In This Issue
Mixed reaction to launch of new pet trade show
PFMA wins prestigious Digital Campaign of the Year award
Burgess Hill pet store completes transformation
AmPet to distribute PoopPot in the UK
Pet firms risk losing out on talented staff, argues recruitment expert
Raise your profile at top pet industry event
Pooch & Mutt listed as one of the UK’s top ethical brands
Beaphar FIPROtec continues on the road to success
Get your own copy of Pet Trade Xtra
Pets at Home launches new brand of cat and dog food
Raising awareness of the dangers of hot cars
Mikki introduces Mighty Muzzles to training range
Winners announced for first BVA photography competition
TopSpec expands veterinary nutrition team
One pet abandoned every hour, says the RSPCA
Pet shop worker to run Great North Run in memory of beloved puppy
Society of Master Saddlers launches new website
Useful Links
Send to a Friend »
Subscribe »
Issue Archive »
Update your Profile »
Print All Articles »
Subscribe to RSS »
Visit Our Website »
Example of a Flyer »
CONTACT US NOW
Find out how Pet Trade Xtra can help to promote your business and products.



Contact neil.pope@tgcmc.co.uk for all editorial matters.

Pictured: Neil's team of helpers, from the top, Oskar, Lucky and new recruit Billie.

Call ben.greenwood@tgcmc.co.uk to discuss advertising and sponsorship opportunities.
Mixed reaction to launch of new pet trade show


Pet companies exhibiting at a new trade show have given a mixed reaction to the event although they have expressed a hope that it continues in the future...



Pet companies exhibiting at a new trade show have given a mixed reaction to the event although they have expressed a hope that it continues in the future.

Collarways, Symply Pet Foods and Baggee exhibited at the inaugural Pet Press Event held in London last week where they intended to present their products to the British media.

Organiser Guy Burtenshaw, of Media-Events, admitted it had been a challenge to launch the Pet Press Event but felt confident that it would grow into a highly successful show.

Katie Goldsmith, from Collarways, said: "On the positive side, apart from the location changes, it was well organised and as an 'exhibitor' we were well looked after with plenty of drink/food and help etc. 

"Unfortunately, even though over 70 journalists registered, only 30-odd turned up. Saying that, we met contacts from the Express and Country Life which could bear fruit. 

"As with this type of event, it will take time to see if anything comes of it but I am hopeful. With any new event, you take a gamble and wait to see if it pays off. 

"I hope it will be run again with more support from the pet trade as the opportunity to meet writers from outside our own trade could be of huge advantage."

Richard Mock, of Symply Pet Foods Ltd, admitted: "It was disappointing mainly due to the lack of attendees. However, it was the first event so I would expect future shows to grow in popularity."

And Conal Cunningham, of Baggee, said: "Not sure whether it was because they moved the venue twice but I felt it was a very poor show. I spoke to one lady from the Express so something may come of it."

Media Events has successfully organised the Garden Press Event for 11 years, during which time the event has grown steadily. This year 295 media professionals visited the event, including all National and Sunday Newspapers, all UK Garden magazines including specialist publications, BBC Local Radio from all over the UK, TV programmes including Gardeners World, Love your Garden, Hort TV and UK Style, many syndicated writers and bloggers.

It had been planned to stage the Pet Press Event at the Barbican, the venue for the Garden Press Event. It was then switched to The London Hilton Metropole, but eventually took place at the Congress Centre.

To find out more visit www.petpressevent.co.uk
PFMA wins prestigious Digital Campaign of the Year award


The Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association has been recognised for innovation, winning the award for ‘Digital Campaign of the Year’ at the prestigious Trade Association Forum (TAF) Best Practice Awards 2016...



The Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association has been recognised for innovation, winning the award for ‘Digital Campaign of the Year’ at the prestigious Trade Association Forum (TAF) Best Practice Awards 2016.

Formally supported by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, these eagerly anticipated awards recognise, reward and promote best practice amongst trade associations in the UK.

The winning campaign centred around education, working to ensure those at the front line of pet care are well equipped with all the information they need on pet food and popular feeding topics.

The digital tools included a short film animation on how pet food is made, a series of online factsheets and posters, all brought together on a new website optimised for use on smart devices.

