Twenty pet companies from the UK will be heading out to Italy next week to exhibit in the British Pavilion at the prestigious Zoomark trade show in Bologna.

The leading suppliers will be found in Hall 22 where they will be displaying their latest pet care product ranges.

The British contingent has been organised by PetQuip who will be giving away a free copy of their Buyers' Guide to international visitors on their stand C32. The guide contains detailed information on all PetQuip members and their products and services for the pet care industry. It's a ‘must have’ guide for anyone wishing to buy pet care products from UK suppliers and manufacturers.

The companies exhibiting in the British Pavilion are: Animolgy, Barking Heads & Meowing Heads, The Canny Company Ltd, Crate Ideas, Fisherman’s Daughter, Get Off (Spotless Punch Ltd), Hing Designs, James & Steel, Lily's Kitchen, Litter Kwitter, Loc8tor, Long Paws, Omlet, PATS and Aqua 2013, Ret Rebellion, PetQuip, ROK Straps Europe, Symply Pet Foods, and The TastyBone Company.

"It is an impressive list of UK pet companies going to Zoomark and is proof that they are serious about securing overseas business," said PetQuip's Trade Association Manager Pat Flynn.

Zoomark takes place on May 9-12.

To find out more about the British Pavilion at Zoomark organised by PetQuip click here

As the pet industry prepares for Rabbit Awareness Week, which starts on Saturday, a new craze is sweeping the internet.

Rabbit owners around the world are posting images of their 'naughty' pet rabbits, and now website www.buzzfeed.com has published a collection on a special 'Hot New Bunny Alert' page.

The Buzzfeed page was inspired by dogshaming.com, which is full of dogs being named and shamed for bad behaviour.

This one is crammed with pictures of mischievous rabbits along with signs explaining why they're in the naughty corner.

The gallery includes everything from a boisterous bunny that enjoys chewing through expensive computer cable to a floppy friend who loves playing with toilet paper.

For the full collection of pictures on the Buzzfeed site click here.

Otherwise, here's our rogues' gallery... 

A dancing cockatoo called Snowball has become a massive hit on YouTube with one of his videos reaching nearly 5.5 million hits.

Snowball is a Medium Sulphur Crested Eleanora Cockatoo that dances to the Back Street Boys and other songs that he rates as having a 'very good beat'.

Snowball arrived at the Bird Lovers Only Rescue Service – a not for profit bird rescue and sanctuary in America – in August 2007 and continues to make the helpers there laugh with his fancy footwork.

"We are currently raising funds to build a bird habitat for Snowball and other birds like him," said a spokesperson for the sanctuary.

Three of Snowball's YouTube videos have has massive numbers of hits: Our Dancing Cockatoo (nearly 5.5 million); Snowball's tribute to Michael Jackson (1,858,602); Another One Bites the Dust 3,300,000 hits.

To view Our Dancing Cockatoo click here

Two sisters from a Nottingham primary school are setting an example to the community by taking it upon themselves to rid the area of dog mess.

Nine-year-old Amy Meek and her seven-year-old sister, Ella, have begun spraying troublesome mess with a waterproof orange spray that alerts passers-by.

They have also put up posters outside their school, Richard Bonington Primary, and their house in Redhill Estate and provide biodegradable plastic bags for walkers to clean up after their dogs.

The girls have a dog of their own, a 12-year-old Labrador called Sally, and feel that others should take the same level of care.

Amy said: "It's just very unthoughtful for the other people. We get fed up finding all the dog poo on the street."

Ella said: "We were sick and tired of seeing it all around, so we wanted to do something about it."

Jackie Stirland, head teacher at Richard Bonington Primary, thinks local councils could take a leaf out of the girls' book.

"They're wonderful," she said. "It's tremendous and proactive.

"Dog muck is something parents have regularly complained about, but no one took any notice.

"It's nice to see the children taking action and acting with initiative and responsibility when really it should have been the council or the dog owners."

Picture courtesy Nottingham Post.

Pet treat company Hollings is launching an impressive range of new products on to the market.

Tub of 'Beefy' Treats - 100% natural beefy treats in an easy-to-use, re-sealable plastic tub. There's no mess, no hassle, and they're easy to store.

Tub of Beef Crunch - 100% natural pure British beef greaves. They can be used as a supplement or treat, and are great for puppies or working dogs that need extra energy.



Summer Bag – 100% natural treats. This summer bag includes a filled hoof, cow's ear, mini roast bone and beef rib. Can be used as a treat or as a reward. Beef Flats 2pk - 100% natural, long lasting treat for dogs, high in protein, low in fat. 100% digestible, they provide added health benefits of naturally occurring forms of glucosamine and chondroitin.

