Dog grooming product manufacturer HOWND has launched a new e-commerce site, allowing retailers and groomers to place direct trade orders for their conditioning shampoos and body mists. 

Created by Mark Hirschel and Jo Amit, HOWND offers a range of competitively priced quality grooming products specifically designed for dogs of all breeds, from puppyhood to golden oldies. The company uses blends of meticulously selected essential oils and PH-balanced formulas that provide deep cleaning, while being kind to the skin and coat. 

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 its product labels. This is the only international guarantee against animal testing.

“We’ve worked hard to ensure that our new website visually reflects the quality of our products as well as the colorful personality of HOWND as a business. We’ve made it easy to navigate and place trade orders; retailers and groomers just need to register their details on our website,” explains Jo Amit, co-founder of HOWND.  

“Once registered, both retailers and groomers can access trade prices for our range of 250ml conditioning shampoos and body mists (available in lots of six), along with our 5L 25:1 HOWND Professional grooming range.”

HOWND’s new range of 250ml conditioning shampoos consists of five products: Playful Pup Conditioning Shampoo, Golden Oldies Conditioning Shampoo, Yup You Stink! Conditioning Shampoo, Got An Itch? Conditioning Shampoo, and Keep Calm Conditioning Shampoo. 

In addition, the company’s range of 250ml body mists consists of five products: Playful Pup Body Mist, Golden Oldies Body Mist, Yup You Stink! Body Mist, Got An Itch? Body Mist, and Keep Calm Body Mist. 

Retailers and groomers can also get their hands on 5L HOWND Professional Conditioning Shampoos, which all have a 25:1 dilution rate. This range consists of four products: Playful Pup Conditioning Shampoo, Yup You Stink! Conditioning Shampoo, Got An Itch? Conditioning Shampoo and Keep Calm Conditioning Shampoo. 

For further information about HOWND’s trade prices, please register your details here, or call a member of the team on +44 (0)20 3004 5255.

A not-for-profit organisation run by a husband and wife team has set itself the huge task of equipping every fire engine in the UK with pet oxygen masks. And if successful, the initiative will help to save the lives of hundreds of animals each year.

Avon Fire & Rescue is the first service to trial the use of three specially designed masks in Weston-super-Mare, which have been supplied by Brian Lockyer and his wife Lynn Carberry from Smokey Paws.

Brian and Lynn are full time directors of a PLC, but their concern for pet welfare has resulted in them donating their free time to the worthy cause of equipping the Fire Service with specially designed oxygen masks.

After delivering the first set of masks to Avon Fire & Rescue, Brian explained to Pet Trade Xtra how the idea behind Smokey Paws came about.

"Having a dog, Lynn and I got talking one night about what would we do if there was a fire in the house," said Brian.

"We found a moving story on the internet from America about how many dogs, cats and rabbits had been saved from smoke inhalation by using pet oxygen masks that had been donated to the USA Fire Service.

"We contacted a number of UK fire stations only to find that they did not carry them. From that moment Smokey Paws was born because we felt we had to do something.

Where do get your pet oxygen masks?
We have to import them currently from the USA. However, we are looking for a manufacturer in the UK.

How many Fire Services have taken your masks?
Our aim is to have one set on every fire engine – there are just  under 2,000 trucks in service. We had them tested and checked by the Fire Service, and now they are approved Weston-super-Mare received the first set last week. People can nominate a fire station on our website www.smokeypaws.co.uk. Newcastle is the next station.

What's been the response like from the Fire Service industry?
The Fire Service have welcomed the masks with open arms, stating  they are a fantastic addition to the kit they carry. Weston-super-Mare station rescued nine dogs and one cat last year and they said that normally they have to try to use human masks that do not work well on pets. These masks will be vital to them.

How can the pet industry get behind this initiative?
It's estimated that 46% of households in the UK have pets, and there were 41,800 reported house fires in 2014. We hope the pet industry plays an essential part in spreading the word that Smokey Paws is trying to make sure all our pets have the best chance of survival in a fire. We need the pet industry to sponsor us in different ways, from simply contacting us at info@smokeypaws.co.uk to be sent a poster to put up in their stores. Other ways people can help are: cash donations via the website; talks to schools and arranging local fundraisers, like cake stands, bring your pet to school days etc. Dog walkers can buy and wear our T-shirts. Shops can contact us to be sent collection boxes to sit near the till in their stores, or they may have their  own ideas. But please do not do nothing.