According to Michael Bellingham, PFMA Chief Executive: “Receiving a Best Practice Award is a real honour and I’m delighted that the hard work of the PFMA team has been recognised.

"This project was brought to life with strong input from PFMA members led by the Communications and Veterinary Nutrition Groups.

"This is the third time in four years that PFMA has been recognised for displaying best practice in different areas of trade association work.”

To visit the award winning website and tools please go to www.pfma.org.uk 

For more information, call PFMA on 020 7379 9009 or email nicole@pfma.org.uk

 
Burgess Hill pet store completes transformation
Pets Corner has completed the second store rebrand of PamPurredPets, following its acquisition earlier in the year...


Pets Corner has completed the second store rebrand of PamPurredPets, following its acquisition earlier in the year.

The Burgess Hill store, which is located in the Market Place Shopping Centre next to The Martletts, was the second in the group to undergo the transformation and receive the full Pets Corner treatment, which includes the introduction of an extensive range of new, high quality products and a Puppy Hour area, which allows puppies to socialise safely off-lead.

The company, which is renowned in the retail industry for its knowledgeable staff and high quality customer service, focuses on animal welfare and the provision of thoroughly researched natural pet foods as well as a range of high quality products to help improve pets’ lives.

The existing Burgess Hill team, who were previously employed by PamPurredPets, have been introduced to Pets Corner’s extensive classroom based training programme and will continue to serve their customers now that the store has been updated.

The store will stock a selection of live fish and reptiles as well as an extensive range of naturally sourced, quality items for a variety of furry, feathered and scaly companions including a small home farming range.  A free health club is available providing nutritional advice for pets.

In addition to offering high quality products, every Saturday morning between 9.30am and 10.30am, puppy owners will also benefit from the opportunity to socialise their pooches at the store’s regular Puppy Hour, which will include discounts and free doggy treats.

Dean Richmond, Managing Director at Pets Corner, said: “I am extremely pleased that we have completed our updates to the Burgess Hill store, which is looking fantastic.  The existing team are really excited about the changes and improvements we’ve made and they can’t wait to welcome their customers into the updated store.”
AmPet to distribute PoopPot in the UK


AmPet Products has reached an agreement with the makers of PoopPot to distribute the innovative, space-saving and hygienic poop bag container in the UK...



AmPet Products has reached an agreement with the makers of PoopPot to distribute the innovative, space-saving and hygienic poop bag container in the UK.

PoopPot is a collapsible silicone container, which conveniently holds bagged dog poop until it can be disposed of in dedicatd waste bins. A very simple compression airtight sealed lid keeps smells from escaping.

“We are very excited to be taking over the distribution of PoopPot in the UK,” says Alex Wilson, AmPet’s Sales & Marketing Director.

“We exhibited PoopPot at PATS Sandown in March and it created lots of leads from interested retailers. It’s a fantastic product that helps dog owners clean up after their animals.

“As a company we were also attracted to the fact that PoopPot is a badge of responsibility for all dog owners. It will help to create a cleaner country because it’s a convenient way for owners to pick up their dog's poop and pop it in their new PoopPot.”

The PoopPot works on a simple yet ingenious principle. All a dog owner needs to do is take a bag from the storage compartment inside the collapsed PoopPot, pop out the container, pick up the poop and place the bag back inside. Then pop the lid back on and it locks everything inside

Its features include:
  • Dual stage pop-out design keeps PoopPot small until needed.
  • Airtight lid keeps smells locked up inside.
  • PoopPot clips easily onto a belt loop, lead or rucksack.
  • Can also be used for treats, food and water on the go.

The inspiration behind PoopPot came when inventor Hamish Forbes rescued a dog called Ellie five years ago.

"One little problem that started to bother my wife and I was the fact that on our dog walks we often wrangled over whose turn it was to carry the dog poop bags swinging around by our side,” says Hamish. “They were always getting tangled in leads and there was the risk of them catching on bushes, ending in an inevitable messy disaster - not to mention the lingering smell. There was never a handy bin nearby either, and putting on the floor of the car on the way home is not the most appealing idea!

