Ken Seymour, MD of Best Friends Pet Products Ltd, has announced that he is going to wind up the business to concentrate on developing The TastyBone Company Ltd.

Ken says the decision to close Best Friends in the summer has been taken because TastyBone is fast becoming a global brand and is taking up more of his time. The brand has recently launched in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong and Europe.

The TastyBone Company, which manufactures nylon, edible and rubber chew and play toys, will exhibit at all major trade shows worldwide, starting with Zoomark in Bologna next month.

Ken has announced that Rosewood Pet Products will become the sole distributor for TastyBone in the UK.

Best Friends Pet Products Ltd will also pass on the distribution of Starmark Pet Products (USA) and DuckyWorld (USA) to Rosewood, who will continue to supply Best Friends’ customers with these two ranges.

 “We are delighted to be working with The TastyBone Company and to become the distributor of such a prestigious range of products. We aim to make the transition as smooth as possible,” said a spokesperson for Rosewood.

Ken will be retained on an advisory basis by Rosewood.

Employees Vanessa Curl and Terry Bates are celebrating a combined 65 years – 40 years for Vanessa and 25 years for Terry – working at Walsall based pet accessories company Ancol Pet Products.

Ancol Sales Director Sarah Lane said: “Congratulations to Vanessa and Terry for reaching such fantastic milestones and thank you both for your hard work and commitment over the years. We are grateful that we have such loyal and dedicated staff – without them we would not be the success that we are.”

Vanessa’s story

Production Supervisor Vanessa Curl started at Ancol when she was just 16 and has seen the company grow from humble beginnings to becoming a leading name in the pet industry.

“I remember being petrified when I started,” said Vanessa. “But I soon settled in to a small team and everyone made me really welcome.” Vanessa’s first role was to manually ‘stain and vein’ the leather in preparation for it to be machined – a process which is all done by machine today. In 1988 she was promoted to supervisor and now also looks after the stores.

“Ancol is lovely company to work for, it’s always felt like being part of a family and they really care for their staff.”

Vanessa was awarded a holiday voucher of her choice in recognition of her long service.

Terry’s story

Terry Bates was recently awarded a gold watch to mark his 25th anniversary at Ancol, having followed in his parents’ footsteps when he started in 1988.

“I used to be a delivery driver and was away from my family for long periods, so I was delighted when my Dad told me about an opportunity at Ancol,” said Terry.

“After a week’s trial I never looked back – my work-life balance was restored.”

Terry enjoys his varied role – not only does he cuts leather but he is also a delivery driver and helps with the general maintenance of the factory.

PATS has joined forces with PetQuip in an attempt to boost international visitor numbers at its trade exhibition at Harrogate in September.

Organisers will be attending Zoomark in Bologna, Italy, next month as part of the PetQuip-organised British Pavilion, where they will be encouraging international buyers to visit the Harrogate show on September 15-16.

Last year PATS Harrogate attracted 60 overseas visitors from across the globe, including companies from Europe, and as far afield as Australia and America, representing a 100% increase on 2011.

It is hoped that numbers will rise still further this year and to accommodate the expected increase, a special International Buyers’ Lounge sponsored by PetQuip will be located in Harrogate International Centre.

Overseas buyers will have exclusive use of the lounge, where they will be offered free tea and coffee, have free use of the internet, and have access to the services and advice provided by PetQuip .

Harrogate is the perfect venue for international visitors to discover what’s new in the marketplace and an ideal opportunity to talk to UK-based manufacturers and suppliers. Exhibitors who export will have a ‘PATS Exporter’ logo on the fascia of their stand at the show, to help people navigate their way around the exhibition.

PATS Harrogate is promising to be the biggest exhibition yet with 110 exhibitors having already booked their stand. With more than half of them exporting, meeting international clients is a key part of their plans for the show.

Katie Goldsmith, sales director of Collarways, says: “At PATS we have the opportunity to meet in person many of our international customers, some for the first time, even though we have been supplying them some while. It's great to put a face to the name.  

