of pesticides and poisons used.
• Covering drains or deep holes.
• Ensuring there is an easy route out of ponds and pools.

BHPS Chief Executive Fay Vass said: “There is so much the gardener can do to help hedgehogs, and with hedgehog numbers in decline it is more important now than ever.

"We have produced a poster highlighting dangers hedgehogs face in our gardens to mark this Hedgehog Awareness Week.”

For a free copy of the poster or for membership details send an A5 sae to BHPS, Garden Dangers, Hedgehog House, Dhustone, Ludlow, SY8 3PL or see www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk

HOWND - the natural pet care brand for happy dogs - has had its new range of cruelty-free shampoos and sprays nominated for a MasterGroom 2015 award.

The brand will be hoping to secure enough votes to win the prestigious Liz Paul Award, which honours the memory of the iconic and award winning dog grooming champion of the same name, who passed away in 2006.

“Being nominated for this award is a fabulous achievement for us considering the infancy of the HOWND brand. We feel like we’ve crafted a brand that stands out from the crowd and delivered products that groomers simply love to use,” explains Jo Amit, co-founder of HOWND.

“After our rebrand at the start of the year, it’s a great feeling to have our hard work recognised with this nomination. Every vote counts, so we’d love for our groomers to get involved and cast their online vote before the deadline on the MasterGroom website.”

Created by pet loving duo Mark Hirschel and Jo Amit, the Borehamwood based company has released five conditioning shampoos and matching body mists.

Each product is beautifully scented with essential oils and intended for use on dogs of all breeds, covering puppyhood to our older canine companions.

Excitement for the new products has been building amongst groomers, as HOWND is only one of six global pet brands to receive the Leaping Bunny stamp of approval from Cruelty Free International. This is the only international guarantee against animal testing.

Those who wish to cast a vote for the Liz Paul Award <http://mastergroom.org/lizpaulawards/> must be actively involved in the dog grooming industry to participate. Voting closes on this evening (Thursday).

For further information about HOWND’s new range of products and to place orders, visit www.dogslovehownd.com or call a member of the team on +44 (0)20 3004 5255.

Award-winning pet store Not Just Pets in Bath will be holding an Open Day on Saturday to mark National Pet Month, and will be fund-raising for local charities...

The event will take place at 8-9 St James Parade, from 10am onwards and aims to be a great fun day with special guests and visitors coming in to store. Staff will be giving local people knowledge about their products to benefit them and their pets.

The guests include: Pets as Therapy, Cinnamon Trust, Bath Cats and Dogs Home and Syd the Greyhound from GRWE. With Matt Curtis offering a free pet photography shoot and Penny offering muscular health checks with Bristol K9 massage there will be something for everyone.

Not Just Pets will also have guests from different companies offering special open day deals and samples of products – Pooch and Mutt, Applaws, Kong, Beaphar, The Company of Animals plus more.

Michael Bellingham, chairman of National Pet Month, said: “We’re delighted that Not Just Pets is holding such a great event to celebrate our relationship with our pets. They give so much to us – in return we need to look after them responsibly to keep them healthy and happy.

"The event is also raising funds for Cinnamon Trust, Bath Cats and Dogs Home and Pets as Therapy. We hope that everybody involved has a great time in the process.”

National Pet Month seeks to promote responsible pet ownership and aise valuable funds for animal charities across the UK by encouraging people to hold events. The celebrations run until May 4 and this year the theme is ‘Pets and the elderly – enjoying later years together’.

For further information about Not Just Pets contact Janine Tozer  on 01225 461461/461478, email bathpets@aol.com or visit www.notjustpets.co.uk

Pets at Home Vet Group has acquired Northwest Surgeons, a specialist veterinary business based in Sutton Weaver, Cheshire.

This acquisition marks the company’s first move into specialist veterinary referrals. Having acquired Northwest Surgeons, Pets at Home Vet Group will seek to develop a shared venture model with key clinicians in the future.

Northwest Surgeons provides specialist veterinary services and acts as a referral centre for veterinary practices in the North West of England. It specialises in orthopaedic, soft tissue and spinal surgery and internal medicine with support in anaesthesia, pain management and diagnostic imaging.

Following the acquisition, Northwest Surgeons will continue to operate as a stand-alone brand and business within the Pets at Home Vet Group’s practice network. Chris May and Chrissi May, the current owners of Northwest Surgeons, will remain with the business for at least a year to ensure a smooth transition.

Sally Hopson, Pets at Home Vet Group CEO said: “Having built the UK’s largest network of small animal veterinary practices, we are delighted to announce our first step into the market for specialist veterinary services with the acquisition of Northwest Surgeons.

"This is an important strategic move for us as it offers an opportunity to capture an additional segment of the market. And underlining our commitment to quality, it also means we can further support our Joint Venture Partners with additional expertise from within the group.”

