The Kennel Club has criticised a Channel 4 programme - ‘The £60,000 Puppy: Cloning Man's Best Friend’ - to be screened tonight (Wednesday) for trivialising the issue.

The organisation is strongly against the principle of cloning as it jeopardises dog welfare and runs contrary to the Kennel Club’s objective to promote in every way the general improvement of dogs.

Kennel Club Secretary Caroline Kisko, said: “People may turn to cloning when faced with the loss of a beloved pet and the need to replicate the emotional bond they have with their dog but unfortunately this comes at a price and the price is the welfare implications involved in cloning.”

At the present time cloning involves invasive procedures, which include surgically implanting the embryo into the bitch used to carry the clone. Because of the poor success rates this procedure may be repeated multiple times, in many different bitches, in order to produce a successful outcome. Furthermore, the dog carrying the embryos will have to suffer the effects of unsuccessful pregnancies such as losing embryos and newborns.

Caroline continues: “It is important to remember that cloning can only replicate genetic material and cloned animals will most likely develop different personalities and be a very different dog to the dog that is cloned. In addition to this, there is a high probability of abnormality in the puppy if things go wrong.

“We are genuinely shocked at the concept of the competition and the trivialisation of this issue, as we believe most caring dog owners will be.  The idea that the emotional bond with a dog that has passed away is being put above the welfare of the dog or dogs involved in producing the cloned pet is appalling.  The ethics involved in this are undoubtedly questionable and we would urge people to take a stand against the practice.”

The Kennel Club is committed to supporting responsible dog breeding using traditional breeding practices and new initiatives such as Mate Select so that improvements can be made to ensure better health for future generations of dogs.

The one-off Channel 4 film follows a unique competition in which one lucky British dog owner wins the chance to have their beloved pooch cloned.

South Korean dog cloning company Sooam Biotech sell their services worldwide. But this is the first time they have marketed their dog cloning techniques in the UK, offering Britain's dog owners the chance to immortalise their canine best friend.

The programme featured an array of dog lovers, who couldn't bear to think of life without their four-legged friends. They invited the South Korean scientists into their homes to meet their dogs and prove why they deserved the chance to have their pet cloned. 

The programme also explores the science of cloning and the ethical questions that surround it.

The Dogs Trust is another animal welfare group which has criticised the cloning of dogs, branding it unnecessary and saying it should not be offered as a prize in a competition.

"We accept that owners considering cloning are often committed dog lovers, but we cannot condone such expensive processes to produce just one dog when major animal welfare charities are heavily committed to structured and expensive neutering programmes to prevent many thousands of healthy stray or abandoned dogs being killed each year," said a Dogs Trust spokesperson.

"We are also concerned that the owner of a cloned dog may have unrealistic expectations. The cloned dog is unlikely to be an accurate mirror image of the donor in temperament and behaviour which may well to disappointment and a risk of abuse to or abandonment of the dog."

For information about the Dogs Trust visit www.dogstrust.org.uk

Mars will buy the rights to the brands in North America, Latin America and other selected countries excluding Europe. These markets account for 80% of Procter & Gamble's global pet food sales.

Procter & Gamble said that it could sell its European pet care business to different buyers. The company said it "is developing alternate plans to sell its Pet Care business in these markets."

Procter & Gamble, like many of its rival consumer goods goliaths, is refocusing on core business lines in a move to cut $10bn of costs in five years.

Mr AG Lafley, the chairman, president and chief executive of P&G, said: “Exiting pet care is an important step in our strategy to focus P&G’s portfolio on the core businesses where we can create the most value for consumers and shareowners.

"The transaction creates value for P&G shareowners, and we are confident that the business will thrive at Mars, a leading company in pet care.”

Tetra's AquaArt Explorer Line of aquariums has been developed to add an attractive modern twist to traditional fishkeeping with high quality production. This will allow aquatic retailers to appeal to the relatively untapped market of fishkeepers who want beautiful design in their home.

This addition to Tetra's range is available in 30L and 60L capacities and features a contemporary curved design, allowing a distortion-free panoramic view into the tank, which will appeal to potential fishkeepers who do not want to compromise on style. 

The 60L Tetra AquaArt Explorer Line Tropical aquarium set with 8.5 watt LED light includes the innovative Tetra EasyCrystal FilterBox, with additional replacement filter cartridge, an accurate Tetra HT50 aquarium heater and background poster.