How many people are involved in the running of the organisation?
At the moment there is Lynn and I and we have a part-time helper. We are hoping to find a campaign manager soon who will start our street fundraising program.

Are you all volunteers?
Yes, we are a not-for-profit organization.

Do you attend events to raise awareness and raise money?
Yes, and we would love to hear from your readers if they have or know of events that they would like us to attend. We have to watch every penny, as we would rather give a set of pets oxygen masks to the fire service.

Is there evidence that these masks have saved lives already?
Yes, across the USA the masks have saved thousands of pets' lives. Our website covers two moving stories where pets have been saved.

Is it your goal that every fire engine in the country has these  masks?
Yes, and then we need to look at other first responders. The RSPCA go out to horrific scenes – for instance, dogs struggling in water. Basically, if there is a situation where a pet suffers from breathing problems, a pet oxygen mask needs to be right there.

View of a firefighter
Jon Brown, station manager at Weston-Super-Mare, said: "In the event of a fire in the home families with animals are always concerned about how their pets will get out of the property. Firefighters often have to enter premises to search for missing animals which may have taken in smoke.

"We can be asked to search a smoke-filled house for an animal and when we find it, it may be unconscious and not breathing. In some cases pets are can be affected by smoke much quicker than humans.

"This new equipment means we have special masks to use on dogs and cats which may need oxygen. A few minutes can be the difference between life and death so the sooner we can give oxygen the better and this equipment allows us to do this."

Scotts Miracle-Gro is set to be close all of the Solus brands, with the exception of Chapelwood, less than a year after buying them. There are now fears that the Bermuda brand, which was due to exhibit at AQUA in October, could disappear from the market place.

An announcement from the company yesterday said that Scotts Miracle-Gro had completed the integration of Scotts Solus Brands into the core business.

The statement added: "An extensive review of the business has shown us that the ChapelWood brand has a significant future alongside the existing Scotts Miracle-Gro portfolio. We have already invested in the brand and this will culminate in a ChapelWood relaunch later in the summer with a range of new products, packaging, branding and marketing support.

"We will be looking to divest the remaining brands and products with a view to exiting from them at the earliest opportunity."

Sheila Hill, General Manager of The Scotts Company (UK), said: “We are extremely excited about ChapelWood and what it can do for the bird care category and for the core Scotts Miracle-Gro business. It’s about driving category growth with our business partners. The remaining brands, while still strong, are not core to us right now and we will be looking at ways to smoothly exit those businesses.”

The official announcement added: "This change has no effect on the core business of Scotts Miracle-Gro in the UK. Scotts Miracle-Gro regards the UK as one of its major flagship international markets. There is continued strong investment here by Scotts Miracle-Gro in the USA, showing that the company is still extremely committed to the UK gardening market.

"We are currently working on how to move forward and which decisions will be best for the business, our retail customers and our staff. We will communicate these decisions as soon as they are made.

"We are working closely with our customers who stock these brands to ensure continuity of supply through the rest of the season and how we will support them through the transition process to minimise disruption to their business."

Natures Menu is on target to sell over 1,000 freezers for its RAW pet food in 2015, a remarkable achievement when you consider that each freezer generates on average £12,000 in sales per year for the independent pet trade.

"In 2014 we sold over 500 freezers to the pet trade in the UK, and this year they are on target to double freezer sales," said Peter Roy, Natures Menu business development director.

"Sales have traditionally been focused on the chest freezer. “It’s a great way to get started for those unsure about sell frozen pet food." 

Entry level freezers start at £495  plus VAT and Natures Menu contributes over £300 of product with their freezer deals.

Natures Menu was overwhelmed with interest at PATS Sandown in March when it launched the upright and overhead units. Last year they had some interest in uprights, but the chest freezers dominated sales. 

"Over 50% of the 188 freezers sold since PATS have been either the overhead or upright units," added Peter.

"Whilst the chest freezers hold excellent stock levels, and lower initial cost, the new additions add some theatre to the retail experience.

"The overhead unit offers those who have purchased the chest freezer, and seen sales grow, the opportunity to easily add more retail space above the chest freezer."

For further information on all freezer deals contact your local Account Manager or sales@naturesmennu.co.uk

In an online world competing for customers and footfall can feel like a never ending challenge for bricks and mortar retailers, says Paul Steckler, director of the successful Oscar & Hooch company.

"We all know that gaining new customers and satisfying existing ones is like being on a hamster wheel. There are no magic bullets but here are 10 steps that may help retailers focus resources on the right customers."