“The initial concept was to make something space saving, small and convenient when not in use, but that would be able to be as large as you need it when the time came. As the product idea unfolded, I designed in the ability for PoopPot to be airtight to seal all the smells inside, and be manufactured from a hygienic material that would be easy to clean if any accidents were to happen. Also PoopPot needed to be easy to clip away so it would be hands free.

“Of course, with all this in mind, it also had to be manufactured in such a way that it was cost effective to create and therefore able to be sold at a very reasonable price. There is no point in developing a problem-solving idea but making it so expensive no-one would want to buy it.”

There are now two sizes of PoopPot, the small retailing at £10.99 and the large at £14.99. Hamish launched PoopPot to consumers at Crufts 2016 and within two days the stock had sold out.

The product’s launch to the trade at PATS had similar impact with AmPet stepping in to make sure PoopPot is available in pet outlets throughout the UK. “AmPet are a small but very successful wholesale team. This fitted with my new company and product,” adds Hamish.

Since PATS PoopPot has been treated to some really eye catching new packaging, which looks great on the shelf and explains the problem solving product perfectly. This gives PoopPot the perfect finishing touch and puts it in prime position to become the next hot dog invention.

“AmPet pride themselves in bringing new products from overseas into the country, but when they saw this new product was developed in the UK, they got quite excited and our relationship grew from there. We both realise the impact that PoopPot could have on the dog world and are equally as passionate about being able to offer such a problem-solving product to dog lovers across the country.”

If you’re interested in stocking PoopPot, contact Alex Wilson on 0330 088 1673 or by email alexw@ampet.dog.

 
Pet firms risk losing out on talented staff, argues recruitment expert
Pet firms need to move fast when recruiting staff or they could miss out on talented candidates, says recruitment expert Lynda Ward...

Pet firms need to move fast when recruiting staff or they could miss out on talented candidates, says recruitment expert Lynda Ward.

Lynda, owner of Pet Trade Solutions, says: “Good staff are in great demand and so often have a choice of prospective employers eager to capitalise on their expertise and contacts, so companies with vacancies need to be aware that they really have to focus on the task at hand.

"There is also almost always a time-lapse caused by a notice period of the chosen person to consider so once the decision has been made to offer a new role or fill a vacancy speed of action is vital.”

She goes on: “Likewise job-seekers also have to be flexible in their ability to attend interviews as a protracted wait can give employers the impression that they are not eager, whilst their competitor candidates are...and this mean they lose the opportunity.

"It’s understandable that it can be difficult at times to arrange mutually suitable times for interviews and we always work closely with both parties to enable the quickest time-line and ensure the least inconvenience for each.”

Asked if there is a difference in timescale from brief to job offer between larger and smaller employers Lynda says: “The are exceptions but over the last 16 years it has seemed to me that smaller companies are usually the swiftest to act and to get their new employees hitting the ground running.”

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

Raise your profile at top pet industry event


Pet businesses have an opportunity to promote themselves and raise their profile at the 2016 Pet Industry Federation Forum & Awards, which take place on Tuesday 1 November at Wokefield Park hotel, near Reading...



Pet businesses have an opportunity to promote themselves and raise their profile at the 2016 Pet Industry Federation Forum & Awards.

The event, which takes place on Tuesday 1 November at Wokefield Park hotel, near Reading, brings together the UK pet industry and provides invaluable networking and learning opportunities.

A variety of sponsorship packages have been developed to suit all budgets and cover both the main daytime Forum and the 1950s-themed Pet Industry Federation Awards dinner in the evening.

The packages enable businesses to align themselves with the Forum, gain exposure and publicity ahead of and during the event, and provide them with the chance to bag the best seats in the house!

In a change to previous years, the Forum will take place on one day, and will be packed with strong speakers and a robust programme that tackles some crucial issues affecting our industry today. The final Forum programme will be announced in August.

Topics will include:
  • Safeguarding the future of the pet industry
  • Delivering success in a changing landscape
  • Pet health – opportunities for the pet industry and for animal welfare
  • Pet sales: the future

The black-tie Pet Industry Federation Awards dinner will provide a fitting climax to the daytime conference. The Awards will be presented by TV’s ‘Rimmer’ from Red Dwarf and Mr Brittas, aka comedian and TV actor, Chris Barrie.