Pork Strings 15pk - 100% natural, air-dried healthy treat for dogs. This product will not splinter, and contains biotin for a healthy shiny coat.

Hollings New Sausage Range - four new flavours of sausage (chicken, venison, meat and veg, and salami).

Check out www.hollings.uk.com for more information.

Thousands of Brits will sacrifice a holiday this year because of their pets, according to new research.

A new survey has found that the rising cost of kennels and sitters will prevent a quarter of families with pets from taking a vacation this summer.

Many say they are unable to rely on the goodwill of friends and family to help out, or are too embarrassed to ask.

Others feel guilty about 'abandoning' their pets, even on short breaks, and worry about their welfare in cheaper boarding.

The figures were released this week by the free pet-sitting service Petaround.com, which polled 1,250 pet owners about their holiday plans.

Founder Phil Harris said: "Pets bring so much joy to people, but they do require constant care and as the survey shows, this can cause problems when planning to go abroad.

"Family members and friends aren't always there to help, and a professional pet-sitter or boarding can prove very expensive.

"There's also the issue of trust. Pets are part of a family and like with children, you wouldn't entrust them into someone's care without being certain it's the right environment for them.

"Finding a service or professional that ticks all the boxes can be a time-consuming task and stressful task. With all these obstacles in the way, it's no wonder that so many pet owners are planning to stay at home this year."

While a majority of dog owners agreed that changes introduced by DEFRA to the Pet Travel Scheme in 2012 had made it 'easier' to take pets abroad, many still felt that travelling with pets remained impractical.

Phil added: "PetAround.com is a new approach to pet-sitting and has been launched specifically to help people make contact with other pet owners who are happy to look after their animal - often for free.

"When it comes to animal care, the real experts are the pet owners themselves so leaving your pet - be it a dog, cat, bird or more exotic animal - with someone who currently owns, or has owned, the same animal is great peace of mind and a win-win situation for everyone."

For more information about pet sitting go to www.PetAround.com

Animaware, the creator of AnimAlarm, has won a prestigious business award for its temperature monitoring device for pets.

Officially launched at Crufts 2013 where the product received a considerable amount of interest from dog owners, the device has been voted Innovative Product of the Year 2013 by business magazine Aspire in its annual business awards.

Created by dog owner and former 3-day event rider Victoria Davidson, AnimAlarm is a portable and easy-to-use temperature warning system that allows owners to monitor the temperature in any environment, ensuring that their animal is safe and comfortable at all times.

“My own two dogs, Monty and Scrappers, love the car; as soon as I have the door open, they’re in! They even like to sit inside it when it is at home," said Victoria.

"Research shows that even in a moving vehicle with the air-conditioning on or the windows open, the temperature throughout a vehicle can vary by up to 9°C; it can be 26°C in the front near the air-conditioning or open window and at the same time be 35°C in the back where your dog might be! These variations in your car’s temperature can have severe consequences on the health of your dog, so it is important to stay informed.

"I was worried about the well-being of my dogs, so looked for something that could help accurately measure my car’s temperature but found nothing. I decided to design something myself and so found a fantastic group of people that had the software knowledge to help turn my design into a reality.”

On hearing the news of the Certificate of Recognition for Innovative Product of the Year 2013, Victoria said: “This is fantastic. I’m honoured that AnimAlarm has been recognised. I knew that it could benefit many people and their dogs, but I never realised how high customer demand would be.

"I have a couple of product ideas in the pipeline and I am looking to release some associated AnimAlarm products in 2014/15. As a long-time dog owner, I have always been aware of the dangers of having your dogs travel with you in the car, but until I actually designed the AnimAlarm, I never realised just how variable the temperature really is.

“Dogs are especially vulnerable to heat-related illnesses; they can only cool off by panting and perspiration through the very few sweat glands in their footpads. Even short exposure to excessive temperatures, hot or cold, can cause the body’s cells to stop working properly and release harmful chemicals, which can lead to nerve and liver damage, heart problems, brain damage and even death. AnimAlarm is a must-have for any dog owner.”

For more information visit www.theanimalarm.com, e-mail info@theanimaalrm.com or call 01452 702062.

The number of convictions for animal cruelty and neglect of pets has soared by more than a third last year to reach record levels, shocking new figures reveal.

The RSPCA has warned it is struggling to cope with soaring levels of abuse and some of the worst cases of cruelty it has ever seen.

