There are currently more than 70,000 pets missing in the UK, according to Petlog, which has this week revealed its Lost Pet Map to kick-start National Microchipping Month...

Petlog, the UK’s largest lost and found database for microchipped pets, found that 16,122 dogs and 55,038 cats reported missing between 2003 to May 2014 have yet to be reunited with their owner.

However, during the same time period a total of more than 60,000 dogs and over 100,000 cats were reported missing. That means, according to the Petlog database, 75% of dogs and 45 % of cats were reunited thanks to their microchip.

The Lost Pet Map highlights regions in the country with high numbers of missing pets which haven't yet been reunited with their owners. The main reason why pets aren’t successfully returned home is because their owners fail to keep their contact details up to date with their microchip database.

The majority were reported lost or stolen in England (13,842 dogs and 50,581 cats), followed by Wales (2,201 cats and 1,116 dogs), Scotland (1,944 cats and 665 dogs) and Northern Ireland (483 dogs and 158 cats). The South East is the region with the most missing pets with more than 10,000 cats and over 2,000 dogs currently missing. This was followed by London with more than 7,000 cats and 1,500 dogs currently missing. The North East has the fewest missing pets but still has over 1,000 cats and more than 700 dogs reported missing.

The statistics would have been a lot higher if the dogs were not microchipped, as in the South East over 7,000 dogs were lost and reunited with their owner during the same time period, and over 4,000 reunited in London.

The research also looked at the areas with the most microchipped pets and found that Lancashire is the county with the most microchipped pets. As well as the common companion animals featured on the database – other animals microchipped with Petlog included 11,000 ferrets, 23 elephants, 45 meerkats and 144 skunks.

For over ten years Petlog, which is managed by the Kennel Club, has been running National Microchipping Month throughout June to raise the profile of pet microchipping and its benefits, and also to educate pet owners about how it works, the need to keep contact details up to date and how to get the most out of a lost and found database.   

Celia Walsom, Petlog Executive said: “The statistics are shocking that so many pets are currently missing in the UK. A microchip is a wonderful thing and helps to reunite tens of thousands of pets with their owners but it is not a magic wand and will not work if pet owners do not keep their contact details up to date with their microchipping database. A lot of families move house and change phone numbers making it impossible to reunite their pets in a lot of cases.

"National Microchipping Month aims to educate pet owners around the country and encourage them to engage with their vets and microchip databases to learn more about microchipping and how it directly affects them and their pet.

"The Lost Pet Map is to highlight the areas with the most lost pets and to encourage pet owners to check their contact details to ensure they give themselves the best possible chance of being reunited with their pet in the unfortunate event that their pet goes missing."

To find out more about National Microchipping Month visit www.nationalmicrochippingmonth.org.uk

Petlog has today launched its ‘Welcome Home’ video featuring crowdsourced content from dog owners across the UK to promote National Microchipping Month. 

The video made of clips of owners being welcomed home by their beloved pets aims to highlight the importance of dog owners keeping their contact details up to date with their microchipping database to ensure dogs have the best chance of being reunited if lost or stolen.

The video accompanies the database’s Lost Pet Map which was launched to highlight the high number of dogs that are currently still missing in the UK – there are currently 16,122 dogs that were reported missing between 2003 to May 2014 that have yet to be reunited with their owner.

Petlog, the UK’s largest lost and found database asked people on social media platforms including Facebook and Twitter to send in videos of their dogs greeting them at their front doors.

Petlog, which is managed by the Kennel Club, worked alongside Banana Split on the video.  The production company compiled the crowdsourced clips for the final film to promote National Microchipping Month – which takes place throughout June.

Celia Walsom, Petlog Executive, said: “The Welcome Home video highlights the heart wrenching experience that dog owner’s face when their dog goes missing. A dog is a part of the family and we encourage people to check their contact details are up to date during National Microchipping Month to give them the best chance of being reunited in the event that their dog is lost or stolen.”

To view the video please click here.

American company Gramercy Products Inc., of Secaucus, NJ, America, has named Rolf C. Hagen as the exclusive distributor of NERF DOG toys in Europe. 

Covering the entire European market, the agreement will have Hagen distribute the toys from its facilities throughout the continent.  NERF DOG toys made their European debut at the Hagen Interzoo stand in Nuremberg.