If you would like to know about sponsorship opportunities for the event, visit the Pet Industry Federation website, www.petfederation.co.uk or contact Alexandra Baker at alexandra.baker@petfederation.co.uk; 01234 224509.

 
Pooch & Mutt listed as one of the UK’s top ethical brands
Pooch & Mutt has been listed as one of the UK’s top ethical brands alongside other ground breaking companies such as Yeo Valley and Jordans Cereals...


Pooch & Mutt has been listed as one of the UK’s top ethical brands alongside other ground breaking companies such as Yeo Valley and Jordans Cereals.

The award-winning pet health company was placed at the top of The Good Shopping Guides independent research for the seventh year in a row for its dedication to being an ethical company.

Pooch & Mutt is one of the few companies prioritising pet health above company profits. The company aims to be led by its customers who understand the value of proper pet nutrition.

The rise of conscious capitalism sees businesses and customers alike becoming more mindful about benefits to human beings and the environment.

Pooch & Mutt is successfully bringing this focus on the pet sector by breaking into a market dominated by a handful of multinational companies.

As an independently owned British company, Pooch & Mutt is providing customers with natural, healthy and ethical products to help dogs everywhere be healthier and happier.

The company is proud of its ethical accreditation and displays it on the packaging of all products.

Beaphar FIPROtec continues on the road to success


Beaphar FIPROtec is going from strength to strength and continued support to retailers and wholesalers is key to its success. In July alone, Beaphar will reach over 30,000 pet owners face to face by attending two well-known shows – The Pet Show at Stoneleigh in Warwickshire on the 23rd -24th July, followed by Suffolk Dog Day at Helmingham Hall in Suffolk on the 31st July...



With higher margins than other over-the-counter Fipronil products, Beaphar FIPROtec is a veterinary strength spot on medicine to kill fleas and ticks on cats and dogs. Containing the well-known active ingredient Fipronil and manufactured in-house, Beaphar are able to offer the best price for retailers and fabulous consumer value.

In July last year, Beaphar FIPROtec was launched. A year on, following a hugely successful launch campaign, it is now Beaphar’s number one flea & tick spot on treatment and has already become a trusted brand with pet owners.

Beaphar FIPROtec is going from strength to strength and continued support to retailers and wholesalers is key to its success. In July alone, Beaphar will reach over 30,000 pet owners face to face by attending two well-known shows – The Pet Show at Stoneleigh in Warwickshire on the 23rd -24th July, followed by Suffolk Dog Day at Helmingham Hall in Suffolk on the 31st July.

Prior to shows, there will be a hive of activity via social media where Beaphar will be giving away four family passes to attend either The Pet Show or Suffolk Dog Day.

On show days, the Beaphar Team will be highlighting the importance of routinely treating pets for fleas and ticks and how to combat infestations within the home. The team will also provide a FREE weighing service for pets to help pet owners select the correct FIPROtec pack size they require for their pet.

The amazing ‘FIPROtec Bug Bus’, complete with a photobooth, will be making its way across the country shortly, to arrive at its first destination – The Pet Show, along with human-sized fleas! Pet owners will have the opportunity to enter our ‘Best Photo’ competition where they will be in with a chance to win a Beaphar Hamper worth £100.

Interested in stocking Beaphar FIPROtec? For more information contact your local Beaphar Sales Executive or call 0333 0066236.

fiprotec.co.uk

 
Get your own copy of Pet Trade Xtra
direct to your e-mail inbox...
direct to your e-mail inbox...

The best news service every week.

Subscribe for free by clicking here

 
Pets at Home launches new brand of cat and dog food
Pets at Home has launched a new brand of ‘advanced nutrition’ pet food...

Pets at Home has launched a new brand of ‘advanced nutrition’ pet food.

The new dog and cat food – AVA (Advanced Veterinary Approved) – is available in various forms, including dry kibble and wet pate and chunks, and takes account of breed size, lifestyle and lifestage.

Cat owners are able to choose from a grain-free range that includes diet-specific options for optimum health, weight management and sensitive skin and stomach issues, with an additional number of specific cat functions including hairball, neutered and indoor and oral care.

All of AVA’s veterinary-approved products feature +imuvita, a bespoke mix of ‘immune boosting’ ingredients including cranberry, green tea, pomegranate and grapeseed extracts, all within a hypo-allergenic recipe.

