There’s still time for businesses and employees to take part in the nation’s 9^th Bring Your Dog To Work Day, founded and organised ethical pet brand HOWND®. The viral event takes place on Friday June 24^th. And businesses can upload their logos and company details to the official website from now till the end of June. 

Companies large and small will join in what promises to be a dogtastic day at work next Friday. Our pawsome pals will be put to work, enjoying trips to the coffee machine, attending meetings, and mostly bringing joy to the workplace. The day is a big fundraiser for animal welfare charities that include the Bring Your Dog To Work Day official charities – All Dogs Matter, Animals Asia and the Surge Sanctuary.  

It’s a great opportunity for pet brands to raise their profile by signing up as ‘pawsome partners’ for just £150 minimum. The website receives tens of thousands of hits in the lead up to the big day, and over the years the event has had coverage in The Sun, The Mail on Sunday, Lad Bible, Waitrose Weekend, The Mirror, The Daily Telegraph, The Independent and hundreds of  media titles, with ITV The Lorraine Show, BBC and other broadcasters and media outlets covering the nation’s favourite day out for dogs.

Some of the pet brands sponsoring this year include, Woof & Brew, Dog Friendly, Fish4Pets, and Canine Cottages. With more signing up each day it’s still not too late to join in and get your logo and info about your brand and a link to your websites on the Bring Your Dog To Work Day website and a shout out on social media – the event always trends at number 1 on Twitter.

Each year the nation embraces this pupular day out when our four-legged furry friends get to spend time with their human at work for the annual charity event that thousands of businesses and dog owners across the country take part in. 

Photo credit: @JoSowry taken at Ridley Scott Creative Group

Jo Amit, co-founder of Bring Your Dog To Work Day and HOWND, the ethical pet care brand says: “As a nation of dog lovers it’s so exciting to see how this has captured the imagination of dog owners and companies and is growing every year. It is well known that having a dog at work has great mental health benefits and more and more companies are becoming dog friendly. Each year more companies sign up and we’re proud to be involved in something that is doing good and also bringing a lot of joy to the workplace.”

There’s still time to join in the fun - just head over to www.bringyourdogtoworkday.co.uk

Wilsons Pet Foods, one of the UK’s longest-established producers of dry dog food, is set for further expansion with the acquisition of Dunbia’s meat processing plant at Drongan, South Ayrshire.

The company has been operating out of two separate units in Perthshire but rapid growth, fuelled partly by Covid and online sales, necessitated the move to larger premises.

The multi-million-pound facility at Drongan offers Wilsons a ‘plug-and-play’ operation, according to company managing director Craig Wallace.

“The extensive chilled production areas, cold and ambient stores, plus packaging and storage sections are ideal for our ambitious future plans.

“The total site extends to almost three acres, and we can now operate with greater efficiency in a superbly maintained 25,000 sq.ft building. Our massive canteen alone is bigger than our entire operation at Perth.”

Wilsons’ move to the Drongan facility is a remarkable turnaround in the fortunes of the company which was rescued from administration just over three years ago by Mr Wallace.

Established in 1861, the company became synonymous with the production of muesli-based dog food, and at one stage dozens of lorries would leave depots in Dundee and Glasgow for deliveries throughout the UK.

By the 1970s however, dog owners were switching to wet food and various kibble options. Wilsons failed to spot the trend, and a lack of marketing and investment in new products resulted in a forced sale to Glaxo SmithKline Beecham, and then to Armitage Pet Care. The Wilson family re-acquired the business but were unable to prevent the slide into administration.

The new owners have been quick to introduce a higher quality of food which is now being demanded by Britain’s ever-growing number of dog owners. Traditional kibble has been phased out and, in its place, comes a range of raw frozen and cold pressed food.

Raw frozen dog food has been a popular buy for several years now, but Wilsons have noticed a sizeable uptick in cold pressed which is manufactured at a much lower temperature to preserve nutritional value.

Three separate income streams have been established - retail, branded own label, and online - with the latter witnessing stellar month-on-month increases in excess of ten percent.

The cold pressed dog food will continue to be manufactured at a factory near Blairgowrie, and all production of raw frozen will switch to Drongan. The company have been committed to improving the local economy, providing jobs for ten new starts so far.

“Despite being self-funded, we’ve made huge progress in the last 18 months, and the Drongan operation will allow us to further strengthen our position in a tough market,” continued Mr. Wallace.

“Brexit wasn’t exactly ideal for our overseas sales, but on the plus side we are now selling in over 250 retail outlets and getting regular calls for own-branded labels. The extra capacity at Drongan means that we will no longer be turning away customers.”

Pictured: Wilsons Pet Food managing director Craig Wallace alongside head of operations Kamil Skrzeszowski.

TRIXIE has opened a new distribution unit for snacks and treats in Northampton. This is another milestone in the company's history as it continues to work alongside the head office and logistics centre in Tarp, Germany.

Volker Haak, TRIXIE CEO, stated: "Following the establishment of TRIXIE UK Pet Products Limited in June 2021, this new building signifies a key development for our direct sales and underlines the importance of the UK market for us. 

“TRIXIE is prepared to invest further to bring the standard of service for our customers back to pre-Brexit levels with a view to further improvements in delivery timescales following the challenges of the UK leaving the EU.”

Snacks and treats are now being shipped exclusively from the new distribution centre in Northampton, significantly reducing delivery times and lowering the minimum order value for orders in this category. Pet accessories will continue to be delivered from the main warehouse in Germany.

TRIXIE UK Pet Products Ltd.

WD Boxhub

Unit 7, Deer Park Rd 

Moulton Park 

Northampton, NN3 6RZ

Facts and figures:

• 4,981 sq ft (total)
• 3,846 (ground floor)
• 1,135 (mezzanine)
• Storage of about 450 snacks and treats 

Contact details:

Sales@trixieuk.uk       

www.trixieuk.uk

GA Pet Food Partners has won the award for Best Large Business at the 12th Annual Red Rose Awards, which took place at the Blackpool Winter Gardens with more than 1,000 people in attendance. 