Introduced to North America in 2013 by Gramercy Products under license from Hasbro, Inc., NERF DOG has already become one of the most recognized pet toy brands in the market. A full line of durable and safe retrieving toys, NERF DOG products are inspired by Hasbro’s iconic NERF line.

The strong global recognition of the Nerf brand, combined with the obvious quality that’s been designed into NERF DOG products have already made the line an outstanding success in the North American pet market.

“NERF DOG is a great example of Hasbro’s strategic approach to licensing the NERF brand as the fresh breakout line that encapsulates the inner drive shared both by dogs and their owners to engage in over-the-top active play,” said Simon Waters, Senior Vice President, Global Brand Licensing & Publishing at Hasbro.  “Through NERF DOG, we have a tremendous opportunity to extend NERF-branded play into an entirely new category that is experiencing explosive growth.  It promises to be quite fun for all.” 

"We’re extremely honored to be representing NERF DOG in Europe, and are excited by the opportunity that this offers our wholesalers and dealers.” said Rolf  Hagen Jr., president and CEO of Rolf C. Hagen, Inc. “

Gramercy Products is also enthusiastic about the new distribution agreement. “The NERF brand’s unrivaled name recognition and the unsurpassed quality of our products have been a winning combination in the North American pet market,” said Rishi Gupta, the company’s CEO. “By combining these factors with the knowledge of local markets and key account relationships that Hagen enjoys, we’re very confident that we will replicate this success in Europe.”

Adrian Burgess of Rolf C. Hagen (UK) Ltd. echoed this view. “We are eager to take NERF DOG to the leadership position in the British market by bringing offers, promotions and programs to our different customers and channels,” he said. “This is a great opportunity for us to build a strong business relationship and bring added value to the consumer.”

Pet Trade Solutions owner Lynda Ward is urging Interzoo exhibitors to act immediately on contacts made at the recent international trade show in Nuremburg, Germany.

Lynda, who utilises her 30 years’ experience in the trade for dedicated recruitment and marketing solutions, says: “There is a tendency to expect that positive meetings at Interzoo end with buyers placing the promised first order or automatically repeat ordering. They probably won’t – it takes swift follow-up and continuous relationship-building.

“The same can apply to contacts made at all exhibitions, but rather more so those made at Interzoo as the (potential) customers will have been speaking to many more suppliers and those who follow up first will be the ones who will probably get the business or build the stronger foundations of client relationship and repeat orders."

Smaller companies in particular may also need to look at whether or not their current sales force can cope with the extra workload and to take a strategic view on how to achieve maximum benefit from the cost of attending Interzoo, says Lynda.  Is it time to appoint an international sales person? Should the company owner/director deal with overseas business? Or should the current salesforce be expanded?

With a good show behind them and the future looking bright, now is the time for everyone to strategize, prioritise and act.

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

Bern Pet Foods has reached an exclusive distribution agreement in Ireland with Glenkrag, for its range of ORIJEN and ACANA dog and cat foods, as well as the recently introduced ORIJEN freeze-dried range.

Colin Rodger, director of Bern Pet Foods, said: “We have agreed an exclusive partnership with Glenkrag, the largest wholesaler to the pet, aquatic and garden trade in Ireland.  

"This exciting new arrangement enables us to provide improved service to our existing customer base in Ireland and also to reach a large number of potential new ORIJEN and ACANA customers that we have not been able to engage with so far, using our own salesforce. 

This relationship gives us the perfect opportunity to offer our brands to stockists and ultimately pet lovers throughout Ireland."

He added: “Demand for ORIJEN and ACANA has increased dramatically over recent months, as many more pet owners switch their dogs and cats to our range of biologically appropriate foods and treats. 

"We are, therefore, delighted to have formed this strategic alliance with Glenkrag to help meet the growing demand for our products in Ireland, and product is now available to be ordered directly through Glenkrag.”

Mark Hutchinson, sales and marketing manager at Glenkrag, said: “Due to market trends and customer requests, our focus has moved towards the dog and cat food market in recent years with very positive results. 

"This agreement fits with our strategy of meeting the growing trend towards premium natural foods and treats. 

"We are very proud to be associated with Bern Pet Foods and to be trusted with the exclusive distribution of both the ORIJEN and ACANA brands throughout Ireland. 

"We have built our own business on the quality of our offer to customers, and this new relationship clearly builds on and strengthens that.”