1. Know your demographics
Understanding your local population is crucial – a good starting point is free postcode checking sites such as www.checkmyarea.com by inputting your postcode you very quickly see the kind of population you are serving. Capture this data and then qualify it by speaking with people in your area and other successful store owners.

2. Segment your customers
Once you have a good handle on the different social groups you should be able to easily categorise them. You can use the A-E social classification or you can simplify to suit your needs (i.e. big spenders, bargain hunters etc.). With a good handle on demographics and segments you will very easily be able to work out how many customers fit into each segment – for pet ownership stats the pfma (www.pfma.org.uk) provide some useful numbers – use these with your own area if you don’t know the number of dog owners for example.

3. Segment your competition
It is likely that established competition will have a target group in mind and will serve them well- for example discount stores will be very heavily targeting the bargain hunters. Be clear on which segments you believe your competitors serve well and categorise accordingly.

4. Identify the most profitable customers
I will use dog food as a simple illustration of how this could work-if you have 2000 dog owners in segment A (high spenders) and 4000 in segment C (bargain hunters) you can quickly work out how profitable a super-premium food might be vs. a value food. Aside from margin you should also assume different buying behaviours- those with the higher disposable income may have a higher propensity to impulse buy, likewise bargain hunters may buy increased volume if there is a deal to be had. Once you are clear on the opportunity per customer you should allocate the different segments points out of 10 (10 being the most profitable).

5. Assess accessibility of your groups
Next review how easy these customers are to access - if your most profitable customers are bargain hunters and you are situated next door to a well-established value chain you may find accessing these customers difficult. It is therefore crucial you review your competitor segments and your own knowledge to allocate a score out of 10 for accessibility to your customer segments (10 where there is no competition for example) - the easier the group to access, the higher the score. If you are in a high area of tourism and you are situated opposite a major attraction then accessibility to this group would also be high and so forth.

6. Rank your segments
Now you have scores out of 10 for profitability and accessibility you can now plot them on a very simple graph (with profitability on the X axis and accessibility on the Y axis):
Those that appear towards the top right hand side should be your prime groups (if they are not already). These will give you the best opportunity for success with high profitability and easier access to the group.

7. Remain objective
It is now when doubt may creep in, it may feel easier to revert back to what you have always been doing – this is fine if that’s working, if not you should trust the analysis and move onto step 8!

8. Be clear on your stores proposition
If your analysis is leading you towards ultra-premium customers then make sure everything about your store and customer experience is ultra-premium. This may involve changing displays, staff training, changing opening times (if your target group all work then shutting at 5pm may not be the best strategy). Once you are clear on which customer group you are targeting then ensure this follows through on everything you do (this is particularly relevant if you do any social media activities - volume is of less importance, getting to the right customer is of greater importance).

9. Partner
The need to change may create resources you currently do not have, look at this as an opportunity and partner with those that do - whether that be your local vet (puppy classes for example) or a dog groomer and possibly even a local bakery (if you want to make your own pet friendly birthday cakes for example).

10. Remember the seasons
Every season brings a new store opportunity, Christmas always presents a great opportunity but it is wise to treat every seasonal opportunity with the same gusto and meticulous planning well ahead of time.

Finally ensure you review your plan at least monthly against some clear goals (footfall, new customers engaging on social media, gross profit etc…) and last but by no means least continue to interact with your customers and capture all of the little nuggets of information –these are valuable marketing insights that should be harnessed for future opportunities - your suppliers would also love to know what you know!

To contact Paul email paul@oscarandhooch.com. Visit the website www.oscarandhooch.com

Peter Dimambro, the owner of award-winning The Pet Centre Minehead in Somerset, was shocked when he received an email offering him the chance to win a £20 gift voucher to be spent in Pets at Home store...

"As a pet shop I found this enewsletter quite insulting," said Peter. "I do wish people who use technology would learn to use it properly."

The Pet Centre Minehead was voted Pet Retailer of the Year in 2014 by the Pet Product Retail Association, after it received comments like “this shop is extremely friendly, and offers very knowledgeable advice and information," and "they have a fabulous reputation with their customers, offering an excellent range of products.” 

So Peter was more than a little surprised to receive the communication.

Peter added: "I did actually reply to the email but I haven't received any further communication."

The nearest Pets at Home store is 25 miles from The Pet Centre Minehead, and Peter has no intention of visiting it any time soon.

Export sales of British pet products are set for a major boost as UK exhibitors return from the Zoomark international pet trade show held in Bologna, Italy last week. 