Chris May, founder and Managing Director of Northwest Surgeons, said: “We have been hugely impressed by the dedication of everyone at the Pets at Home Vet Group and their aim to maintain the integrity of Northwest Surgeons.

"This is a significant step for all of us at Northwest Surgeons and we look forward to working with the Pets at Home Vet Group team to continue the development of our business.”

Radio Systems Corporation, owners of the PetSafe and SportDOG brands, has further strengthened its e-commerce team and appointed a new International E-commerce Business Manager, David Hindle.

With a strong track record in retail and e-commerce, David previously worked for Sennheiser Electronics managing key Europe-wide accounts for the group. He was responsible for delivering “a consistent and ‘best in class’ service for both the retailer and the end customer” and sharing best practice with teams in the US and Asia.

In his new role David will be responsible for developing the international e-commerce business for Radio Systems as well as ensuring that it complements the company’s offline sales offering.  As in previous roles, David will look to deliver the best possible retailer and consumer experience for Radio Systems’ customers.

Speaking about his decision to join Radio Systems, David said: “Radio Systems offers what I’ve been looking for in previous roles - an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for products, people, and the consumer experience. In addition, the company has an openness to new ideas, which is refreshing and I’m very much looking forward to being part of the team.

He added: “My approach is to start with the end consumer and ensure that we can offer the right products at the right place, at the right time and deliver a ‘best in class’ customer experience.”

Commenting on the appointment Radio Systems Corporation Vice President - International, Brad van der Veen, said: “David is strong addition to our team; we are delighted to have him on board and look forward to working with him.”

Radio Systems Corporation re-located its European headquarters including its multilingual customer services centre to Dundalk in 2012. There are currently 27 people based at the European operation in Dundalk, which trades as Radio Systems PetSafe Europe Limited.

The recent surge in popularity of vinyl records has proved an unexpected hit for sick pets across the UK, according to a vet charity.

PDSA has welcomed the rising demand for vinyl, with almost £50,000 a year raised from record sales in its UK charity shops.

According to PDSA, there are marked regional variations when it comes to shopping for vinyl, with the charity's Broomhill store in Sheffield selling the most records a year - at 1,205.

This is closely followed by Kilburn, London, at 1,122, and the PDSA's other top shops for vinyl include Beeston in Nottingham (1,060), Kentish Town, London (958), and West Ealing, London (944).

Philip Klette, head of retail at PDSA, said: "It's great news for pets that vinyl is making a comeback, as PDSA charity shops are a treasure trove for music lovers.

"Saturday April 18 is Record Store Day in the UK and all vinyl lovers should be aware that there are many bargains to be had at our PDSA charity shops. The added bonus is that all sales help our vets to save the lives of sick and injured pets.

"Proceeds from PDSA charity shop record sales have raised enough to pay for a thousand pets to be treated, or to run a PDSA pet hospital for more than two weeks."

A man who ran an illegal puppy farm in Scotland has been cleared of two counts of animal cruelty.

Sean James went on trial at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday accused of failing to treat a young springer spaniel which was allegedly infested with worms and ear mites.

The 19-year-old was alleged to have neglected the dog to the extent that it became malnourished and went on to develop enteritis and puppy strangles.

However, the case against him fell apart after the main prosecution witnesses failed to identify James as the man who had sold them the pup.

Daryl Cameron and his former partner told the court they had travelled to the north-east to pick up a dog after seeing an advert on the Gumtree website.

Mr Cameron said a man, who he could not identify, took the puppy out of a cage in the back of a van.

He said he could feel the little dog’s spine and could tell its belly was swollen.

The 25-year-old said he was so concerned about the condition of the pup he decided he had to buy it because he couldn’t face leaving it in those conditions.

Mr Cameron said the dog needed weeks of treatment costing £500, and that when he called the seller to tell him, the man told him to give it back and he would be refunded the £275 he paid for it.

Following the evidence of the first two witnesses, fiscal depute Sandy Hutchison told Sheriff Kenneth Stewart he was no longer seeking a conviction and he was acquitted on both charges.

Last year James, his father Frank and his uncle Edward admitted keeping 72 dogs in horrific conditions at Eastmains Ardlogie, Fyvie, after setting up the illegal venture in February 2013.

James, who lives at the address in Fyvie, was ordered to carry out 50 hours of community service after he admitted selling the animals to trusting buyers.

He claimed he did not know the dogs were so poorly.

His father Frank – who described himself as a “dog lover” – was fined £250 for helping to set up the farm.

The 50-year-old was fined a further £1,200 for possessing three wild birds, despite being banned from dealing with animals in 2012.

Edward, was ordered to pay £2,500 after admitting he was the one who let the animals’ living conditions deteriorate.