 
Raising awareness of the dangers of hot cars
Twelve organisations have teamed up to spread an important message among dog owners this summer...


Twelve organisations have teamed up to spread an important message among dog owners this summer.

Rescue and rehoming charities, veterinary associations, police, and welfare organisations are all working together to ensure owners know the dangers the warm weather can pose to dogs over the summer months.

The RSPCA receives thousands of reports of dogs suffering from heat exposure every year - that equates to one call every hour.

Already this summer the RSPCA have been called to three dogs which tragically died in a hot car.

Although the animal welfare charity records these calls as heat exposure in dogs - which can include dogs outside who are suffering from the heat, or dogs in conservatories or caravans - the majority of these incidents are dogs in hot cars.

In 2015, the RSPCA received 8,779 calls to report incidents of dogs suffering from heat exposure - more than 3,000 more than in 2010. But the number of calls did drop compared to 2014, when the charity saw a high of 10,229 incidents.

Incidents of dogs and heat exposure in England & Wales

Year    Number of incidents reported to RSPCA
2009    5,726
2010    5,741
2011    6,305
2012    6,176
2013    6,424
2014    10,229
2015    8,779

The RSPCA and other organisations in the UK have teamed up to launch this year’s ‘Dogs Die in Hot Cars’ campaign to try to bring down this number of calls and raise awareness of the dangers of leaving dogs - and other pets - in hot environments.

Dog’s Trust, The Kennel Club and #TeamOtisUK are the latest groups to join the campaign, which is in its second year, with the support of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, Blue Cross, British Veterinary Association (BVA), The Mayhew Animal Home, National Animal Welfare Trust, The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), PDSA and Wood Green Animal Shelter.

Dogs Die in Hot Cars It’s important to remember not to leave any animal in a car or caravan, or in a conservatory or outbuilding, where temperatures can quickly rise, even when it doesn’t feel that warm outside. For example, when it’s 22C outside, within an hour the temperature can reach 47C inside a vehicle, which can result in death.
 
Mikki introduces Mighty Muzzles to training range
Mikki has introduced a new range of basket muzzles, called Mighty Muzzles – tough, durable and safe muzzles that can be shaped to fit perfectly to any size dog...

Mikki has introduced a new range of basket muzzles, called Mighty Muzzles – tough, durable and safe muzzles that can be shaped to fit perfectly to any size dog.

With the addition of a collar attachment, the removal of the muzzle by the dog is prevented and the strong rubber provides maximum security against biting, chewing and barking.

The tough structure, although secure, allows for panting, drinking and also treat training and at an affordable and competitive price.

The muzzle can be moulded to fit the individual dog’s snout shape. Simply warm the muzzle in hot water, shape it around the dog’s snout and place in cold water for five minutes to set the shape.

The Mighty Muzzle is available in six sizes, fitting all dogs from the smallest Yorkshire Terrier to big breeds such as Irish Wolfhounds (12cm-36cm).

Prices start from £8.99. For more information visit www.interpet.co.uk or call 01306 873818.

 
Winners announced for first BVA photography competition
Vets Karen Coumbe and Stephen Powles have wowed the panel of judges, standing out from over 400 entries to snap up the top prizes in the British Veterinary Association's (BVA) inaugural photography competition...


Vets Karen Coumbe and Stephen Powles have wowed the panel of judges, standing out from over 400 entries to snap up the top prizes in the British Veterinary Association's (BVA) inaugural photography competition.

An equine vet with more than 30 years’ experience, Karen's photo of a laminitis operation won the ‘You and your work’ category, whilst a photo of a bat in flight took the crown in the ‘Wonderful world of animals’ category for Stephen, who joined BVA in 1983.

Karen, a member of BVA since 1996 who currently works for Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic in Maidstone, said: “I’m surprised, delighted and honoured to have won and grateful to my colleagues and clients at Bell Equine, who kindly tolerate my camera and I, with particular thanks to Dr Liz Barr, the equine specialist orthopaedic surgeon featured in the photograph. I was encouraged to enter the competition because I am fascinated by the amazing things I am privileged to observe in my day to day work, many of which provide exciting photo-opportunities.”