Since 2007, when the PetQuip export association started organising the British pavilion at the biennial event, the pavilion has more than doubled in size and over 70 British firms have seen their export sales grow. 

The majority of UK exhibitors received cash grants towards the cost of exhibiting, secured for the companies by PetQuip by bidding for the event to be supported under UK Trade & Investment’s Tradeshow Access Programme. 

 This year, exhibitors returning to the UK have reported that sales and potential business from worldwide markets secured at the exhibition are above and beyond their expectations.  As with any exhibition, it will take time for the full benefits to be known, but 2015 looks like being another record year for Britain’s pet product exporters.  

At the end of four busy days for the PetQuip group exhibitors, a number of valuable orders were announced. Among them was Micro-ID which announced that it had taken an order from Dubai for 5,000 of its new implanter syringes that allow a micro-chip to be inserted into a pet in a more pleasant way for the animal. A contract was also signed with Aruba. 

Tastybone also secured the biggest order the company had ever received at a show from a new Greek customer and another from Spain. 

The Company of Animals reported lots of pre-orders for their new interactive dog toy, the Foobler, particularly from new German customers at the show. 

Pet Rebellion was also one of the success stories, securing a large order for its product range from a chain of 430 stores. 

The Canny Company has secured major orders for the Canny Maglok through the Italian company Wonderfood, the company’s largest distributor.  The firm also attracted strong interest from Spain, Turkey, Macedonia and Poland, the latter three being countries where the company has had no previous distribution.  Canny Company asserted that its success this year was due to the company exhibiting within the PetQuip group rather than independently at the show. 

Activity in securing new distributors was also at a high level with White Python claiming to have the potential to work with distributors in around 15 new countries, including Spain, Italy and France.  The company exhibited its innovative and modern reptile products that include a full range of modular LED lighting systems. 

Animology is also expecting to appoint new overseas distributors as a result of exhibiting at the show, together with sales leads to pass on to its existing distributors.  In addition to its multi-award winning British pet care ranges, Animology launched a brand new range comprising three high quality equine grooming products, together with new cat grooming products at the show.

Many other British exhibitors were anticipating growth in export business following the exhibition.  

• Profleece received enquiries from Estonia, Latvia, Romania and Russia. 
• Devoted Pet Foods was a first time exhibitor but attracted interest from countries as diverse as Israel and Finland plus many enquiries from Italy. 
• ProtectaPet is now following up numerous leads from countries in the Northern Hemisphere. 
• Forthglade launched its grain-free range for the first time at a European show and received significant interest from around 1,000 visitors to the company’s stand. 
• Vitalin took its rebranded Super Premium Life Stage range to Zoomark and stated that it is now very enthusiastic about the future of Vitalin Natural internationally.

Ken Seymour, of Tastybone, summed up the mood of the British contingent when he said: "Zoomark was once again a tremendous show for Tastybone.  We attended the show with a wish list and we are happy to say we exceeded our target.  We took several large orders at the show, and on the day we arrived home we received orders from a number of new distributors acquired at the show."

The PetQuip industry information stand was no less busy, reported director general Amanda Sizer Barrett.

“Once, again the show has proved to be a resounding success for the British exhibitors, and the PetQuip team manning the information stand also welcomed buyers from all over Europe, including many central and eastern European countries," said Amanda.

"Also, we were pleased to meet with representatives from Australia, Japan and the USA. Buyers included pet chains, independent pet shops, importers/distributors/wholesalers and web stores. 

"A number of buyers who had taken part in PetQuip-organised ‘Meet the Buyer’ events in the UK in the past also visited the stand to meet with their UK suppliers and to source more products from Britain. These buyers included the Dutch pet chain Ranzijn Tuin & Dier, the Swiss pet chain Meiko Heimtierbedarf, the Dutch importers/distributors Eye4Pets and Warmako and the Romanian importers/distributors and retailer Animax.  

"We will continue to work with exhibitors after the event to ensure that we help them to convert their business leads into new export sales."

To contact PetQuip cal 01959 565995, email info@petquip.com or visit www.petquip.com

The Pet Industry Federation is hosting a ‘Meet the Buyer’ afternoon on Monday, November 16, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Liverpool - a fitting opener to its renowned Pet Industry Forum & Awards event, which will run from Tuesday to Wednesday, November 17-18.

PIF has invited more than 12 UK and European Buyers to meet up to 50 manufacturers from both the UK and overseas. Manufacturers/suppliers will have the chance to present their products to each of the top buyers attending.  Unlike other ‘Meet the Buyer’ opportunities, PIF’s event will enable each manufacturer to have a table and roller banner, and buyers will visit manufacturers for a five minute presentation.