Lancashire Business View’s Red Rose Awards is the event where Lancashire business, commerce and industry are celebrated. It provides the best possible platforms to promote success and encourage trading within the county. 

Businesses from the length and breadth of the county vied for titles across a range of categories, with only the best of the best, as selected by a panel of expert judges, progressing through to the shortlist and a rigorous interview stage before being rewarded for their excellence. 

The Large Business Awards was the penultimate award of the evening, with six finalists competing to win the title. The specially crafted award was presented by David Filmer, who was delighted to announce GA as the winner. 

Event founder Richard Slater said: “GA should be very proud that they have seen off all the competition to win this award.”

GA is a family-owned private label pet food manufacturer based in Chorley, Lancashire. Creating recipes using the finest raw materials sourced from farms and fisheries they know and trust. Their partners are traditional pet shops and corporate brands that use these recipes to create their own pet food brand.   

The past 12 months have been a real success for GA, which has seen significant growth in sales, with the company exporting to over 50 countries worldwide. GA has invested heavily in innovative machinery and processes to ensure that they continue to make and deliver the world’s finest pet food. In addition, GA’s 863 colleagues have worked extremely hard throughout the Covid-19 pandemic as key workers in pet food production, ensuring they could continue to supply food to over 750,000 cats and dogs worldwide. 

GA has a number of ambitious plans for the future, including generating all of their own renewable energy whilst working with local residents to achieve a Mutual Journey to Net Zero by 2050. Furthermore, their strategy swims against the short-termism tide prevalent in the pet sector and provides sustainable solutions for small pet shops throughout Europe. 

Roger Bracewell, Chairman of GA Pet Food Partners, said: “The whole of the GA family are delighted and honoured to receive this Large Business Award. This award recognises the hard work and dedication of all at GA from a small family farm 30 years ago to a £140 million turnover company, 44% of which is exported.”

The rise in pet ownership which occurred during lockdown restrictions has resulted in record sales and profits for the Tangerine Group, manufacturer of animal health and nutritional products under the VetPlus, Agri-Lloyd and Farmsense brands.

The Lytham-based company has now reported a 27% increase in turnover, from £28.1m to £35.7m, and 58 % increase in pre-tax operating profits, from £6m to £9.5m, for its financial year ending June 2021.

Tangerine owner David Haythornthwaite said: "Covid-19 presented many challenges and some companies were fortunate to benefit and others not so. In our case, the increased love of pets during lockdown led to a huge increase in pet ownership which obviously had a knock-on effect. This past year has, once again, highlighted the importance of controlling your manufacturing process from start to finish.

"I’m incredibly proud of the team across the Tangerine Group for this achievement. We continued to operate throughout the Covid-19 pandemic without losing a single day’s production, and these results are testament to everyone who works within the business both here in the UK and across the world.”

Nationwide pet retailer Jollyes has unveiled a unique tie-up with the Stroke Association in Scotland that celebrates the calming role pets play people’s lives. The partnership was announced at the company's new Stirling store at Unit 3 on the Burghmuir Retail Park.

Thanks to the generosity of Stroke Association pet lovers in Scotland, customers were able to stroke some of the most loving pets in a jointly branded vehicle.

Dubbed Jollyes’ ‘fur-th emergency service’, its Stroke Squad’ van has been kitted out after hearing of the beneficial role pets have played in many of the Stoke Association members’ lives in the last few years. 

Helping give the store its send-off was Bonzo a four-months old Tibetan Terrier and its owner Stephanie Serafini pictured at the opening with Jollyes Stirling manager Angela Rennie. 

Also attending the official ribbon cutting was members of the local Clackmannanshire Stroke Association and its engagement officer Jolene Lornie. 

They brought pets cared for by members of the Stroke Association in and around Stirling who celebrated the life-enhancing bonds they have between them.  

Kerry Midgley Jollyes regional manager, said: “We’ve been blown away by the reaction of customers to our opening this morning – we’re delighted to open our third store in Scotland and we look forward to showing Stirling why we’re called The Pet People.” 

Jollyes’ Stirling store is a flagship location for the retailer.  As well as selling a wide range of pet food and accessories, the 6,100 square feet store will also feature its high-quality dedicated dog grooming salon – The Spa – and offer small pets and birds.   

New manager Angela Rennie has hands-on experience with pets as “dog mum” to husky-collie cross Blue and border collie Mollie. 

Jollyes has more than 70 stores across the UK and Stirling will be its third store in Scotland, complementing its popular outlets in Clydebank and Perth. Over the coming months it will more than double its presence in Scotland with new stores at Glenrothes, Edinburgh and Robroyston. 

After making its debut at Stirling, Jollyes’ fur-th emergency service vehicle will tour the UK offering those in need of pet companionship, the opportunity to benefit from its Stroke Squad. 

New research from the Royal Veterinary College has revealed that English Bulldogs in the UK have lower health overall and are more likely to suffer from certain health conditions, particularly those related to being flat-faced, than other dogs.

As such, the breed remains compromised by major health issues that have been recognised in Bulldogs for more than a century.

The findings indicate that urgent action is required to reduce the high rate of health issues related to extreme body shape currently seen in English Bulldogs if the future of the breed is to be protected.

It is hoped that the results of this research will discourage breeding and purchasing of animals with extreme conformations and instead promote a shift towards acceptance by the public of more moderate conformation with improved natural (innate) health.

The English Bulldog has risen sharply in popularity in the UK over the past decade. However, its distinctive and exaggerated short muzzle, protruding lower jaw and stocky body shape has been linked with several serious health and welfare issues, including breathing problems, skin and ear diseases and eye disorders.

Sadly, many of the breed’s problematic characteristics such as a very flat face, deep facial skin folds and noisy breathing are still often perceived by many people as ‘normal’ or even ‘desirable’ novelties rather than major welfare issues.