In 2012, the charity rescued and collected almost 131,000 dogs, cats, horses, rabbits and other pets - a 10% rise on the previous year.

Its inspectors investigated more than 150,000 cases of suspected cruelty and secured 4,184 convictions - 34% more than 2011. Some 86 people were jailed.

The 'shocking catalogue of deliberate cruelty and neglect' includes: 

• Two Jack Russell puppies that had to be put to sleep after they were buried alive in a shallow grave.
• More than 30 rabbits and guinea pigs found clambering over dead companions in slurry-filled hutches.
• A springer spaniel called Sid slashed whose owner slashed him more than 30 times with a knife in the worst assault the RSPCA inspector had ever seen.
• A tortoiseshell cat called Tiddy that died after a postman repeatedly bashed her over the head with the lid of his trolley.

The RSPCA's statistics show that dogs took the brunt of the abuse. However, there have been large rises in the mistreatment of horses, farm animals and hamsters and rabbits.

The charity said that the increase cannot be explained away by greater awareness of its work leading to more members of the public reporting concerns to it.

RSPCA chief executive Gavin Grant called on judges to take the offences 'far more seriously'.

He added: "The RSPCA is leading the fight against a growing animal cruelty crisis.

"'Our staff, volunteers and branches show tremendous dedication but they are struggling to keep up.

"For us, prosecution is always the last resort.

"However, if there is evidence of crime and serious animal abuse, then we will take legal action.' 

A spokesman for the charity added: "It may cause surprise for some who think of the UK as a nation of animal lovers to see these figures indicating the opposite.

"Although our annual cruelty statistics highlight the worst cases we are involved with, it is worth remembering that there are millions of responsible, caring pet owners who look after their pets appropriately and the cruelty figures are very small in comparison.

"We must not, however, ignore the fact that there are some people out there who think it is acceptable to beat, kick, kill, starve or neglect an animal and these are the people we are trying to re-educate and, if necessary, prosecute."

Scissal has won the Innovation Award at the Local Living Business Awards 2013 held in Rutland.

The judges were impressed by the way that Scissal “identified the need, undertook quality research backed up with a focussed sales and marketing campaign and used UK suppliers and manufacturers."

Dawn Hawkins, of Scissal, said  “We are thrilled that we have been granted thisaward. Any award is incredibly special, but receiving a local business award means an awful lot to us and we were delighted our designs have been recognised."

Scissal designs and produces an innovative, functional and sophisticated range of Diners for Cats and Dogs.

The company prides itself on setting new standards in furniture design and appealing to the individual who appreciates diverse, contemporary design combined with a love for their dogs.

For more information visit www.scissal.co.uk

The Pet Industry Federation is launching a Quality Assurance Standard for Groomers to lift public confidence in the grooming industry.

Recent media coverage of tragedies in grooming salons has cast a dark shadow over the entire sector, with damaging aspersions made about groomers’ concern for the safety and wellbeing of animals.

"This negative coverage is contrary to the British Dog Groomers’ Association’s long experience in supporting dedicated, passionate, skilled groomers," commented Heidi Anderton, chair of the British Dog Groomers’ Association (BDGA).

However, the BDGA and the Pet Industry Federation recognise that the grooming industry has never been subject to the same scrutiny that is applied to pet retailers selling pets, or kennels and catteries boarding animals, all of which require a licence to operate. The consequence of this regulatory void is that members of the public are choosing their grooming services virtually blind, with no legislative framework to offer reassurance and no prospect of the government addressing this.

"The Pet Industry Federation realises that a bold move is needed to counteract the negative press groomers have recently experienced, and what better than to robustly demonstrate just how safe, caring and professional groomers are through an industry-agreed Quality Assurance Standard," explained Nigel Baker, chief executive of the Pet Industry Federation.

"A working party of members of the British Dog Groomers’ Association has helped the Federation Secretariat devise a standard which provides BDGA members with the opportunity to be professionally audited and then to proudly display the assurance logo and certificate on successful completion."

The standard consists of an independent audit of the grooming business, covering areas such as animal welfare, staff training, equipment, health & safety and customer care. Groomers also take an online assessment to measure their technical competence. Extra star ratings are achieved on an evidence basis: the more accomplished a groomer is (demonstrated through qualifications and experience), the more stars they will receive.

"We are delighted to have received support for this initiative from within industry, through such well respected groups as the English Groomers Group and Groom Team England," said Nigel. "The confidence already shown indicates the desire groomers have to prove they are true professionals with animal welfare at the core of their business."