“As this week is UKTI’s Export Week, we felt this was a great time to let the UK pet industry know further details of our forthcoming ‘Meet the Buyer’ event”, said PIF’s CEO Nigel Baker. He continued: “Meet the Buyer’ will offer the perfect opportunity for companies that are new to export to test the waters and speak to prospective buyers in a relaxed and friendly environment. In the evening, PIF will host a networking dinner at which the buyer/manufacturer conversations can continue.”

PIF has organised this event to introduce manufacturers to overseas buyers and to aid UK exports, as well as to help both UK and overseas manufacturers reach UK buyers.

The following retailers and distributors have so far agreed to attend:

• New Global Pet (Spain/Portugal)
• Musti ja Mirri (Finland/Sweden)
• Dobey/Faunaland (Holland)
• Petouch (Greece)
• Iris (Slovenia)
• Pets Corner (GB)
• Pedigree Wholesale (GB)
• Just for Pets (GB)
• Pets at Home (GB)
• PamPurred Pets (GB)

An additional dimension to the event will be the ‘Best Product Awards’. During the course of the afternoon, buyers will nominate their top products, with the winners announced at the black-tie Pet Industry Awards dinner the following evening – Tuesday 17 November.

Members of PIF and its trade associations will be given preference to attend the event. Manufacturers and suppliers wishing to attend should email: alexandra.baker@petfederation.co.uk or telephone 01234 273 933. Tickets to attend start at £250 per manufacturer and online booking is available. For further information on both the Forum & Awards and the ‘Meet the Buyer’ event, as well as to book places, visit: www.petfederation.co.uk

Pooch & Mutt’s bestselling range of premium treats were featured on XFM Breakfast Show. The presenter had a laugh when a listener offered the pet company as a contender for their ‘Pretentious Products’ feature.

Jon Holmes encouraged listeners to root through their household items for products with luxurious ingredients and extravagant names. The presenter cried ‘It’s only dog food!’ when a listener explained her parents feed their dog Pooch & Mutt’s ethical, natural, low-calorie, gluten-free, hand-baked dog treats! The clip can be viewed here.

Pooch & Mutt’s growth and success has highlighted the increasing demand for natural and ethical products in the UK dog food industry. Dog owners are becoming increasingly aware of premium ingredients, ethical accreditation and the health benefits of the products they feed their dogs. The British public want to know exactly what is in the dog food they are buying, as many dogs are viewed as an important member of the family.

But this XFM listener wasn’t the only one who thought Pooch & Mutt were a bit too pandering to dogs.

Pooch & Mutt were also spotted in Buzzfeed’s “The 31 Most Middle-Class Things That Have Ever Happened” making it to number 18.

A greedy puppy from Ponteland, Newcastle, nearly died after chomping on a barbeque skewer which punctured his intestine and caused an infection so serious he would have died if left untreated.

Owner Julie Chamberlain first became concerned when her seven-month-old Bull Mastiff cross, Kuma, went off his food and started being sick.

She rushed him to Gateshead PDSA Pet Hospital, where an ultrasound scan showed unusual fluid in his abdomen.

With X-rays not clearing up the mystery of Kuma’s distress the next step was for vets to carry out exploratory surgery.

PDSA vet nurse Rebecca Johnston said: “Everyone was stunned when we found out what was causing the problem.

“Kuma had a large abscess in his abdomen. We then found the culprit - a 10cm wooden kebab skewer. It had clearly been there for a while, as it had punctured through his intestine to move into his abdominal cavity. This had caused a major infection - Kuma is very lucky to be alive!”

Kuma received round-the-clock intensive care from PDSA for a couple of days, but thankfully he was soon back on four paws – and free from tummy ache.  

Julie and her family were desperately worried, as they realised how serious his condition was:

“We thought we would lose him. The kids were devastated and I was heartbroken. When the vet said it was a kebab skewer I was totally shocked, as I’m incredibly careful with Kuma due to his tendency to eat everything in sight. I have no idea where he got it from. I’m just so grateful to PDSA for everything they’ve done, the care and attention Kuma received was second to none.”

Kuma has a history of gobbling things he shouldn’t – he tried to eat his own harness once and has also chewed and eaten half a remote control.

Julie added: “Kuma is adorable but it’s like having a naughty toddler – I have to keep an eye on him every hour of every day.