The RVC’s VetCompass programme compared the health of random samples of 2,662 English Bulldogs and 22,039 dogs that are not English Bulldogs to extract information on all disorders recorded in each dog over a single year. Overall, English Bulldogs were found to be more than twice as likely to have one or more disorders in a single year than other dogs.

A list of the 43 most common disorders found across both groups of dogs was compiled with English Bulldogs identified to be at a higher risk of suffering from 24 out of the 43 (55.8%) disorders and a lower risk of just six out of the 43 (14%), with no difference in risk for the remainder. This demonstrates a much higher risk of health issues in English Bulldogs than in other dogs.

Other key findings included:

• The average age of English Bulldogs assessed in the study (2.7 years) was younger than for dogs that were not English Bulldogs (4.42 years). Only 9.7% of the English Bulldogs assessed in the study were aged over 8 years compared with 25.4% of dogs that were not English Bulldogs.
• Top disorders with highest risk in English Bulldog included: skin fold dermatitis (x38.1); cherry eye (x26.8); protruding lower jaw (x24.3); brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome BOAS (x19.2); cyst between the toes (x13.0); dry eye (x12.2); rolled inward eyelids (x11.6); mange (x8.0); foot infections (x4.7); skin infection (x 3.5); wet dermatitis (x 3.5); and dermatitis (x 3.1).
• The disorders with the lowest risk in English Bulldogs included: retained baby teeth (x0.02), fatty lumps (x0.06) and dental disease (x0.23).
• Despite substantial recent efforts by members of the UK Brachycephalic Working Group (BWG) to discourage extreme exaggerations, these new findings suggest further progress is needed to reduce the high rate of health issues in the overall UK population of English Bulldogs.

This new VetCompass evidence supports widespread calls to the public to follow the example of progressive breeders, and to support moving the English Bulldog away from its current extreme body shape. In the future, the English Bulldog should become recognised and loved for having a longer face, smaller head and non-wrinkled skin, representing a more moderate and healthier conformation. With an estimated 70% of UK dogs not registered with The Kennel Club and only a tiny proportion (2%) ever attending dog shows, the real power for change rests with the public who can demand and purchase only those types of dogs with moderate and healthier conformations.     

Owners who already have an English Bulldog are encouraged to monitor them carefully for breed-related health issues such as eye problems, difficulty breathing and skin fold infections, and to seek veterinary advice early if worried.

Dr Dan O’Neill, lead author of the paper and Associate Professor in Companion Animal Epidemiology at the RVC said: “Every dog deserves to be born with equal and good innate health by having a natural ability to breathe freely, blink fully, exercise easily, have healthy flat skin, mate and give birth. For breeds such as English Bulldogs where many dogs still have extreme conformations with poor innate health, the public have a huge role to play by demanding dogs with moderate and healthier conformations. Until then, prospective owners should ‘stop and think before buying a flat-faced dog’.”

Dr Alison Skipper, co-author and veterinary historian, said: “Around 1900, some Bulldog breeders were already concerned that the exaggeration of ‘certain typical points’ was ‘intensifying predispositions to disease’ and producing ‘cripples and deformities’ with ‘a sadly shortened duration of life’. This new research provides strong evidence that modern Bulldogs remain troubled by many diseases linked to their body shapes, most of which have been recognised for more than a century. It confirms the need to follow the example of more responsible breeders who prioritise health in breeding decisions to improve the welfare of this popular and iconic breed in the future.”

Bill Lambert, Health, Welfare and Breeder Services Executive at The Kennel Club, said: “This research, funded in part by The Kennel Club Charitable Trust, enables us and all those who care about improving Bulldog health to understand more about these complicated issues. Careful, responsible breeding can help address health problems and progress has been made to improve and protect Bulldog health by those reputable breeders and caring owners who make use of evidence-based tools, like The Kennel Club/University of Cambridge Respiratory Function Grading Scheme.­

“However, as this research shows, there are increasing numbers of Bulldogs bred outside any sphere of influence and in a certain way because it is perceived to be ‘cute’, with little regard for health and welfare. A collaborative approach to tackling these issues is crucial; we must continue to work together with breeders, vets and welfare organisations to reduce and ultimately eliminate the health problems faced by brachycephalic breeds, as well as reduce mass demand for these dogs.”

Vicky Collins-Nattress, Bulldog Breed Council Health Coordinator said: “We are fully committed to improving and protecting Bulldog health, so any new data which informs this is valuable.

“The Bulldog Breed Council Health Scheme is to encourage breeders to carry out the relevant breed-specific health tests including the University of Cambridge/Kennel Club Respiratory Function Grading Scheme; we are working with The Kennel Club on various health initiatives; and are involved in the Brachycephalic Working Group.

“Over the past 11 years that the scheme has been running we have seen a marked improvement in the health of Bulldogs bred by responsible and caring breeders who make use of the evidence-based tools available. We acknowledge that there is a large percentage of breeders that do not breed to the standard or use the Bulldog Breed Council Health Scheme. Our aim is to educate the public, with the help of The Kennel Club, to research thoroughly and buy only from the conscientious breeders that use the tools available to encourage the breeding of healthy dogs.”

Earth Animal, makers of the best-selling No-Hide Chew, has announced a summer-long tour of the UK that invites dogs, pet parents and families to join canine-themed fun at its ‘Get Your Wag On’ wagon.

Welcoming four-legged friends and their owners for a day of summer joy, the series of pop-up events will see an electric van pull up to a variety of popular outdoor locations and canine hot spots in all corners of England. 

Of course, the wagon wouldn’t be complete without the very product that inspired the tour: Earth Animal’s No-Hide® Chews. A healthy alternative to rawhide with just six simple, natural ingredients, No-Hides offer pups a blissful chewing experience — and the wagon will be chock-full of the chews for visitors to try.

Not only that, but our four-legged friends will be able to put their expert sniffing abilities to the test in the on-stand ‘Wag-On-Ometer’ to find out their favourite No-Hide flavour. Visitors will also be treated to a ‘pup up’ cinema experience.