Stephen, a companion animal vet from Park Hill Veterinary Clinic in Tiverton, Devon, said: “I’m excited that the photo has received recognition – it was three years in the planning and not without an element of risk. The excitement on hearing that it had been recognised equated to the excitement that I felt when seeing it on the back of the camera for the first time! The bat in the photo is an Egyptian fruit bat and was one of a large roost of many thousand deep in a cave on Mt Elgon, Kenya. The bats exit the roost via a relatively small opening, making it the perfect location in which to photograph them.”

Due to the high standard of photographs entered the judging team of BVA President Sean Wensley, Chief Political Photographer of The Press Association Stefan Rousseau, Veterinary Record Assistant Editor Gill Harris and Association of Veterinary Students (AVS) President Hannah Mason had difficult decisions to make, however chose the winners based on their technical excellence, originality and how much they fulfilled the brief. Alongside the two winning images, four photos in each category also received Highly Commended awards.



Highly Commended awards:

You and your work
  • Snake undergoing anaesthesia by Lucy Crosby
  • Cat in consulting room by Pete van Dongen
  • Badly injured street dog in Gujarat government run vet clinic by Kalyani Lodhia
  • Equine dentistry by Karen Coumbe
The wonderful world of animals
  • Tigers Playing by Shareen Akhtar
  • Alpaca welcoming newborn herd member by Fiona Smith
  • Sparrows in flight by Ali Fakeri
  • Family of African elephants seeking shade by Siana Douglas-Hamilton
BVA President Sean Wensley said: “There are many talents within the veterinary profession and spending time with animals, both inside and outside of their veterinary work, presents lots of opportunities for vets to capture eye-catching images. All the judges were excited to see the photographs that our members submitted, documenting the working lives of vets and the veterinary team and capturing the animal world through a vet’s eye.”

Stefan Rousseau, Chief Political Photographer of The Press Association, said: “With an overall high standard of entries, choosing the winning pictures was a difficult task and took the judges several hours. But after much discussion we unanimously decided on Stephen Powles’ picture of the Egyptian Fruit Bat in flight. Its technical excellence combined with what must have been a long wait in difficult surroundings makes this photograph very pleasing to the eye. Many a professional wildlife photographer would be very happy with this picture themselves and both composition and lighting clearly makes it the stand out winner.

“Karen Coumbe’s photograph of an operation on a horse’s hoof is so clear in its depiction of a vet’s everyday work and illustrates perfectly the theme, ‘You and Your Work’. The lighting tells us this is in a surgical environment and the viewer is immediately aware of what’s going on. A very well executed photograph both technically and editorially makes it a great advertisement for the work of BVA members.”

Karen and Stephen both receive £250 worth of photography vouchers, and the winning photographs will be printed in the September issue of BVA News. There will also be an exclusive exhibition on show at BVA’s Members’ Day in Bristol this September.

All winners and shortlisted entries can now be viewed at www.bva.co.uk/vet-photos-2016
 
TopSpec expands veterinary nutrition team
TopSpec, the leader in feed balancers and other innovative horse feeds, has expanded its veterinary nutrition team with the appointment of well-known industry professional Sarah Stoneham...

TopSpec, the leader in feed balancers and other innovative horse feeds, has expanded its veterinary nutrition team with the appointment of well-known industry professional Sarah Stoneham.

Sarah’s many years’ experience in the equine veterinary field includes 20 years at Rossdales and Partners in Newmarket where she was a partner. Sarah worked on the stud side of the practice and established and ran the foal care unit at Rossdales Equine Hospital.

Six years’ managing a private stud farm in Suffolk and Norfolk followed before Sarah spent three years based at Cheshire Equine Clinic providing expertise in equine reproduction. During this time Sarah also took on the role of veterinary adviser at Harthill Stud.

Said Sarah: “Joining the team at TopSpec is a fantastic new opportunity that I am already thoroughly enjoying.

“I am originally from Yorkshire so it is wonderful to be back in the county. As well as my experience in the stud and breeding side of the industry I have always had a great interest in nutrition and the difference it can make to both adult horses and youngstock.”

Sarah’s role includes supporting the industry-leading Multiple Award Winning TopSpec Helpline, visiting studs to provide nutritional support and undertaking educational talks to industry professionals and vets.