“The Collarways stand is always busy as the show attracts a wide spectrum of different buyers from all around the world. We are really looking forward to introducing our latest products at Harrogate to both UK and overseas visitors, in time for the busy Winter season.”

The Animology brand of pet care products has grown at a remarkable rate over the past few years and is fast becoming a leading international product range. Group55's Stephen Turner says: “We've exhibited at home and abroad and the response from the pet and grooming trade both here and overseas has been fantastic. PATS is a great place to get over the message that we’re serious about exporting our products.”

For more information about PATS Harrogate and how to register for free entry visit www.patshow.co.uk

OATA member Anglo Aquatic Plant Co Ltd has been personally thanked by a government minister for its continued support of the Be Plant Wise campaign.

The Middlesex based business, which is one of the largest grower and wholesale suppliers of aquatic plants to the retail trade in the UK, is now introducing the Be Plant Wise logo on every information tag put in individual plant pots.

Richard Benyon, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Natural Environment, Water and Rural Affairs in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, has signed a letter to the Enfield business personally thanking them for investing in this awareness-raising step.

“I cannot overstate the importance of the work you’re doing in spreading the campaign’s key message among your customers. We need to do all we can to prevent invasive non-native aquatic plants spreading from our garden ponds into the wild," he wrote in his letter. 

"Awareness-raising activities, such as the work you’re doing, help to highlight the negative impact invasive aquatic plants can have on our native ecosystems and empower people to take action to prevent the spread of these species."

“Naturally we’re very proud to have got this personally signed letter from Mr Benyon,” said Caroline Everett (Company Manager) of Anglo Aquatic Plant.

“We understand the role we have to play in raising awareness about this issue and we’re working with DEFRA and OATA to protect both our environment and our industry. Ponds, rivers and lakes are essential for wildlife and we wanted to show our commitment to help people create beautiful water features while also protecting our environment.”

OATA Chief Executive Keith Davenport worked with Anglo Aquatic Plant to see how the plant supplier could raise awareness about DEFRA’s Be Plant Wise campaign.

“Putting this logo on plant labels that go with every aquatic plant they sell can only be good news and we hope it inspires other businesses in the industry to try to find ways they can help spread the message.

"The issue of non-native invasive plants is climbing up the political agenda and it’s vital for our industry to be part of the solution to this problem. OATA would urge every business, large or small, to visit the Be Plant Wise website to see what tips and ideas they can come up with to help customers understand how important it is to safely dispose of non-native plants and animals.” 

The Be Plant Wise website can be found at https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/nonnativespecies/beplantwise/



Anglo Aquatic Plant owner David Everett welcomes an unlikely visitor – a crocodile – to the company's offices.

Two people have been arrested on suspicion of supplying drugs after a police raid on a pet shop.

Police said substances had been seized in the raid on the Living World pet shop and sent away for analysis to find out exactly what chemicals they were. 

The pair – a 29-year-old and a 37-year-old, both from Barrow – were arrested on suspicion of possessing drugs with intent to supply. They were released on police bail until May 8.

Detective Sergeant Mark Somers, of Barrow CID, said he hoped the results of the lab tests would be back soon. He said: “We seized quite a bit and sent it away for analysis.”

Crufts Best in Show winner Jilly, will be joined by celebrities and stars of the two and four legged variety as she and her owner, Gavin Robertson, undertake a 130-mile sponsored walk to raise money for charities, including Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity.

Jilly, a Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen whose pedigree name is Ch Soletrader Peek a Boo, will start ‘Jilly’s Jolly Jaunt’ at the NEC in Birmingham, where she was crowned as the winner of the Crufts Best in Show, and walk to London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital, on the week commencing June 10.

Money raised will be split between Great Ormond Street Hospital (60%), DogLost (35%) and the Kennel Club Charitable Trust (5%).

Gavin and Jilly will be joined at various stages by previous Crufts Best in Show winners, group winners from Crufts 2013, healthy examples of the 14 High Profile Breeds monitored by the Kennel Club for their health and welfare and representatives of all of those on the Kennel Club’s ‘Vulnerable Native Breeds' list, because their numbers are so low.