"‘It is a positive step for the grooming industry that the Pet Industry Federation are taking the initiative to introduce standardisation for grooming salons," said Joanne Angus from Groom Team England.

"This has been a matter of great debate for some time now, and can only be of benefit to groomers and also the pet owning public, by giving them confidence in their choice of salon.’

"We at EGG are thrilled with the launch of the Quality Assurance Standard for groomers," said Louisa Tandy of the English Groomers Group. ‘It will help tremendously with customer awareness of our industry and the brilliant people that work within it, encouraging them to find a quality assured  groomer who has been assessed to be working at the required standard in a safe environment. We feel it is a positive step towards moving the industry forward in a direction that all groomers will want to support and be part of."

The public will be informed how and why to seek out Quality Assured groomers through an ongoing public-facing marketing campaign by the Pet Industry Federation in partnership with consumer media including Your Dog magazine – wide-reaching publications that are seen as trusted sources of information for pet owners.

"We are launching the Quality Assurance Standard this weekend at GroomPro Expo and Mastergroom taking place at Warwick Hall in Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire," said Nigel. "We will explain some of the detail during our timetabled seminars and will be available to answer questions at our stand. This will be groomers’ first opportunity to sign up to join the scheme and I am looking forward to seeing the take up."

Wagg has updated its instant dog gravy packaging to bring it in line with the company's new Wagg’mmms dog biscuit range.

The recipe for Wagg instant gravy granules remains unchanged and has been specially formulated to provide an accompaniment to moisten dry dog food. It is low in both salt and sugar.  

Each 170g carton provides approximately 16 servings, and is available from all major wholesalers – the product comes in cases of six units, RRP is £1.19.

To find out more visit www.waggfoods.com

Pets at Home is pledging to support more animal charities as it prepares to open a new store in Coventry...

The chain is opening its third Coventry shop in Hinckley Road in June.

Store manager Hayley Hambridge is appealing for people to nominate local animal groups and charities they would like to see partnered with the shop.

It is part of Support Adoption for Pets, the charity set up by the chain, which supports animal welfare groups across the country.

Hayley said: “We want to be at the heart of the pet community, supporting local charities and helping them to continue their good work, whether through in-store events, fundraising or donations.”

Burns Pet Nutrition has re-introduced a new edition to its range of premium foods for dogs.

Toy and Small Breed Original with Chicken and Rice (formerly Mini Bites) is specially formulated to cater for the needs of small dogs.

This hypo-allergenic recipe was created by the company’s founder veterinary surgeon John Burns and contains a balanced set of ingredients which include whole grains and high quality animal proteins to support a small dog’s wellbeing.

As with all Burn’s foods, this recipe does not contain any artificial colourings, additives or preservatives and avoids ingredients that are known to cause intolerances in pets such as wheat, Soya and dairy products.

“Our Toy & Small Breed food has higher levels of protein and fat than our other adult dog diets ensuring toy/small breed dogs get everything they need," said Burn’s nutritionist Fiona Campbell.

"Small dogs tend to have higher metabolic rates and smaller stomachs so need to take in more calories per kilo than larger dogs to maintain a healthy weight.

"When used as a general maintenance diet it can help to maintain healthy skin, coat and digestion and we have created a smaller kibble for smaller mouths.”

Burns Toy & Small Breed can help manage many dietary related health issues including bad breath, wind, itchy skin and excessive moulting. It is highly digestible; therefore feeding amounts are lower meaning that daily feeding costs are significantly lower than those of other premium brands.

Burns Toy and Small Breed is produced in the UK and is available in two bag sizes, 2kg and 6kg. For further information visit the Burn’s website at www.burnspet.co.uk

Pet owners have the chance to put a question relating to pet travel in a 'live' chat online this evening with the chief vet from MedicAnimal.com

The Q&A session goes live at 6pm when vet Andrew reveals some exclusive tips on travelling with pets.

Owners can submit their questions now by emailing vetchats@medicanimal.com

Actress Felicity Kendal has joined a whole host of celebrities in designing her very own teapot for animal charity Blue Cross.

The 66-year-old has showcased her artistic talents by painitng her teapot, which will be auctioned off to rasie funds for the sick and homeless pets that the charity looks after.

'The Good Life' star posed up with her very own pooch, George, for the campaign and is clearly very passionate about helping animals.

Other famous faces who have lent their time to the campaign include 'Broadchurch' star Olivia Colman, singer Liz McClarnon and Arlene Phillips.