Glenkrag supplies over 7,000 lines of dry goods for dogs, cats, reptiles, birds, small animals, ponds and aquatics to its 500 customers throughout Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Pictured: The Glenkrag team pictured at Interzoo (from left to right): Gary McMahon (Sales Rep), seated Jack McCready (Managing Director), Mark Hutchinson (Sales & Marketing Manager), Martin Smyth (Purchasing Manager) and Lakshitha (Fish House Manager).

Natures Menu directors Craig Taylor and Peter Roy are pictured with the esteemed Innovation Ticket, presented by Fressnapf.

Craig said: "Natures Menu is proud to receive this innovation award at Interzoo. We are delighted with the award and the fantastic response to the whole Country Hunter range."

Craig Taylor  felt there was a tremendous interest in the company's complete balanced raw meals with retailers looking to satisfy the consumer movement away from processed foods to a more natural fresh alternative. Representatives also noticed a strong interest in the companies innovative freeze dried range of products. 

"Another exciting Interzoo," he said. "We were delighted to attend and receive such positive praise for our products and service.
There is lots more to come from Natures Menu and we are now working hard to deliver these fantastic products to our new customers in Europe and beyond."

True to the caring nature of the company, Natures Menu were also pleased to pass on the show stock to representatives of the Dog Rehoming Centre in Bremen Germany who were delighted that the dogs would again receive lots of Natures Menu’s internationally fantastic healthy foods.

Natures Menu won two new product awards at PATS Harrogate last September, including the dog category for the Country Hunter range. The raw food specialist also picked up the PetQuip Supplier of the Year Award for 2013.

The overweight finalists, comprising 10 ‘huge hounds’, four ‘mega moggies’, and  three rotund rabbits, have been put on a strict six-month diet and exercise plan by PDSA vets and nurses to help them slim down to a healthier weight, and improve both their life expectancy and quality of life.

Sadly, UK pet obesity levels are at a worryingly high level. In fact, around 2.5 million dogs (one in three) and over 2 million cats (one in four) are currently estimated to be overweight. Not only could their lives be cut short, many will also have a drastically reduced quality of life.

According to the charity, more than 10 million pets are getting fatty treats, due to owners sharing their own unhealthy eating habits in a well-intentioned but misguided attempt to make them happy.

Exclusive PDSA research shows that around nine out of 10 owners (87%) give pets treats, despite the fact that 91% realise the resulting obesity can reduce their pet’s lifespan. PDSA’s PAW Report, produced in conjunction with YouGov, provides the biggest annual insight into pet health and welfare and has discovered that a wide range of inappropriate treats are being fed to pets. These include fast food, leftovers, crisps, biscuits, chocolate and chips. 

Meet the overweight dogs

Alfie, 109% overweight - This not-so-Miniature Pinscher weighs double what he should! His owner, Joanne, from Bradford, admits that she has spoilt him rotten with treats like pigs ears and meaty twists, but she’s learned her lesson now and feels terribly guilty that Alfie now struggles with stairs and can’t jump. She’s desperate to help him get his life back, and entered him into Pet Fit Club when she saw the amazing transformation Ruby, last year’s winner, had made.

Bruce, 60% overweight - Heavyweight Bruce has always been a big boy and used to enjoy weetabix with goats milk and honey for breakfast! He hates exercise and plods so slowly around the field he’s practically going backwards! His owners are now determined to help him reach a healthier weight to improve his quality of life.

Zed, 114% overweight - Big Border Collie Zed (11) is a dog with a sweet tooth and that’s caused him a massive problem. Until the end of last year he was having regular treats from a well-meaning neighbour who was sharing her own love of cakes and biscuits with Zed. Unsurprisingly, he was making regular house calls. No wonder that this gentle giant of a dog currently tips the scales at 42.7Kg, more than twice his ideal weight.

Ty, 60% overweight - Supersized Staffordshire Bull Terrier Ty (6) weighed in at a staggering 32kg – making him 60% overweight. The chubby canine has gradually piled on the pounds over the years, partly due to his love of treats and large food portions. His owner, Brenda Martin, who’s had Ty since a puppy, said she knew he’d put on weight recently after hearing comments from friends and family about his size. She was shocked however at just how much he weighed when she took him along to PDSA.

Oscar - Oscar was adopted a few years ago by the Griffin family and was so overweight he could barely walk. His new owners have helped him to lose some weight, but he had reached a bit of a ‘plateau’ so they enrolled him in PDSA Pet Fit Club to help him shift the rest of his flab.