"He sleeps in my room with the door closed so he doesn’t get into mischief at night and wears a muzzle outside the house, simply to prevent him eating anything he comes across.

"I’ve now started working with a dog trainer to help with Kuma’s behaviour, and to teach him what he can and can’t eat!”

With barbeque season approaching, PDSA vets have put together a handy guide to keep pets safe and sound this Bank Holiday. It is available at www.pdsa.org.uk/summerhealth

PDSA’s BBQ safety tips for pets

• Skip the scraps - eating barbecue scraps can upset your pet’s stomach – undercooked, unfamiliar or fatty food can cause vomiting and diarrhoea.
• Bin it – make sure any leftover food and rubbish is properly thrown away in a lidded dustbin. PDSA vets see many pets that have eaten corn-on-the-cob-cores, which can cause a serious blockage, or kebab skewers which can perforate internal organs. These have to be surgically removed.
• Don’t be a ‘fuel’ - lighter fluid contains hydrocarbons (derived from crude oil), which can prove fatal if ingested. So keep it well out of reach.
• Flamin’ hot – playing around a barbecue can lead to severe burns, so pets should be kept well away from flames and burning embers.
• Watch what you drink – make sure that glasses and drinks are not within reach of thirsty pets. Alcohol is particularly hazardous for pets and glass bottles or cups can be easily knocked over and smash – so plastic cups are a much better option.
• Slap on the sun cream – pets can suffer from sunburn and heatstroke just like humans, so if you’re enjoying the sun ensure your four-legged friends have access to shade and plenty of fresh water. Special pet sun creams can be used on pets with white fur or exposed skin, take extra care with white ears and noses. 

About PDSA

PDSA has 51 Pet Hospitals across the UK providing a vital lifeline for the pets of owners in need. Entirely funded by generous public support, PDSA sees more than 470,000 pets every year – more than all other animal charities combined. The dedicated veterinary teams provide more than 2.7 million treatments annually ranging from major operations and emergencies, to routine preventive care such as vaccinations. For more information visit www.pdsa.org.uk.

Aquatics goods retailer Fishkeeper Scotland is set to invest £250,000 in an expansion that will see the firm establish a presence in Aberdeen and Dundee.

The firm is taking on sites within branches of the Tesco-owned Dobbies Garden Centre chain in the two cities, adding to its existing portfolio of stores in Coatbridge, Inverness and Leith.

The existing aquatics section in Dundee is due to be taken over at the end of May.

He added: “We are really looking forward to offering everything a fishkeeper needs in both cities and we are confident the stores will be as hugely successful as the others in Scotland.”

Christian said the stores will stock more than 200 aquariums and 5,000 exotic invertebrates and tropical freshwater, marine, coldwater and pond fish from around the world.

Fishkeeper Scotland is an independently operated arm of Maidenhead Aquatics, which was set up in 1984 and has 140 stores in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and employs more than 700 people.

Ancol has launched its 2015/16 trade catalogue which is packed with lots of new and exciting products.

Beautifully designed dog coats, comfy dog bedding, quirky cat pyramids, striking cat and dog dishes, fashionable bandanas… these are just some of the many products you’ll find in Ancol’s catalogue.

Sarah Lane, sales director at Ancol, says: “Our innovations team has been working hard over the last 12 months to bring you lots of new and exciting ranges.

"This year, we’ve also created some ‘theatre’ for your store in order to help attract consumers, such as with our Small Animal and Small Bite ranges, shampoo and cologne, and collars and leads. We hope you like our new catalogue – please let us know what you think at feedback@ancol.co.uk.”

Following the success of Ancol’s Small Bite range for smaller dogs and puppies, they’ve extended their Small Bite collars and leads and introduced a new range of comfy harnesses for small dogs and puppies. They’ve also launched new pet carry bags with stunning designs and colours, together with matching mini treat pouches.

Look out for their new range of winter dog coats, including a traditional green and orange Parka dog coat which is thermally lined for extra warmth. Plus your customers will love the new additions to the Halloween and Christmas ranges!

To request a catalogue call 01922 402428, email sales@ancol.co.uk or ask your local sales representative. 

Members of the Pet Industry Federation have access to an even wider range of benefits, thanks to two new schemes being launched by the organisation yesterday (Wednesday).

PIF Card Processing and a new Commercial Finance arrangement are available to all members of PIF and its umbrella trade associations and have been designed to help pet businesses to remain one step ahead of their competitors.