Also included is a set of Tetra’s best-selling products; 100ml each of TetraMin – food for all ornamental fish; Tetra AquaSafe – making tap water safe for fish; and Tetra EasyBalance – to reduce the number of water changes required. 

Retailers will benefit in the long term from the sale of replacement cartridges, which need to be replaced every four weeks, plus the replenishment of any and all fish-keeping needs your customer will surely have. 

The 30L Tetra AquaArt Explorer Line Goldfish aquarium set, with low consumption 5 watt LED light, also includes the Tetra EasyCrystal Filter, an additional replacement filter cartridge, background poster and 100ml each of Tetra Goldfish food and Tetra Goldfish AquaSafe water conditioner. 

The attractive AquaArt range offers energy efficient and environmentally-friendly low wattage, long-lasting LED lights with COB (chip-on-board) technology. 

More than two-thirds of local authorities don’t use the guidance issued by their own industry body to ensure consistent pet shop licensing, according to a new report from the Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association. 

OATA has made Freedom of Information requests to nearly 400 local councils across the UK to find out how they deal with the licensing of pet shops. These have revealed:

• Less than 28% of councils use the 2013 Model Guidelines for Pet Vending Licensing issued by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health
• Annual charges vary enormously for an inspection – from the cheapest fee of £20 to the highest charge of £462 (average fee is £131.86)
• Pet shop licence inspection visits are carried out by a plethora of staff, from dog wardens to vets, environmental health officers and licensing officers who cover pubs and restaurants

“Our latest report highlights yet again the enormous variety in pet shop licensing across the UK and our aim is to fight for a level playing field for businesses,” said OATA Chief Executive Keith Davenport. 

“We want a common, coherent and consistent approach to pet shop licensing that makes sure no-one can trade without demonstrating good welfare standards and that they’re a bona-fide business. Clearly we don’t have that at the moment.

“We worked with the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health to produce its excellent guidance for EHOs, which has been out for nearly a year now. Yet less than a third of councils are using it, which is very disappointing because if they did our concerns about a level playing field would largely be met. 

“We’ve already forwarded this report to Neil Parish MP, Chair of the Associate Parliamentary Group on Animal Welfare, Tracey Crouch MP who is Chair of the Pet Advisory Group and Shadow DEFRA Minister Huw Irranca-Davies. We’ll also make sure it’s sent to the House of Commons Environment and Rural Affairs Committee, representatives of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and to Tim Morris of the Animal Health and Welfare Board England. Hopefully in this way we can continue the political pressure to make pet shop licensing more consistent across the country.”

OATA members have made complaints to the trade association about the rise in ‘garden shed’ traders who often operate without complying with the same rules as high street businesses. So OATA also asked councils about how they establish the pet shop licence is being given to a bona-fide enterprise. It found less than half checked with other council colleagues to see if the applicants had the relevant planning consents or were registered for business rates.

“Strangely we found more councils asked about public liability insurance – which doesn’t really have anything to do with them – than about planning consent or business rates, which do. And we found nearly five percent of all pet shops licensed are in private dwellings.”

OATA’s report can be found on its website http://www.ornamentalfish.org/pet-shop-licences along with information about the CIEH guidance.

Ideal Balance is an exciting new brand of canine and feline petfood from Hill’s and their biggest brand launch since Science Plan broke the mould in 1968. Until now, there has been no petfood brand which fully captures the potential of ‘natural’ while also offering advanced nutrition credentials. This is a tremendous opportunity to give your customers exactly what they want.

With Ideal Balance, there’s no need for pet owners to compromise on nutrition or their desire for fresh, natural ingredients. With fresh chicken as the first ingredient, it’s a brand that appeals to both the head and the heart and it occupies a new and exciting space in the petfood category.

Sales of natural petfood brands are growing from strength to strength, making it a trend that retailers cannot afford to ignore. And humanisation of petfoods is another strong driver: we want our pets to eat food of the same quality that we do.

Hill’s is perfectly positioned to combine this drive for high quality, wholesome and healthy ingredients with nutritional excellence that avoids nutrient deficiencies and excesses. Nutritional expertise and an ingrained rigorous approach to quality, means Ideal Balance is a brand that will deliver in every respect.