Pet parents will be encouraged to get their cameras at the ready. There’s also a chance to win a YEAR’S supply of No-Hide® Chews if visitors share their snaps on social media using the hashtag #ChewsJoy. Launching on Saturday 11^th June, stay tuned for more details of the competition on Earth Animal’s Facebook or Instagram channels. 

Are you ready to get your wag-ON? No tickets are needed to visit the ‘Get Your Wag On’ wagon — simply turn up at the location local to you and be ready to experience joy!

The full list of tour dates is below. Please note that these are subject to alterations. Stay up to date on Earth Animal’s Facebook or Instagram channels.

• Friday 17^th June — Unleashed Dog Adventure Park, Great Budworth Dog Park 
• Saturday 18^th June & Sunday 19^th June — Tatton Park DogFest
• Friday 8^th July — Surrey — Box Hill, Polesden Lacey and Devil’s Punch Bowl
• Saturday 9^th July and Sunday 10^th July — The Great British Dog Walk and Marvellous Mutts walks (Brighton & Hove, South Downs)
• Friday 15^th July — London parks and pubs (locations TBA)
• Saturday 16^th July & Sunday 17^th July — Lambeth Country Fair 
• Saturday 23^rd July — Mid Devon County Show
• Saturday 6^th August & Sunday 7^th August — Brighton & Hove and Sussex Downs (locations TBA)
• Saturday 27^th August — Norfolk coast 
• Sunday 28^th August & Monday 29^th August — All About Dogs, Norfolk 
• Saturday 10^th September & Sunday 11^th September — Knebworth Dogfest, Hertfordshire
• Saturday 17^th September & Sunday 18^th September — Paws in the Park, Kent
• Saturday 24^th September & Sunday 25^th September — Harewood Hall Dogfest, Yorkshire 

To find out more about Earth Animal, visit here

Leading pet and wild bird food producer, Henry Bell, has added new product lines to itscollection of wild bird care product offering. The season's new collection – The Everyday Range – complements and extends the popular current collections, including the Heritage Feeder Collection and Heavy Duty Collection.

Expected to be a best-selling line this year, the Heritage Everyday Collection (RRP £9.99) and Heavy Duty Everyday Collection (RRP £7.99) have been created in a compact format, yet maintain all the key features of the Heritage and Heavy Duty Wild Bird Feeders. For example, the Heritage Everyday Feeders feature ring perches to enable safe and easy feeding, and the Heavy Duty Everyday Feeder has an umbrella top to protect the feed from rain. Each collection includes a compact seed, peanut, fat ball, sunflower hearts, and suet bite & mealworm feeder.

Importantly, the stylish and elegant collections are competitively priced to encourage everyone to start helping and feeding wild birds in their outdoor space.

In addition, and part of the Everyday Collection, Henry Bell is introducing their new Heritage Everyday Finch Feeder (RRP £9.99) and Finch Blend (RRP £6.99), specially curated to allow the Finch family and other small garden birds to feed with ease.

The launch of the latest collection comes three years after Henry Bell launched their Wild Bird Care range. During this time, Henry Bell has continued to grow and develop their product offering, including the launch of the Sterling Collection in 2021. As well as securing new contracts with Blue Diamond and Tillington Garden Centres, both also in 2021.

Henry Bell & Co is a fourth-generation family-owned British business that produces quality small bird, wild bird, and animal feeds. Henry Bell Wild Bird Care features 130 quality products catering for every type of garden bird, all designed with the health and wellbeing of birds in mind.

Henry Bell has also made sustainable packaging a priority with all their Wild Bird Food packaging being 100% recyclable whilst protecting the integrity of the elements inside each bag.

Henry Bell Wild Bird Care is available in 400 garden centres nationwide including Dobbies Garden Centres and online, as well as selected independent garden centres, pet shops and retailers.

Visit the company’s stand (20H60-J61) at Glee 2022 which takes place at the NEC Birmingham on June 28-30.

Mars Pet Nutrition, a division of Mars Petcare, has announced it has achieved its target to sustainably source 100% of the fish used in its pet products in Europe, aligned to Mars’ sourcing guidelines. 

Brands that feature fish as part of their ingredients in Europe are SHEBA, WHISKAS, PEDIGREE, CESAR, PERFECT FIT, DREAMIES, CRAVE, JAMES WELLBELOVED, CHAPPIE, and KITEKAT.

Deri Watkins, Regional President at Mars Pet Nutrition Europe, said: “At Mars Petcare, everything we do is focused on our Purpose: A Better World for Pets – and a better world is a more sustainable world, for pets, people and the planet. Mars Pet Nutrition uses fish in its portfolio of pet food products as it enables pets to enjoy nutritionally balanced, healthy, and high-quality pet food. While our business accounts for a small share of the global seafood market, we continue to play our part in supporting a healthy future for ocean ecosystems and the seafood sector helping all to grow and thrive in a responsible way.”

Mert Kacmaz, Commercial Vice President at Mars Pet Nutrition Europe, said: “Reaching our 100% sustainably sourced fish target in Europe is a great testament to what can be achieved in close collaboration with our suppliers, through years of rigorous work and a bold commitment to drive sustainability at scale.

"At Mars Petcare, we employ a holistic approach to responsible sourcing while focusing on driving greater supply chain accountability, verification, and transparency.

"We work with our suppliers to ensure we source high quality raw materials, in a way that complies with our Supplier Code of Conduct and aligns with our sustainability expectations. As we continue to take action to improve our environmental footprint across our supply chains, we’re focused on doing business that not only meets the nutritional needs of the pets we serve, but also builds a better, more sustainable world for all.”  

Mars Petcare expects its fish suppliers to follow the Mars Supplier Code of Conduct, which articulates Mars’ social, environmental, and ethical expectations of its suppliers, contains globally aligned standards, and is rooted in international law. The company accepts as ‘sustainably sourced fish’ supply that is certified or endorsed by credible third parties and aims to source from fisheries that are managed to maintain the diversity of the fish ecosystem. 