Amelia Siddle, who won the Junior Warrant competition at Crufts and who has completed a painting of Jilly and Gavin, which will be auctioned after the walk, will be also completing the whole 130 miles with her dog Flo.

Dog owning celebrities are also being urged to lend their support to the walk, with Emma Bunton already pledging to get behind the walk and promote it on social media to her dog-owning fans. Those invited to join the walk must each raise a minimum of £100.

Speaking about the walk, Gavin Robertson said: “I wanted to use the profile that our Crufts Best in Show win gave us to do something for deserving causes. Outside of the show ring Jilly is such an active dog, so I know that she’ll have no problem walking 130 miles, but I think I now need to start my training regime.

"I hope that the walk highlights how healthy and happy pedigree show dogs are and what active lives they lead outside of the show ring. I cannot believe the response already from those asked to participate in the walk or help with the logistics and planning, and from those pledging money. This truly shows how sporting and generous the dog world is.”

Rebecca Tyrrell, Senior Fundraising Executive from Great Ormond Street Hospital, said: “We are delighted that Gavin and Jilly are taking on this wonderful challenge to help raise vital funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity.

"The money will go towards the essential redevelopment of the hospital which will help us to continue to deliver world-class care to more children.”

Nik Oakley, spokesperson for DogLost, said: "DogLost is delighted to be one of the beneficiaries of Jilly's Jolly Jaunt as it recognises the valuable work that we do in reuniting missing dogs with their owners.

"Jilly is a very special dog and we are looking forward to being involved in such a magnificent effort to highlight such worthy causes. DogLost is run entirely by volunteers and funded solely by donation. Jilly's Jolly Jaunt will help us to continue to offer our free, nationwide service both online and on the ground."

DogLost reunited 5,252 dogs with their owners in 2012." Full details of the route that Gavin and Jilly will be taking, and where and when celebrities will be joining Jilly, can be found on the dedicated website www.jillysjaunt.co.uk

Amelia Siddle and Gavin Robertson.

Vets and pet retailers are being offered the chance to obtain vital training on microchipping cats and dogs...

The companion animal microchipping workshop will take place at the Pet Industry Federation office in Bedford on Monday, June 24.
 
The one-day workshop offers a unique approach to microchip implantation training.

The blended learning package allows students to learn the theory using the accessibly written course manual, and then to book a two-hour practical session led by an experienced microchip practitioner who will award the certificate of competence.

The in-depth course content covers dogs and cats and includes the legislation, the necessary practical details of implantation, as well as guidance on reading and responding to the animal’s body language.

The cost of the course is £120 for Pet Industry Federation members, and £150 for non members. The cost includes refreshments, the course manual, practical assessment, two mini-microchips and Petlog registrations and well as your certificate of competence.
 
There is a maximum of three students for the practical session at any one time, thereby reducing the stress on the animals being chipped.

Telephone 01234 273933 for further details and to check availability.

Ceva Animal Health UK, manufacturer of the innovative canine pheromone product Adaptil, is hosting an AMTRA accredited puppy seminar to help educate delegates on puppy welfare.

Taking place on Tuesday, June 25, at the Jury’s Inn in Milton Keynes, the seminar will feature a variety of topics of interest to veterinary professionals and SQPs.

It will include presentations on socialisation and habituation, canine law and healthcare including the importance of vaccination, worm and flea control and behavioural issues.

Speakers are leading experts in their fields and include renowned dog trainer, behaviourist and published author, Carolyn Mentieth KCAI (CDA), Dip CAPT, the leading solicitor in England and Wales specialising in criminal law on dogs, Trevor Cooper, and veterinary surgeon, Sarah Endersby MRCVS.

“The puppy seminar is an unmissable event for veterinary and animal health professionals who are interested in learning more about puppy welfare from our expert speakers,” said Julia Wood, product manager at Ceva Animal Health.

The free seminar will start at 6pm and it lasts for approximately three hours. Places are limited and will be available on a first-come first-served basis. To register contact esha.rao@ceva.com