Max, 71% overweight - Max, a six-year-old Jack Russell terrier from Hull, loves his owner Sylvia very much, but he loves left-overs and biscuits more than he should. Now Sylvia’s arthritis means Max can’t get all the long walks he used to like. So the podgy pooch is paying for his love of food by tipping the scales at a hefty 14kg, making him over 70% overweight. 

Daisy, 42% overweight - Daisy (5) is a full-figured Bulldog who could win an Oscar for her begging techniques. She will eat anything but has a particular taste for cheese and broccoli! Her supervised sessions on an exercise treadmill proved counter-productive as she had to be bribed with ham to stay on it. Daisy is now a weighty 28kg – over 40% overweight – but her owner is determined to help this chubby canine reach a happier, healthier weight. 

Millie, 43% overweight - Jack Russell terrier Millie (12) was the runt of the litter so her owner has always been generous with her food portions. However, her weight problem only began two years ago when Millie had a problem with her pancreas and the bed rest gave her a chance to be lazy and indulge her love of junk food, including doner kebabs and Yorkshire puddings! The extra pounds are not helping Millie arthritis. So her owner now wants to see Millie shed the pounds so that she can jump on the sofa like she used to and get back to a healthier weight. 

Diesel, 49% overweight - Bulky Boxer Diesel (4), from Poole, has been big since a puppy, but his love of treats has led to the pounds piling on. He now weighs a staggering 58kg – making him around double his ideal weight. Custard creams were a particular favourite, but his owner, Suzanne Fox has now banned the sweet treat, as he can no longer squeeze through the dog flap.

Barney, 75% overweight - Barney’s trouble began just over a year ago when he was put on medication for a skin condition. Coupled with his tendency to eat and chew everything in sight (he once even tried to eat a newspaper!) he ballooned to nearly double what he should. Now he’s better, his owner is determined to help him regain his formerly svelte figure.

Meet the fat cats

Tom, 96% overweight - Morbidly obese Tom is a creature who knows how to get everything he wants and more! Not satisfied with his generous allowance of cat food each day, this mischievous moggy also forces open the cupboard doors on the lookout for food and can even open the fridge. Elizabeth Molloy, Tom’s owner, turned to PDSA for help after she found it easier to lift her young granddaughter than her cat.

Dave, 58% overweight - Dave will eat everything in sight, will steal his sister’s food given half a chance and has even been known to pilfer a donut! Described as a ‘yo-yo’ dieter, his owner’s previous attempts to reduce his food intake have met with yowls and cat-tantrums. But with PDSA’s help his owner is determined to stick to her guns and help lazy Dave lose weight so he can be a ‘proper cat’ again.

Zorro, 88% overweight - Zorro the cat from Dundee is a bit like his animated counterpart Puss in Boots from the Shrek movies – especially when he piled on the pounds! This ginger feline is no swashbuckling hero and instead prefers to spend his days lazing around, sneaking a few of his favourite cheese and onion crisps whenever he can.

Bailey, 75% overweight - Fat cat Bailey tips the scales at around 9kg making him double the weight of a healthy cat. The bulging black cat has a passion for food, food and more food and even out-muscles his canine companions – Ozzie and Ellie – when it comes to feeding time. Bailey’s owner, Janet, from Dagenham, worries that he has an unhealthy obsession with food. In fact the mega moggie’s appetite has become so monstrous he’s even been known to make light work of a pig’s ear - a treat more often associated with dogs.

Meet the roly-poly rabbits

Poppy, 32% overweight - Popcorn-snacking Poppy has piled on the pounds along with her play-mate Joey in the past 12 months. Despite owning a perfectly healthy sized English Setter called Harry, Donna says the family’s rabbits seem to just get bigger and bigger. She puts it down to them being fed too many treats and big portion sizes over the cold winter months.

Joey, 28% overweight - Greedy Joey demands extra food by clanging his bowl against his cage to grab attention. The black and white bunny started to gain excess weight after too many sweet and high calorie foods such as carrots and apples, causing him to become super-sized. His owner Donna is now determined to get him back to a healthier weight thanks to Pet Fit Club. 