Carried out with technical support from World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and fisheries experts, Mars Petcare continually revises its fish sourcing guidelines aligned to international standards and consistently drives for positive environmental and human rights practices in its fish supply chains.  Mars’ fish sustainable sourcing programme includes ensuring that the company does not source any endangered fish species, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. 

Beyond improving its own supply chain, Mars Petcare has been working closely with WWF to fund the financing of fisheries improvement globally. Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) bring together multiple stakeholders in the supply chain to address environmental challenges. FIPs work to make fisheries more sustainable by implementing action plans to improve fishing practices and management. 

Michael Griff, Director for Ocean Markets at World Wildlife Fund, said: “Mars has been instrumental in the seafood sustainability movement as one of the first WWF partners to commit to more sustainable pet food supply chain. We are thrilled to see the progress Mars Petcare has achieved in its journey to ensure better sourcing practices across its global operations. We will continue to work together to reduce pressure on our oceans and preserve its resources for resilient ecosystems and prosperous coastal communities.”

In 2022, Mars partnered with WWF to address the overexploitation of the world’s fisheries and work to tackle the challenges associated with traditional funding for fisheries improvement. Through this innovative blue finance initiative, Mars is supporting WWF in ideating new models to provide a consistent source of funds for large-scale, long-term financing for global fisheries reform.

Sustainable fish sourcing is part of Mars, Incorporated’s mission to help create a healthy planet where all can thrive – a belief that’s at the heart of its $1 billion Sustainable in a Generation Plan.   The company continuously works with certifying organisations and industry experts around the world, to review, innovate, and scale its approach to more sustainable fish sourcing. 

For further information on Mars’ approach to sustainable fishing, visit https://www.mars.com/about/policies-and-practices/sustainable-fish-sourcing. 

direct to your e-mail inbox...

The best news service every week.

Subscribe for free by clicking here

It may not have the glamour of the Oscars, or the glory of the Olympics, but Jollyes, The Pet People, is introducing a prize that recognises its top store Poo Bag Champion. 

The UK retailer has launched the award in a drive to boost sales of poo bags and help dog owners to keep their neighbourhoods clean and do their bit for the environment. 

The Poo Bag Champion accolade will go to the manager of one of its 70-plus stores who sees the highest percentage rise in sales of poo bags between now and 20 June. 

And to reflect the solid achievement, there will also be a special prize for the Number Two store manager. 

What’s more the winning stores (No 1 & No 2) will also get 100 boxes to donate to local community groups. 

Jollyes stores sell a range of poo bags, including Tidyz degradable bags which sell for just £1 for a pack of 100, making them great value - in fact at £1 for 100 that adds up to spending a penny for each poop. 

The Tidyz pocket pack is also designed to fit easily in dog walkers’ pockets. 

Chris Burns, Jollyes commercial director, said: “It’s a big job, but we’ve set things in motion for our Poo Bag Champion award, and we wouldn’t want this opportunity to keep our neighbourhoods clean to go to waste. 

“Jollyes customers are responsible dog owners and this is just a bit of fun for our stores to remind them that we have a fantastic range of poo bags at amazing value so they can have one handy when they need to clean up after their mucky pups.” 

Stocking up on bags could also help dog owners avoid a costly mistake. Not only do many councils fine dog walkers who fail to clean up after their pets, but some also impose penalties on those who fail to carry a poo bag. 

A study by Dogs Trust and Keep Britain Tidy in 2017 reported that 47 per cent of adults thought dog fouling was one of the most annoying things they experienced in public places. Contact carries the risk of contracting toxocariasis that can cause blindness and seizures. 

Tuesday (June 14) marked World Blood Donor Day, a joint initiative of the World Health Organisation, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and to thank blood donors for their voluntary, life-saving donations. 

However, there are a number of life-saving volunteers that are often overlooked or forgotten about and that is the thousands of UK dogs that regularly donate blood to the Pet Blood Bank. 

This is because many people, even dog owners themselves, are unaware that Britain’s four legged friends can donate blood or that the charity behind this incredible work even exists. 

Which is why in an effort to raise awareness of how easy it is for dogs to donate blood, sustainable pet food brand Percuro has released a map highlighting some of the different donation locations for each region of the UK. 

The brand hopes that by sharing the image they can draw attention to some of the unsung heroes this World Blood Donor Day - as well as showcase how easy and convenient it is for owners to potentially sign their pooch up to donate blood, which in turn could save a life. 

Each of the locations detailed on the map are taken from the Pet Blood Bank website, which is a UK based charity, was set up in 2007 to help save the lives of pets in need up and down the country, with its initial small team of three recognising the need for this service for dogs, cats and even alpacas!

Pet Blood Bank runs donation sessions across the country at these locations, where owners can bring their dog in to give blood, helping to save the lives of their furry friends.

The service is managed so that dogs will only ever be asked to donate when there is need for it, meaning that no blood is ever going to go to waste and is always valued and appreciated, no matter how many times they donate.  

TV vet and animal welfare activist, and brand ambassador for Percuro, Dr Scott Miller, details how supportive he is of the organisation, “Pet Blood Bank is a truly special charity that helps to save the lives of our furry friends and reinstates the importance of recognising issues that we are familiar with, but don't think of when it comes to our pets. It is run by animal lovers who truly care about the welfare of pets and are passionate about sharing the cause and getting not only more dogs to donate, but dogs who are happy to donate, something which really sets them apart.”

For any owners who are considering registering their pet for a donation event, the charity lays out a number of criteria a dog must meet in order to be able to donate. 

All doggy donors must be:

• Fit and healthy
• Between one and eight years old
• Weigh more than 25kg
• Have a good temperament
• Have never travelled outside the UK and Ireland
• Be fully vaccinated or have an annual titre test after the first-year booster
• Not on any medication 

In addition, Percuro highlights that keeping your pet healthy pre and post donation is important. Denise Saber, Founder at Percuro stresses “A good diet is key to helping your pet meet the criteria of being able to donate, and it is important that owners recognise what they are feeding their beloved pups to ensure they are healthy and happy. If we feed our dogs better food, we can help ensure that their blood is healthier and therefore it can be of use to dogs that need blood donations. There is even benefit for the dogs making the donation in that it can help it facilitate reduction around iron toxicity or dysfunction in the body leading to improved metabolic function.” 