"I have been busy mastering my baking skills for the Blue Cross Tea Party and I want to appeal to all the pet lovers out there to do the same," Phillips said of her involvement.

"I used to really struggle with baking but ever since I did the Great British Bake Off, I love to shut myself away in the kitchen for a few hours whipping up a Victoria sponge or some scones to share with the family. I actually find it very therapeutic, and what’s great is that anyone can have a go to help this fantastic cause.

"With a huge rise in stray and abandoned pets over the last few years, Blue Cross needs our help more than ever to continue caring for pets in need."

The Blue Cross teapot auction will take place from May 2-12. The public can get involved and bid on their favourite pet-inspired teapot by visiting www.bluecross.org.uk/teapots.

Four pets had a lucky escape when they were dumped at Dovestone Reservoir, near Saddleworth, Greater Manchester.

Mark Hilton, director of Adventure Based Learning of Greenfield, spotted the two rabbits and two guinea pigs while walking.

He called one of his company’s volunteers, Shelly Cooper, and she and her husband spent two hours helping to capture the animals, which were loose in a field near the lake.

“I think they had literally been dumped a few hours before. If they had been there overnight, they would probably have been eaten by a fox,” said Mark.

Pets at Home at Elk Mill donated food and bedding for the animals which are being looked after by Mark and his staff.

Mark is now hoping to find new homes for the animals.

A dating website for dogs and humans has been set up by two Hampstead men to help potential owners to find their ideal pet.

Founders Farokh Khorooshi and David Lethbridge (pictured above) have used their expertise as, respectively, a director specialising in animal photo shoots and a marketing wizard, to launch a website for dog-lovers the world over.

The site, Noah’s Dogs, pairs pet owners and canines based on extensive compatibility tests, with the same precision and care used to pair couples by hit dating websites.

Mr Khorooshi said: “When you go to a dating website, you’re asked who you want to meet, so we wanted to set that up for dogs and owners.

“Going just on looks never works – there has to be more, so we want the website to help with that. For example, some dogs need to walk every day, some dogs like children, others don’t, and all of this is important in creating a happy life for the dog and owner.”

The compatibility test asks questions on everything from home set-up to climate and weekly exercise routines.

But unlike other sites, Noah’s Dogs goes a step further and scans shelters nationwide for suitable dogs, giving the owner the chance to arrange weekly 'dates' before a final decision is made.

Mr Korooshi had the idea for the site when he saw how sad his business partner’s dog, Barnaby, was when his canine pals on Hampstead Heath disappeared.

“Barnaby would make so many friends when he was out walking, but then they would disappear,” he said. “It was because they were bought when they were little puppies and then their owners would realise the dog wasn’t going to be right, so they would have to return the dogs to the shelter.

“This website prevents dogs ending up back in shelters and it promotes rehoming, rather than just going to a puppy farm and getting a dog for Christmas.”

To take the dog compability test, visit www.noahsdogs.com

The Kennel Club has announced that it will be holding a Hunt, Point, Retrieve (HPR) Championship this year, at the Swinton Park estate, North Yorkshire, on November 15-16.

The championship, which will be designed specifically to test the dogs’ quartering, hunting and retrieving skills at a championship level, will offer the chance for owners of HPR breeds to demonstrate the working skills of their dogs in a competitive setting.

Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, said: “The fact that the Kennel Club has decided to hold a Hunt, Point, Retrieve Championship is a tribute to the hard work put in by the HPR community, who are continuously and consistently raising the standard of their dogs’ work.

“The HPR Championship will join the ranks of the existing Cocker Spaniel Championship and Retriever Championship as a prestigious pinnacle in the working gundog calendar for the respective breeds, and we are very much looking forward to seeing the wonderful level of talent showcased by the HPR breeds.”

Further information on the HPR Championship will be released nearer the time.  To find out about Kennel Club field trials, visit www.thekennelclub.org.uk/fieldtrials.

Zoetis Inc, formerly the animal health subsidiary of US pharmaceuticals giant Pfizer Inc, posted a better-than-expected quarterly profit, driven by strong growth in sales of pet products in the United States.

Animal health is considered an attractive business for drugmakers as there are fewer worries about patent expiries and regulatory interventions, and a growing middle-class population in emerging markets means more people can afford pets.

However, the worst drought in the United States in more than half a century has hit sales across the industry.

Zoetis said sales of livestock products rose just 2%, compared with a 13% rise in pet products sales.

Zoetis's pet products include Revolution, a heartworm and flea-control medicine for cats and dogs, and Palladia, the first drug to be approved by the FDA for treating cancer in dogs.