Snowball, 35% overweight - The Crump family rescued Snowball from a pet shop, after spotting him in the window and it was love at first sight. He was very underweight when he first arrived in to his new home. The five-year-old Dwarf Lop is a very affectionate rabbit, which has led to the whole family spoiling him rotten. They have been guilty of giving him too many treats, which has caused his waistline to balloon. But this is all set to change since starting his Pet Fit Club six-month diet and exercise programme. 

To view pictures of the obese pets visit http://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-health-advice/pdsa-pet-fit-club

Mars Petcare has boosted its super premium portfolio with the launch of the new Sheba Finesse Paté.

The new 85g servings are available in three delicious flavours including chicken, turkey and salmon, adding even more variety to the bestselling Sheba range.

Sheba is adistinguished brand for those who have a strong connection with their cat.

Sheba understands how passionate owners are about providing their cats with the super premium products they deserve. A new texture for the brand, paté is a popular choice with cat owners and is continuing to diversify and premiumise the category.

Steve Ingmire, Senior Brand Manager of Sheba UK, commented: “Our goal is to create food that will satisfy cats desire for variety. The latest innovation of Sheba® Finesse Paté provides the perfect opportunity for owners to treat their cats to that extra bit of luxury."

Paté is a growing texture within the category. This latest NPD by Sheba aims to provide consumers with more variety from the brand they love and trust. The Sheba brand continues to innovate with premium products in the cat food category, variety being a key area that consumers look for when shopping for their cat.

Sheba Finesse Pate will be available at an RRP of 57p. 

Five puppies and four kittens were among the 134 animals to arrive at Wood Green in the days leading up to the charity's ‘National Unwanted Pet Week’...

Wood Green, with centres in Cambridgeshire, North London, Hertfordshire and Northampton launched the campaign to highlight the increasing number of pets in rescue centres.

Harriet, Harry, Hugo, Humpty and Hermione were brought to Wood Green as an unplanned litter. The 10-week-old tan and white cross breed puppies will be microchipped, neutered and given vaccinations, flea and worming treatment to ensure they get off to a healthy start in their new homes.

Six-week-old kittens Magneto, Wolverine, Mystique and Xavier were found abandoned by a member of the public and brought to Wood Green where they will be cared for until forever homes can be found.

Seven-year-old Storm is the latest pet to arrive at Wood Green. The white tabby cat was left in a cat carrier during a heavy thunder storm, in the pouring rain at the Charity’s Godmanchester Centre on Thursday afternoon.

Sally Stevens, Director of Income Services at Wood Green, said: “We asked animal-lovers to provide the cost of a day of care for one of the animals we provide food, shelter, love and attention for every day across our four centres. We rely entirely on public donations to continue our work.”

Throughout the week, Wood Green encouraged animal lovers to pledge their support by filling in an ‘I care’ card or donate a day’s care to one of the 600 animals at its centres.

For further information visit www.woodgreen.org.uk/petweek or text HOPPY3 to donate £3 to an animal in Wood Green’s care. 

The European election does not signal the end of the #handsoffmyhobby campaign, says the Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association.

The campaign was launched after seeing the lobbying activities of Eurogroup for Animals in the run-up to the European Parliament elections. The group was collecting MEP pledges to include its ‘animal welfare’ manifesto in their future work. Included within this manifesto was a call to work towards the ‘ban on the import of wild-caught animals and restrict the number of exotic species that can be imported and traded in the EU’.

The Brussels-based group is now intent on following up on those pledges and OATA’s concern remains that any success could affect the sale of tropical marine and freshwater fish, corals and invertebrates across Europe.

“It’s interesting to see that Eurogroup for Animals obviously now intend to ‘call in the chips’ with MEPs. Its #votes4animals campaign has now become #act4animals so it clearly aims to keep campaigning for its manifesto,” said OATA Chief Executive Keith Davenport.

“The political make-up of the new Parliament is an interesting one – particularly following the success of Euro-sceptic groups – which might seem to make these types of issues less likely to succeed. But we can’t lose the momentum and just hope such bans or import limitations won’t come about. We still need to highlight what’s hidden among this animal welfare manifesto because it could have potentially devastating consequences to the hobby.

“We’ll be writing to all the new MEPs once they take up office in July. We all sign up to animal welfare but there is a bigger picture too. The fishkeeping hobby is very popular both in the UK and across Europe. Wild caught animals are not all ‘bad’ and we need to show off the excellent examples where the aquatic industry is contributing to improving the lives of people who live the remotest parts of the world. And we need MEPs to understand that the inclusion of ‘exotic species’ could still encompass popular EU captive-bred fish, birds and reptiles.