Additionally, like humans, our beloved dogs have different blood types, and when a transfusion is needed, the same blood type should be given. 

Dogs can either be DEA 1 positive or DEA 2 negative, with most dogs being DEA 1 positive. According to the Pet Blood Bank only 30% eligible dogs are able to donate that have a DEA 1 negative blood type, and there is a huge demand for this type as it can be given to any dog in an emergency, including DEA 1 positive pups. Dog breeds that are more likely to have a negative blood type are:

• Airedale Terrier
• American Bulldog
• Basset Hound
• Bearded Collie
• Border Collie
• Boxer
• Curly Coated Retriever
• Dobermann
• Dogue de Bordeaux
• English Bull Terrier
• Flat Coated Retriever
• German Shepherd
• Greyhound
• Lurcher
• Saluki
• Old English Sheepdog
• Weimaraner

Denise adds: “For pet owners all over the UK, organisations like Pet Blood Bank offer a sense of relief knowing that if their pet was ever in need of blood, they would be able to access it. Awareness of charities like PBB is so important, with more dogs donating blood means that more dogs' lives can be saved, resulting in more happy pups and owners!”

This National Diabetes Week (13-17 June), national vet charity PDSA is raising awareness for the millions of people - and pets - who are living with the condition.  

PDSA Vet Nurse Nina Downing said: “Diabetes is a disease that develops when your pet's body can't produce enough insulin to control their blood sugar level, causing it to become dangerously high. It usually develops when the body attacks the insulin producing cells in the pancreas, which can sometimes happen after pancreatitis. Obesity can also be a cause of diabetes in cats, and can make the condition harder to manage in dogs. If left untreated, diabetes can lead to a potentially life-threatening condition called ‘diabetic ketoacidosis’ (DKA).  

“Most well-managed diabetic pets that respond to treatment can have long, happy lives. However, diabetes cannot be cured, so ongoing treatment and management of diet and exercise is needed. This does take commitment and hard work, and can cost a lot of money over your pet’s lifetime, so please speak with your vet if you have any concerns about treating diabetes in your pet.  

Spotting the symptoms 

“Diabetes can be hard to spot, so it’s important to know the symptoms. One of the first major signs of diabetes in pets is drinking more than usual and, in turn, needing to urinate more often.You might notice an increased appetite, regular vomiting, or that your pet seems under the weather and less energetic. Some of these symptoms may develop slowly over time, so it’s always important to monitor your furry friend – the earlier you spot any changes and contact your vet, the better."

Medical treatment  

“If your dog or cat is diagnosed with diabetes, your vet may prescribe once or twice daily insulin injections. They will demonstrate how to do this safely at home and can give any additional guidance you may need. Your vet may also advise introducing a controlled diet, which means feeding your pet specific types of food at the same times each day to help regulate their blood sugar levels."  

What you can do to help  

“Alongside medical treatment, owners will need to take small steps after diagnosis to help our precious pets lead a fulfilling life. Diet and exercise are essential to any pet’s health and wellbeing, but this is especially important for dogs and cats with diabetes. The healthier your furry friend is, the easier their condition will be to control."  

Keep up a routine

“Stick to a consistent feeding routine and avoid additional foods between meals as this can cause unpredictable changes in blood sugar. Replace extra treats with lots of fuss, play time and attention – they’ll appreciate this just as much as an unhealthy snack!"

The right amount of exercise

“Exercise can affect blood sugar levels, so diabetic dogs and cats will need a set amount, at set times each day. Suddenly increasing or decreasing your pet’s daily exercise could cause their blood sugars to change, so try to keep a steady routine each day and don’t push them too hard.”

A 12-week-old Bichon Frise cross called Daisy has been saved by emergency surgery thanks to vet charity PDSA, after eating 20 coins from her owner’s purse.

Daisy’s story comes as PDSA issues an urgent appeal for support of its life-saving work, providing care for sick and injured pets whose owners struggle to pay for their treatments: www.pdsa.org.uk/pdsa-x-rays.

Mum-of-two owner, Ivana (29), from Cavendish in Derby called PDSA after becoming concerned when her puppy started vomiting repeatedly and stopped eating. Strangely, a 2p coin had been seen in her vomit. Vets advised to bring her straight in to the charity’s Derby Pet Hospital.

Daisy was examined and vets could see her tummy was causing her pain, raising suspicions of a blockage, so she was sedated and X-rayed.

The PDSA team were stunned, as X-rays revealed a shocking number of coins in her stomach. Daisy underwent urgent surgery to remove them, while Ivana, her partner and their two children waited anxiously at home for news.

During the operation, the PDSA team removed a total of twenty coins from her stomach, including THIRTEEN 1ps, three 5ps, two 20ps and two £1 coins – swallowing a total of £2.68!

Ivana said: “I couldn’t believe it when PDSA rang to tell me Daisy had swallowed so many coins. My purse had been missing and we’d searched high and low for it, not thinking it was Daisy who was the culprit who ran off with it! I had no idea a puppy would even eat this sort of thing and we were all beside ourselves with worry and so scared we might lose her. My four-year-old daughter is best friends with Daisy and she was very upset.”

PDSA Vet Nurse, Sally Frith, who works at Derby PDSA Pet Hospital, said: “Daisy has broken a new record - we couldn’t believe the number of coins she’d managed to eat, especially for such a tiny puppy! The coins had been causing a blockage which, if left, could have been fatal, so it’s a good job her owner brought her in to PDSA when she did.

“Daisy has been back for check-ups and we’re pleased she’s recovering and healing well.

“It’s thanks to the X-rays that we were able to accurately diagnose what had happened to Daisy – they are essential for us to be able to provide vital care to poorly pets. Amazingly, across our Pet Hospitals we carry out one X-ray every two minutes but, at £135 to sedate and X-ray Daisy, they are a costly but essential part of our work. Daisy is just one example of the thousands of pets we support every year, offering them a fighting chance of survival and the ability to return home to their loving families.”