PIF Card Processing gives members access to a free, no obligation, health check from PIF’s partners 123Send. They will review card processing rates, terminal requirements and offer expert advice on any value added services that could benefit member businesses. One significant advantage of 123Send is that their terminals can be linked to merchant accounts from all the major UK card processors, giving businesses the flexibility to change card processing provider without having to change terminal infrastructure. 123Send can also ensure that members’ current solutions are best for them.

PIF has also teamed up with Jelf Commercial Finance to help its members purchase larger scale items to facilitate growth and expansion. With over 50 years’ experience in the financial industry, the team at Jelf Commercial Finance have access to a varied range of funders and are able to tailor finance packages to suit specific requirements. Jelf can help members finance assets such as packaging or manufacturing machinery, processing equipment, kennel re-builds or refurbishments, hydrobaths, CCTV systems, EPOS and software.

Members interested in finding out more about accessing either benefit should visit the membership section on the PIF website at www.petfederation.co.uk or call the Customer Service Centre on 01234 273933.

Swedish dog trainer Nina Ottosson, whose interactive dog games and puzzles are distributed in the UK by The Company of Animals, has been named a winner in the 2015 Pet Age Women of Influence awards program (US).

The aim to the awards is to honour some of the outstanding female leaders within the pet industry.

Nina's interactive games have been designed to stimulate a dog’s brain whilst reinforcing it’s relationship with the family. Her philosophy is that the dog has four legs and one head and all five need activity in different ways - both physical and mental.

Nina developed her range of dog activity toys and games shortly after becoming a mother and found that she no longer had the time to activate her pet dogs the way they were used to.

She was an owner of two Bouvier des Flandres that she used to train and compete with. She eventually started to think about how to activate her dogs in a simple, fun and varied way indoors, together with the kids, and since 1990 she has worked with development and design of dog activity toys and games that stimulate the dog mentally, in other words, 'brainteasers' for dogs.

The toys are fun and creative, easy to play with indoors or outdoors, and are developed with the dog’s natural movements and instincts in mind.

Check out some of her range of interactive games for your pets here: http://companyofanimals.co.uk/brands/nina-ottoson

An arrest has been made in a murder investigation that's gone unsolved for more than 20 years.

Arthur Brumhill was 76 when he was found beaten to death in the basement of the pet shop in Northampton where he worked in 1993.

Now a 39-year-old man, formerly from Northampton, but who now lives in West Yorkshire, has been arrested.

3P Enterprise Ltd has launched a range of products focused on keeping pets cool, refreshed and comfortable during the summer months.

Recognising that hot weather can be the cause of stress to dogs, the range is designed for improving animal comfort during summer travel, and ensuring hydration and control of body temperature.

Launched under the Hugs brand the Chilly Gel Mats can be used straight from the box in crates or beds to lower the dog’s body temperature. Available in 5 sizes to suit most breeds the Chilly mat provides dogs with a place of refuge during warm weather. The Hugs Hydro Toys with TPR outer and foam core soak up water before use and then provide hydration to the dog during play. They can be frozen offering additional cooling benefits. Also from Hugs are the Arctic Water Dog Toys, which contain water which can be frozen for a cooling effect.

Under the Petmate brand 3P Enterprise are offering several travel beds for summer journeys. The Roll-n-Go travel bed has a micro fibre outer and cosy fleece cover. The bed simply rolls away for easy portability and provides a quick temporary bed for days and nights away. Also available is the Canine Hardware Travel bed, a sleeping bag style construction offering insulation from hot and cold floors and supplied in a stuff sack making it easy transportable.

Hydration is everything for pets in warm weather and, with this in mind, 3P Enterprise are offering robust collapsible silicon travel bowls under the Bamboo Brand. Available in 2 sizes and 3 colours, the bowls fit easily in a pocket or bag for use when out and about. For hydration in the home, the Petmate Replendish gravity waterer, provides a constant supply of water for your pets, giving owners peace of mind that their pets have access to fresh water.

To take stock of these and other great summer products please visit www.3penterprise.co.uk. 

A ginger and white cat called Biscuit from Cambridgeshire has been named the best household pet in the country.

Biscuit won the 'household pet of the year' award from The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy - an organisation that dates back more than 100 years.

Biscuit, lives with his owner Linda Hutchinson in Little Downham near Ely.

Linda runs Ely Cats Protection and in her spare time she enters Biscuit for cat shows in the non-pedigree section.

It was his winning record over the past year that helped him to claim the award.