“We’ve been really impressed by the speed and commitment shown by hobbyists and businesses in responding to our campaign. We believe most – if not all – MEPs heard about #handsoffmyhobby and it’s been interesting to see MEP responses. We now have something to build on as we take the campaign forward.”

More information about the campaign can be found on OATA’s website. http://www.ornamentalfish.org/what-the-eu-election-means-for-handsoffmyhobby 

Pooch & Mutt chose to launch its new range of grain-free, functional, CANF (Condition Appropriate Nutrient Feeding) dog foods at Interzoo 2014 and that turned out to be a great decision with orders coming in from the UK, Europe and as far a field as Hong Kong.

Guy Blaskey, Pooch & Mutt’s founder and MD, said: “The response to the Pooch & Mutt range was fantastic. Our packaging, which recently won The Gold Award for packaging at The European Design Awards, drew people in to the stand, and when they were there they were very impressed by the concept. This interest turned into a significant amount of business.”

There were a lot of dog foods being launched at the show, but many of them were very same-y, essentially a copy of a concept created by a competitor company. Pooch & Mutt seemed to be the only company looking to bring something genuinely new to the dog food market.

Guy continued: “I never wanted to launch a dog food, as it is an extremely competitive market place, but I saw an obvious gap, that no one else was filling. There has been huge growth in the grain-free, healthy-ingredient sector of the market, but what happens when the dogs fed on these foods develop problems, like arthritis, as they get older?

"A vet is going to tell them to switch to ‘prescription’ food for mobility, but these foods have a lower meat content and are full of grain. This is not what owners want to feed their dogs. At their most basic, the Pooch & Mutt foods are both functional and grain-free, with high meat content.

"When I got to Interzoo I expected to see that someone else had spotted this obvious gap. There were many other grain-free foods and quite a few functional foods, but no other foods that are both grain-free and functional. The fact that no one else had spotted this gap is probably why we did so well at the show.”

The CANF concept is far more than just functional, grain-free food. It is about putting the correct nutrients in the food for a dogs condition.

To Pooch & Mutt it makes no sense to have a ‘mobility’ food with chicken as the protein source, their ‘Move Easy’ food uses salmon as the protein source because salmon is rich in Omega 3, which helps mobility. They then add a full range of joint supplements including; glucosamine, chondroitin, green lipped mussel and rose hip to create the complete food, most appropriate for dogs with joint problems.

Similarly the weight loss food “Slim & Slender” uses chicken as the primary protein source, as it is a low fat protein source. The full range of supplements added to this include CLA, l-carnitine and psyllium, all of which help weight loss.

Pampered pooches are in for a treat thanks to a new range of bespoke dog accessories being produced by a Leicestershire charity.

Doggie beds, cupboards and drawer sets have all been created by Work-Link service users with help from support workers and the charity’s furniture restorer in Hinckley.

Made entirely from furniture donated to the charity which otherwise would have ended up at the local tip the pet collection is now on sale.

Work-Link offers ‘hands-on’ work experience to people with learning disabilities and mental health issues encouraging them to help transform unwanted items into saleable pieces and learn about retail opportunities in the charity’s dedicated town centre shop.

Mandy Quinn, project manager for Work-Link, said: “I am very proud of this collection. It’s original, fun and each piece would definitely be a talking point in any household.

“On a more serious note these pieces are helping to upskill our service users as they are learning basic carpentry skills alongside soft skills such as communication and teamwork.

“As a small charity trying to make ends meet these items will also generate a welcome, small income.”

Work-Link either sells on the items directly in their shop on Regent Street, refurbishes them or donates them to families in desperate need.

A collar studded with wireless sensors can now monitor the vital signs of man’s best friend and alert the owner as soon as it starts feeling under the weather.

The device, developed by PetPace in Burlington, Massachusetts, keeps track of temperature, pulse and respiration, as well as activity patterns and the number of calories burned. While the dog plays, eats and sleeps, software compares this information with other breed-specific data. If an animal’s statistics deviate in a way that indicates a possible problem, an alert is sent to the owner’s smartphone and to the vet.

Many pets instinctively hide their symptoms when they are sick, so the collar could help detect health issues early on, says Asaf Dagan, chief veterinary scientist at PetPace. The smart collar ensures that “your pet’s disease, pain or discomfort will not go unnoticed”, he says.