Thankfully, the operation was a success and the following day Daisy was able to go home with painkillers and antibiotics.

Ivana added: “We are so grateful to PDSA. The vet team were fantastic and I can’t thank them enough for saving Daisy’s life. They were so supportive during our hour of need and I don’t know what we would have done without them.”

As well as using their mouths to eat, dogs also use them to investigate objects, sometimes swallowing an item by mistake. This behaviour can lead to dogs eating very bizarre objects. Over the years, PDSA vets have found all sorts of bizarre things pets have eaten through essential X-rays – from golf balls, tent pegs, rubber ducks and even a knife!

In times of hardship pets like Daisy will still fall ill or be injured and need emergency, life-saving care. Daisy’s X-ray alone cost the charity £135 and while Daisy’s owners contributed what they could towards her treatment, the total cost of her care came to over £600.

PDSA is appealing for donations so that the charity can continue to provide urgent care to vulnerable pets, whose owners have nowhere else to turn. Every donation will help give a poorly pet the life-saving X-ray and care they so desperately need. To donate, visit www.pdsa.org.uk/pdsa-x-rays.

Claire Harris, founder of the UK's first pet taxi franchise Pets 2 Places, has issued advice to dog owners planning to travel with their pets during hot summer days.

“With the hit and miss weather we have experienced so far this year, it is no surprise that us Brits are looking to hit the coast and parks and enjoy temperatures that will rival the med. Summer is finally here and who better to join us for an adventure than the family dog.

“Anyone who has travelled in a hot car, stuck in traffic etc, will know that it is far from a pleasant experience – no matter how great the tunes. This is especially true for dogs. But, with some forward planning, there is no reason that your furry companion needs to miss out.

 “Take a look at our top tips for travelling with dogs when the hot weather comes.”

Before you travel:

• Make sure your air conditioning is working properly.
• Research where you are going and check out the dog friendly areas ahead of time. You cannot risk leaving your dog in the car for even a minute.
• Know where there is a vet nearby just in case.
• If you are planning to be out for the whole day with the dog (travelling away from where you live), check the temperature before you leave – not just for when you are travelling but throughout the day so you can plan looking for shade etc.
• Avoid them eating before you go out in the car to limit any car sickness.
• If your dog does suffer car sickness, keep them in the middle seat (or boot) motion sickness and heat together can cause dogs to be sicker than they normally would be.
• Don't forget the water and water bowl, so they have access to a drink

On the road with your pet

• Use cool matts, you can chill these in the fridge for extra coolness for double coated dogs.
• Avoid the hottest part of the day for travelling – especially with double coated dogs.
• If dogs are panting, open the windows to let the fresh air in.
• It may look cute but dogs with their heads out of the windows can get all sorts of dirt and bugs in their eyes and ears.
• Carry water on board in case your dog does over heat, never put ice cold water on a dog, always use room temperature to cool them down.
• As always, make sure you are using crash tested pet transport equipment to give your all your passengers that extra peace of mind.

Remember, even using all the above methods, dogs will still struggle with the heat in a car over an extended period of time. If your dog is over heating and you suspect heat stroke ALWAYS contact a vet immediately to seek professional advice.

“For more top tips on travelling safely with your pets, head on over to our dedicated Pet Travel Safety Day page where you can find out more about pet travel safety with our top tips and facts,” added Claire. “You can also share join in the fun on social media as we celebrate Pet Travel Safety Day on 1^st July to help raise awareness on how to travel with pets.”

https://pets2places.co.uk/pet-travel-safety-day/

To support its ongoing commitment to being the specialist pet wholesaler of choice and to build capacity to sustain long-term future growth, Pedigree Wholesale has invested in a new distribution centre located in Yate, Gloucestershire.  

Pedigree Wholesale, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, successfully opened the new site on the 30th of May, transferring its current facilities in Yate to the new location on the same business park. At 51,210 square feet (4,758 Square Metres) it is their largest distribution centre to date.

Over the coming months, Pedigree Wholesale will increase the ranges and product count carried at the new site, and when it is fully stocked and running at capacity, it will create circa 40 new roles to assist the existing team, all of whom have moved over to the new site.

This new site will service the South and West specialist pet and aquatic customers.

Wayne Kinton, Head of Operations, Pedigree Wholesale, said: “This new and exciting expansion strengthens our ability to service our valued customer base better. It also allows us to grow and welcome new customers to our business.”

Gerard O’Mahony, Managing Director, Pedigree Wholesale, said: “Our distribution centres are core to the operational backbone of our business and strengthening this is a key part of our strategy in 2022. We’ve committed to building more capacity into our infrastructure to meet the needs and demands of our customers over the next three years and beyond.”

Exports of British pet products are set for a substantial boost following the success of more than 50 UK companies exhibiting in the PetQuip-organised group at Interzoo, which returned in impressive style to Nuremburg, Germany, last month.

The British firms were supported before and during the show by the experienced events and research team from PetQuip and early reports confirm that worldwide enquiries have been received, export orders have been won and valuable overseas distributorships secured.

The positive outcome brought the following response from Pat Flynn, trade association manager of PetQuip: “We are delighted by the very positive outcome from our exhibiting firms’ stands. Everyone agreed it was fantastic to be able to meet and greet international buyers at Interzoo again.”

The British pet industry information stand hosted by PetQuip attracted unprecedented interest from overseas buyers during the show.

Carina Evans, of Podium Pet Supplies, summed up the mood of companies taking part in the British group, saying: “It was simply brilliant to be back in Europe and in front of our customers. The show was surprisingly busy with an amazing array of retailers and distributors from all over the world. We were really surprised and delighted to see things 100% back to normal.”

And Mark Hirschel, co-founder of HOWND, added: “It was awesome to be back at Interzoo after a four-year hiatus, and great to see existing customers as well as meet loads of new ones. Our plant-based superfood was a hit along with our Making Meat Obsolete bright green bags we gave away. We’re already looking forward to the next show.”