Sarah is also Honorary Lecturer at Liverpool University Veterinary School, she is involved in post graduate education in Stud Medicine.  Sarah has written a number of clinical papers for veterinary journals and textbooks in addition to speaking at conferences in Europe and the US.

Added TopSpec Nutrition Director Nicola Tyler: “I am so proud of the outstanding nutrition department we now have at TopSpec; the combination of nutritional and veterinary experience behind the advice we give to horse-owners is exceptional.”

One pet abandoned every hour, says the RSPCA
More people abandon animals during summer than any time of the year, according to the RSPCA...
More people abandon animals during summer than any time of the year.

The RSPCA want people to be more aware of the whole financial and emotional costs of owning a pet

Every year the RSPCA is called out to rescue hundreds of animals across England and Wales after their owners abandon them and in many cases leave them for dead.

In 2015 2,751 animals were rescued by the animal welfare charity with a peak in admissions in July. Now the RSPCA is bracing itself for another summertime influx of dumped animals this year too.

It is thought one contributing factor of people dumping their animals in the summer months is down to some owners heading off on holiday and not finding anyone to look after their pet while they are away.

RSPCA Supt Simon Osborne said: "Every day our inspectors face cases where animals have been left abandoned in fields, dumped in boxes, left for dead at the side of roads and even left outside our animal centres and hospitals. It is just heartbreaking.

"These poor animals are often just dumped without a care for their welfare or what might happen to them.

"We will never know why these animals are just discarded like rubbish. All we know is that there is a real peak in the number of abandonments in the summer months - July in particular - and it is animal welfare charities like us at the RSPCA that are left to pick up the pieces. There is a huge strain on our resources at this time of year because of this.

"Many abandoned animals that are rescued by the RSPCA are very badly neglected and poorly so need urgent vet care and often hospital treatment."
 
Pet shop worker to run Great North Run in memory of beloved puppy
A pet shop worker, who was left hearbroken by the sudden death of her beloved puppy, is limbering up to take part in this year’s Great North Run in his memory...
A pet shop worker, who was left hearbroken by the sudden death of her beloved puppy, is limbering up to take part in this year’s Great North Run in his memory.

Amy Charlotte Ryan was devastated when eight-month-old pooch Mango died last July.

The cute canine swallowed a slug pellett and never recovered.

As a way of helping with her grief, Amy, 25, of Hebburn is now in training to run the world’s most famous half marathon in September in aid of Blue Cross Animal Charity.

Amy said: “We first noticed that he was drooling quite a lot so we rang the emergency vet.

“We were hoping whatever it was could be disloged from his mouth.”

Reluctantly, Amy and partner Stephen McWilliams allowed him to be taken in by the vets for treatment.

“One of the vets said it was worth ‘giving him a chance.”

“I didn’t even realise it might mean that he could die. We really thought he would be alright in the end.”

Sadly, Mango, a working cocker spaniel, lost his fight for life after his organs shut down.

“It was horrible,” added Amy, who works at My Pet Stop in Washington.

“You just wouldn’t have thought a slug pellet could have done that, but it does happen.”

Now, despite not being a regular runner, Amy is hoping to do Mango’s memory proud by running the half marathon, which begins in Newcastle and ends in South Shields.

To sponsor Amy go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/in-memory-of-mango.
 
Society of Master Saddlers launches new website
The Society of Master Saddlers has launched a new website packed with easy to navigate information...


The Society of Master Saddlers has launched a new website packed with easy to navigate information.

With a modern and fresh design, the platform includes a host of useful advice for both members, potential new members, horse riders, owners and supporters of the equestrian community.

Said SMS Chief Executive, Hazel Morley: “We felt it would be fitting as part of our 50th Anniversary year to develop and launch a new website that projected both our history and heritage but forward thinking approach and years of experience.”

The website includes areas for membership, training, craft, saddle fitting and news, as well as a search facility enabling visitors to find their nearest Member and Qualified Saddle Fitter.

The Society of Master Saddlers' new website showcases the depth of knowledge available to members and through eye-catching imagery brings to life the many aspects of the saddlery world.

Log on to www.mastersaddlers.co.uk for the latest news from the society and to have a look around the new website.
Email Software by Newsweaver