Because the device works in real time, vets have more information on which to base their diagnoses. They can also keep track of how the animal responds to treatment, Dagan says.

For more information visit www.petpace.com

Mines for Pets (UK) Ltd has started to distribute the Arctic Freeze Collection of four dog toys, made in Canada by HUGS Pet Products. This innovative range of cooling and teething toys contains 100% purified water, and are designed to be frozen.

Arctic Freeze toys are soft on the mouth, but durable and strong providing an icy chilled chewing sensation. The range is ideal for indoor and outdoor play with no leaking and no mess. Special areas incorporated within each toy are for treats to be inserted adding extra inter-active fun!

The toys are suitable for small and medium sizes of dog and are sold in four varieties.

• Arctic Freeze Bone resembles a flat bone shape and measurers 3.25 x 1.25 x 5.75 inches.
• Arctic Freeze Fetch is a dumbbell design measuring 2.5 x 1.5 x 6.25 inches.
• Arctic Freeze Ball is 2.5 inches in diameter.
• Arctic Freeze Snowflake is a chunky symmetrical design 4.5 x 1.5 x 5.75 inches in size.

All toys feature multiple flexible spots to hide taste treats, and the new range is supplied on header cards with barcodes and all toys are blue in colour. Suggested Retail Price is £10.49 for all designs of toys.

For more information visit www.minesforpets.co.uk. For a price list and terms of trading call 01243 265378.

Rosewood Pet Products is set to launch almost 300 new products on June 10 and they will stretch across a number of existing product categories as well as some brand new collections.

The BioSafe range for dogs includes 10 toys all offering various unique selling points to include interaction, squeakers, treat toys and dental benefits. 

"We’ve also introduced a collection of Wag n Walk Designer collars and leads which draws its inspiration from current fashion ensuring our doggy friends are always on trend," said a Rosewood spokesperson. "This range also extends to cat collars with a fantastic choice of unique and stylish designs, which include adorable, on-trend embellishments, charms and diamante studs.

"For our feline friends we have refreshed our range of cat furniture. From scratching posts made of natural materials, a small post for kittens and a multi-level piece of furniture there’s plenty of choice within this category. All items are now packaged in full colour boxes which is ideal when space in store is limited! Along with some new teasers and natural toys cats can now also enjoy a range of toys which contain silvervine, a natural attractant known to induce a very playful reaction in cats; it’s even better than catnip!

"For small animals we’ve updated the design of our Snuggles range and our small animal harnesses. We are also proud to present a fantastic new small animal home known as “Eco Pico.” This is a major innovation in hamster homes; not only does it look unique, it is unique, as we’ve replaced over 99% of what would normally be made from fossil fuel based plastics with a very special material made from bamboo fibre!

"The Eco Pico is not the only eco friendly product to appear in our new catalogue, our new Wolf and Tiger range has also been created with the environment in mind; all products are made using biodegradable materials to ensure they are eco friendly. The range includes products for dogs and cats including an eco bed, eco bowls, interchangeable scratching posts and a play tower and tunnel.

"To coincide with this product launch we are also launching a new Rosewood Product Catalogue which features all our existing products as well as these new introductions."

Retailers can contact Rosewood Pet Products on 01952 883408 for more details or visit www.rosewoodpet.com

Planet Dog has added a new crop of Carrots to the Orbee-Tuff Produce dog toy line. The new Carrot joins the rest of the Produce collection that also features the fresh offerings of the Raspberry, the Strawberry, the Artichoke, and the Eggplant.

These toys are made in the USA and are durable, buoyant, bouncy, recyclable, non-toxic and 100% guaranteed. 

Planet Dog has expanded the line to include a new extra durable interactive chew toy. The Orbee-Tuff Diamond Plate Double-Tuff is inspired by the award-winning and globe-shaped Orbee Ball. 

Its asymmetrical “doubled” design makes for amazingly unpredictable bounces, making it a toy that can stimulate a dog mentally much more than a standard fetch toy.  The “diamond plate” design leads to extra durability for even most aggressive chewers. 


They’re available in three sizes (small, medium and large) in three colours (green, purple, and silver).

For more information visit www.accapigroup.com

A pet store in Crewe, Cheshire, is to refurbish its town centre store bringing 10 new jobs to the town.

Pets at Home is renovating its store located on Grand Junction Retail Park, with the refurbished store opening on Friday, June 20.