Dr Wen Liu, director of PetDreamHouse, commented: “For us Interzoo is one of the best trade shows to explore global market opportunities because visitors interested in our products are distributors/wholesaler/key account buyers from all over the world. Since returning from the show we have already closed deals for a new market, and we are now looking forward to working with more companies.”

It was a similar story for Group55, whose director of pet care Martin Breen said: “It was great to be back at Interzoo after four years away. We were delighted with how the show went – it was great to meet so many of our overseas customers again and bring them fully up to date with our latest developments and future plans. We also met lots of new buyers from around the globe, and we are hopeful that we will begin trading in further new markets in the near future as a direct result of the show. Our new product developments and forthcoming new branding was all really well received, and we left the show tired but happy with a really strong four days. We look forward to returning in 2024.”

For UK companies exhibiting at Interzoo for the first time, the international exhibition also turned out to be a huge success.

Cheryl Parry, head of marketing at The Barking Bakery, said: “We were filled with trepidation because it was out first Interzoo. But we had no need to worry, the response was phenomenal. We had interest from Australia to Abu Dhabi and everywhere in between and met some fantastic distributors that we would be honoured to work with. Now we are back on UK turf the hard work really does begin…we have a feeling The Barking Bakery will be global in no time.”  

Amanda Sizer Barrett, director general of PetQuip, summarised: “We are extremely pleased to have received or seen so many positive responses from our British exhibitor group as to the tremendous work our events and research team carried out, both in the run-up to the show and throughout build-up and during the event. Their hard work enabled the exhibitors to get on with the job in hand without needing to worry about anything else.

“The British Pavilion looked fabulous and we were the largest national group at the show. We are looking forward to helping the exhibitors with their follow-ups from the event and to helping our pet product member companies to seize many more export opportunities in the months to come.”

Companies that are not yet members of PetQuip yet interested in learning more about the comprehensive range of business advice, market research, international sales leads and practical export support available exclusively to PetQuip members should email info@petquip.com or visit www.petquip.com.

John Burns, veterinary surgeon and founder of Burns Pet Nutrition, has been awarded an MBE for services to business and the community in West Wales. 

The highly prestigious accolade was announced as part of the Her Majesty The Queen’s Birthday 2022 Honours List.  

Burns Pet Nutrition is a family run business based in Kidwelly, South Wales. The natural pet food company has been feeding healthy and happy cats and dogs since 1993 and is helmed by John Burns.  

All Burns products are natural, hypoallergenic and designed to suit all dog breeds and ages. Mr Burns is an advocate of healthy eating and believes that many of the health problems affecting pets are diet related and can be avoided with the correct nutrition. 

Burns continues to support over 30 charities long term and contributes multiple donations throughout the year. The in-house charity, The John Burns Foundation, runs multiple community initiatives, such as Burns by Your Side, a scheme that helps school children improve their literacy and communication skills with the aid of trained volunteers and reading dogs. 

Mr Burns has always aimed to ensure that the brand is not only to be known for natural pet food, but also for establishing and maintaining a legacy of good causes in the community. As such, the John Burns Foundation was set-up in 2006. The focus, rather than being solely animal based, has been a mix of constantly developing projects and partnerships.  

The Foundation aims to help enhance the lives of disadvantaged people, by offering practical recreational facilities and life skill opportunities, as well as using the arts, the outdoors and events to bring enjoyment to the whole community. The charity has recently moved to its flagship new home, at Canolfan John Burns Centre, Kidwelly. 

Mr. Burns said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been honoured by the award of the MBE.  Needless to say, everything that has been achieved here is the result of the combined efforts and dedication of many colleagues working as a team, and I would like to record my thanks to them all.”

To celebrate its 10th anniversary, Long Paws is redesigning the face of dog accessories with a new collection called Funk The Dog.

Long Paws has released a new line of themed collars, leads, harnesses, bandanas, poo bag holders, and bowties, all under the banner of Funk The Dog.

According to Long Paws director, Elan Mansur: “Dogs, like their parents, have been getting bored of plain designs. Dogs need to express themselves in ways that show just how 'funky' they can be.”

Mansur believes that Long Paws’ new Funk The Dog collection is designed to help dogs to be who they want to be.

Long Paws is producing a number of designs under the Funk The Dog collection and is ensuring there are unique designs available to independent retailers that will not be available to the large multiples. Mansur said the new collection has already been extremely successful, with the number of resellers growing daily.

For those resellers who would like to list the collection, they are asked to contact Lauren Bentley, on lauren@longpaws.co.uk.

Independent parcel carrier Yodel has seen pet food deliveries more than double since 2018, as UK consumers turn to online deliveries as a more convenient way to care for their pets.

The significant increase in pet ownership across the UK during the pandemic has been a key driver in the growth of pet food deliveries, with an estimated 3.2 million households taking on a new pet since lockdown began in 2020, according to the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA).

With Covid-19 restrictions coming to an end and more people going back into offices, Yodel has seen a particular surge in the number of pet food subscriptions being taken out. The business now handles more than six million pet food boxes every year.

Growth has been sharp across the UK, with the biggest rise coming from London, where pet food deliveries were up by 277% since 2018, closely followed by the West and Midlands regions, which both increased by 227%.

Carl Moore, COO at Yodel, commented: “With millions of new furry friends on the scene and Covid restrictions over, people are looking for the most convenient way to give their companions the best nutrition and care. Online shopping, particularly with subscription services, gives people one less thing to worry about and means no more hauling big bags of pet food back from the shops.

“Growth in the pet food sector is representative of an overall shift in consumer behaviour towards online delivery, with many now using our services for products which they may not have in the past. This shift also demonstrates our ability to deliver parcels of different shapes and sizes, across a wide range of sectors.”

Yodel continues to expand its presence in the pet food industry, having added Tails, Butternut Box, Zooplus and petplanet.co.uk to its portfolio in recent years.

Visit yodel.co.uk to learn more about its services and shifting logistics trends.