His full name is UK Olympian Gold Imperial Grand Master Cat Biscuit, but that's not a name that Linda has given him, it's a title he has acquired over the past few years by winning so many competitions.

In winning best household pet Biscuit beat a rival pedigree cat.

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) Scottish Branch has elected Grace Webster as its new President.

As part of the network of regional and specialist divisions, the branches in the devolved administrations contribute local knowledge and expertise into the wider lobbying and representational activities of the BVA. Lively and active branches are vital to BVA’s efforts in the devolved governments to progress a range of issues.

In the last year, BVA and BVA Scottish Branch have worked productively with the Scottish Government to secure improved rates for Official Veterinarians in Scotland, and played an important role in the Government’s decision as part of a wider ranging review of pet welfare legislation to carry out a review of the trade in exotic animals as pets and the introduction of compulsory microchipping for dogs from Spring 2016. 

In the coming year, BVA and BVA Scottish Branch will work together on issues ranging from the need for a new slaughter facility at Forfar to prevent unnecessary long-distance transport of cull sows to ensuring that Scotland’s ban on tail docking dogs remains in place.

During her term as President, Grace will be the principal representative of BVA’s Scottish Branch in relation to veterinary matters.

Grace’s veterinary career has been largely spent in mixed practice in Aberdeenshire, starting out as an assistant, and progressing to a partner and eventually a director. For the last four years, she has run a specialist pig practice covering much of Scotland and guest lectured in pig medicine and husbandry at Scottish Universities. She is currently the Senior Vice President of the Pig Veterinary Society. Grace was elected by the Scottish Branch at its AGM on 13 May 2015. 

Grace said: “I am so pleased to have been elected as President of BVA Scottish Branch by my colleagues and I am extremely grateful to Ronnie Soutar, our Senior Vice President, for everything he has achieved this year.

"We want to maintain the very positive relationship we have with the Scottish Government and build on those successes as well as tackling challenges ahead. I encourage all BVA members in Scotland to contact us and engage with us to ensure we know their views and represent them.

"We are proud of BVA's on-going commitment to its members in Scotland and welcome its support for further engagement between Branch and key Scottish stakeholders." 

Congratulating Grace on her election, BVA President John Blackwell said: “BVA’s Branches are vital in safeguarding animal welfare and representing the views of veterinary surgeons in the devolved nations, where animal health and welfare are the responsibility of the individual nation. 

"The work of the Scottish Branch and Grace and her colleagues brings invaluable expertise to discussions about relevant animal, agricultural and veterinary policy in Scotland as well as playing a hugely important role when it comes to influencing politicians.

“I am delighted to welcome Grace as President and know that she will help take forward the successes of the last year. Ronnie and Grace, together with Kathleen Robertson as the regional representative for Scotland on BVA Council, will be a team to be reckoned with in the nicest possible way.”

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has welcomed the ‘Veterinary Nurses (Protection of Title) Bill,’ submitted to the House of Lords by Professor the Lord Trees, Council Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), as a fantastic step in recognising the unique contributions of veterinary nurses.

Lord Trees submitted the ‘Veterinary Nurses (Protection of Title) Bill’ to the ballot of the House of Lords yesterday (Tuesday 19 May) through a Private Member’s Bill.

If passed the Bill would prohibit use of the title ‘veterinary nurse’ for any person whose name is not on the RCVS Register of Veterinary Nurses.

Any non-registered person who used the title veterinary nurse or a name, title or description that implied they were on the Register would be guilty of an offence and may be fined or convicted under the Veterinary Surgeons Act.

Commenting John Blackwell, BVA President, said: “Lord Trees’ submission of a Private Members’ Bill to the House of Lords which would legally protect the title ‘veterinary nurse’ will undoubtedly help place the issue on the new Government’s agenda and BVA will do everything it can to promote and support the Bill.

“BVA has long supported full recognition of the role of veterinary nurses, who are an essential part of the veterinary team. The new RCVS Charter was a historic step that established a regulated veterinary nursing profession. Now we need to go one step further and protect the title of RVN. 

“We fully support RCVS on this Bill and commend the work of Lord Trees as we are hearing loud and clear from our members that this is an issue they are passionate about, and they want to see this title protected. 

“Not only will this recognise the skills of qualified veterinary nurses and the unique contribution they make to the veterinary team, it will give clients confidence in the professional roles of all team members caring for their animals.

“We’ll be doing our best to ensure the Bill progresses through the various stages required – including being drawn sufficiently high in the ballot and debated in the Lords and Commons – before it is enshrined into law.”