The revamp – which will include a Vets4Pets veterinary surgery and a Groom Room open inside the store – is set to create 10 new jobs for locals, bringing the total number of people employed at the store to 25, across a range of full and part time roles.

The Vets4Pets surgery will house a full operating theatre, digital X-ray facilities, in-house laboratory and a hospital ward providing a full range of treatments from health checks to emergency operations.

The Groom Room will offer a wide range of services including full grooming, bath and blow dry, puppy grooming and nail clipping, which are all important to a pet’s health and wellbeing.

Store manager Trevor Buchan (above) said: “We’ve listened carefully to what our customers have been telling us and we’re confident the store’s new layout will be just what they want.

“Our mission is to ensure pets live a happy and healthy life and the addition of a grooming salon and vet surgery means our customers will now find everything they need to care for their pets under one roof.”

A party weekend will take place at the store on Saturday, June 21 and Sunday, June 22, where there will be free face painting for children from 10.30am until 4.30pm on both days.

A thief shell-shocked staff at Zoar's Ark Garden Centre in Neath when he entered the store, took a tortoise out of out of a glass tank, before hiding it under his jacket and walking off.

Police are now appealing for the public's help to identify a man in connection with the theft.

Zoar's owner Martin Jones said they were "shocked and horrified" by the theft.

AREA SALES MANAGER
London and South East area

Established and forward-thinking pet food supplier is seeking a smart, articulate and positive Area Sales Manager to increase distribution within pet retail.

The successful applicant will receive full induction, large company back-up and will command an excellent salary in line with experience plus car, bonus etc.

All applications will be treated in strictest confidence.  

For further details send CV to Lynda Ward via lyndaward@pettradesolutions.com

As J & E Importers re-structure, an exciting new opportunity has arisen for an experienced National Account Manager to join the team. The role will involve working from Head Office, out in the field and from home as required in developing and implementing a sales strategy for a group of products marketed primarily for large volume resellers. 

The ideal candidate will have good working experience in a similar role and knowledge in the Home, Garden and Pet environment and seeking a new challenge within this expanding industry. 

The successful candidate needs to be hardworking, energetic, enthusiastic and committed for this exciting and rewarding position.

This role provides an excellent opportunity within a growing company offering a range of recognised products across multiple markets.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience: applicants should possess the following:-

An understanding and background within the Home, Garden & Pet industry would be considered advantageous, but not absolute for the right calibre person.

Excellent communication skills and a warm outgoing personality

The ability to excite, engage the customer and explore the full potential.

The knowledge and ability to be able to deal with container sales as well as palletised options

Strong influencing skills are required, as well as a diplomatic manner and a positive pro-active outlook.

To nurture and develop customer relations

To establish new accounts and to develop a clear strategy and action plan to grow sales and profitability within our existing portfolio of accounts as well as new.

Regular concise, clear and logical reporting on a regular basis is a pre-requisite for this position.

Must be able to produce/substantiate a proven track record of sales within a similar position/role

The package includes a Company car, laptop, mobile phone, 28 days holiday including bank holidays and staff product discount

Please email vince.green@greenjem.co.uk for further information or to forward your current CV

www.jandeimporters.com

Established for over 25 years, J & E Importers have built a strong global reputation in the manufacture, export, import, supply and distribution of a range of quality, value-based products, whilst delivering high customer service satisfaction at all times.

This is an outstanding opportunity to work within a large, successful organisation, currently undergoing a team building and re-structure programme

The responsibilities of the Area Sales Manager will include:

• Managing schedule of appointments on an ongoing basis
• Developing relationships with existing and new customers
• Visiting potential customers in the area to generate more sales

We are looking for an enthusiastic and energetic salesperson who is:

• Seeking a career in a customer-focused sales environment
• Driven and determined
• Well-presented
• Motivated
• Focussed, hungry and ambitious to ensure success in this role
• A quick learner with industry experience
• Energetic with a can-do attitude
• From a field or internal sales background
• Able to demonstrate success in previous sales roles

Although a field based role, the successful candidate will need to live or be based in close proximity to the South Eastern area

There are excellent opportunities for career progression within the company and the group.

Benefits also include a bonus, company car, mobile phone and 28 days paid holiday entitlement.

Please email vince.green@greenjem.co.uk for further information or to forward your current CV

www.jandeimporters.com