With brown rice as the main carbohydrate source, the range contains no wheat, maize or soy and ingredients like apples and flax seed feature in the nutritious recipe.  All of this and the attractive ‘fresh meat first’ proposition too!

Again picking up on humanisation of petfoods as a major influence on consumers’ purchasing habits, Ideal Balance ‘No Grain’ dry is a show-stopping option within the range. As well as being the ideal choice for pets with individual dietary requirements, ‘No Grain’ will resonate with consumers that demand cereal-free recipes. 

So if Hill’s has hit the shoppers’ sweet spot with fresh meat first, naturals, no grain and three flavours in the canned product, how excited should retailer be about the profit potential? Priced to reflect a high-end premium proposition, Ideal Balance* starts at £4.99 for 700 gram Canine dry (or £5.49 for the ‘No Grain’ option) and £3.89 for 300 gram Feline dry (£4.29 for No Grain). 

Avoid the rush and take advantage of your ‘heard it first status’: pre-order by calling Barry (01923 814539) or Helen (01923 814596) in our telesales team.

*Retail selling prices are recommendations only and there is no obligation on the customer/retailer to comply with these recommendations

Budapest-based photographer Sarolta Bán is turning photos of abandoned dogs into awesome images that may halp to find them a new home.

She gets regular photos of animals in shelters from people all over the world and, using Photoshop, transforms them into something cool that may persuade people to adopt them.

When a dog is adopted, she also sends a print of the photo to the new owner, no matter if they are in New York, Thailand or Tokyo.

The self-taught photographer is best known for her surreal landscapes, which have been displayed in galleries across Europe. She creates dreamlike scenes, often populated by magical beasts, with photo manipulation software, and sometimes layers as many as 100 individual images to create a final product.

She invited her more than 100,000 Facebook fans to submit photos of homeless pets, and she is transforming them into evocative, majestic portraits.

"Abandoned dogs sadly have really few chances to appear on a photo that will help them get out of the shelter – one that stands out from the crowd, and 'speaks' to a person."

"I would really like to help sheltered animals, and for sure a good picture can be worth a thousand words."

To see more of her images visit www.saroltaban.com

The 11 British suppliers of petcare products that exhibited at Global Pet Expo in Florida in March as part of a UK group organised by the British based PetQuip export association have returned to the UK with glowing reports of the success of the show. 

The British pet product information stand, organised and manned by PetQuip, also received visits from over 70 buyers from 20 countries and as a result will be issuing further firm sales leads to its association members.

Some of the successes include:

• Hilton Herbs Ltd was one of the companies to secure new export orders for its herbal supplements, topical creams and natural healthcare products for dogs, cats, horses and birds.  The company also held discussions with a potential new Californian distributor.

• Feathers & Beaky exhibited its award-winning free-range chicken accessories, and won an order for one of its new products from a Dutch customer. The products also attracted interest from buyers from Australia and South America.

• Micro-Id Ltd isexpecting to gain business from a pet collar supplier that showed interest in the British firm’s microchip Identification systems for animals.  Interest was shown by buyers from South America, Australasia, Europe and from a Lebanese Kennel Club.

• Animology exhibited its shampoos and sprays to dog groomers and owners for the third time at Global Pet Expo, and while at the show appointed a US manufacturers’ representative and a vice president of sales for the company’s US office.

• CarPET Pet Hair Remover launched its pet hair remover in the North American market for the first time, and it resulted in a pleasing number of orders and over 200 enquiries from countries including South America, France and Japan.

• Lily’s Kitchen’s range of natural and nutritious recipes for dogs and cats also generated solid interest from buyers from the US and a number of South America countries.

• House of Paws rated it the best show the companyhad attended, and anticipated securing orders for its luxury pet beds from new potential customers.

• SureFlap launched new items to its range of microchip-operated pet doors and feeders for cats and small dogs and were pleased with the resulting new business leads. The company also acquired a greater understanding of the working of the US pet product market while at the show. 

• Hing Designs was another company that had an excellent show.  The UK supplier of feeding devices for cats and dogs met with overseas distributors which it had secured at previous Global Pet Expo shows, and is now in a position to service new South American outlets gained during the 2014 show. 

• Seneye aquatic monitors displayed its digital test device that monitors the key water in an aquarium. Seneye stated that the show had exceeded all expectations and that the buyers the firm had met from around the world were “all real decision makers”.

All of the UK firms had the benefit of funding arranged by the PetQuip export association via the UK Trade & Investment Trade Show Access Programme and also from the comprehensive exhibitor and administration support packages provided by the PetQuip association.

For further information visit www.petquip.com

Pictured: The British stands at Global Pet Expo were kept busy with visits from overseas buyers.

Not Just Pets in Bath was voted UK Pet Retailer of the Year in the 2013 PetQuip Awards and has since used the recognition to elevate the business on to a much wider platform. Owner Janine Tozer reveals what the Award has done for her pet store...

"Winning the Pet Retailer of the Year Award meant a lot to us as it recognised our hard work and commitment to the industry," said Janine, pictured with husband Mike at last year's PetQuip Awards party. 

"We have used the award win to promote the business in local news media, on social media such as Twitter and Facebook, on our blog and in our email salutation. We also created a banner on our website to publicise the fact. As you can see, we wanted to shout about it.

"Winning the award gained us recognition among others in the industry and especially with some suppliers too, some of whom had not heard of us before. It has helped raise our profile locally among businesses as well."

If you want to follow the example of an award-winning pet store like Not Just Pets, then the first step is to enter the 2014 PetQuip Awards.

The 2014 awards are now open for entries in all seven categories, which are:

1. UK Pet Retailer of the Year
2. International Retailer of the Year
3. Supplier of the Year
4. Wholesaler of the Year
5. Pet Product Innovation of the Year
6. Pet Product Exporter of the Year
7. Lifetime Achievement Award

Entry for the awards is completely free of charge and companies or persons can enter as many categories as they wish. Nominations need to be emailed to pat@petquip.com by 30th June 2014.

Nominations can come directly from the entrant or be submitted by another party. The application needs to provide full contact details of the entrant and stipulate which category they wish to enter.

All applications should include brief information on the reason for the entry and why the particular product, company or person qualifies for an award. On receipt of an entry, PetQuip will forward a simple form for the entrant to complete that will provide entry information for the judges. The form will be accompanied by the Terms and Conditions.

The entries will be judged by an independent panel of judges during August and the winners will be announced at the PetQuip Awards Party on 14 September 2014, which is being staged in association with Impact Exhibitions, the organiser of PATS Harrogate.

Organiser Pat Flynn, PetQuip’s association manager, commented: ‘”PATS has proved to be a fantastic trade show for the industry, and our awards are intended to recognise some of the major achievements of the past season, whilst also bring an element of fun to the event.

"We have been fortunate to recruit The Rockits, the resident band from the Cavern Club in Liverpool, to provide the entertainment at the event, which is being held in the Majestic Hotel in Harrogate. The Rockits are a fantastic group, and their performance at a recent industry event resulted in eight encores!”

Further information on these prestigious awards, details of how to enter and the booking form to secure Early Bird Discount tickets for the awards and party night are available from Pat Flynn on telephone (+44) 07778 313623 or e-mail: pat@petquip.com; or from the PetQuip secretariat on 01959 565995 or e-mail: info@petquip.com



The banner which appears on the Not Just Pets website.

Pet food brand Pet Princes, which is currently distributed in 27 countries across the world, will shortly to be launched into the UK market... 

Pet Prince for dogs and Pet Princess for cats are the brand names for a range of pet food products developed by Pet Nutrition Limited based in Malta, a family-owned business founded in 1997 by Matthew Wismayer.

Matthew (left) is a passionate campaigner and advocate for improving the standards of pet nutrition for cats and dogs. Working with his team of veterinary advisers and nutritionists, he has produced a range which is set to take the UK pet food market by storm.

The company has one of the most comprehensive ranges of products on the market to cater for any life stage, size, activity level, age and dietary requirement of both cats and dogs and has also gone on to develop special foods to deal with specific medical and dietary digestive disorders. The range also includes a variety of grain-free treats, shampoos and other important pet accessories.

The brand is likely to strike a chord with those pet owners looking for a back-to-basics approach to feeding their cats and dogs and can also be used as a BARF diet substitute for those days when it is not always convenient to feed a raw meat diet.

Pulling together ingredients that a cat or dog would have eaten in the wild, each product has a high human-grade meat content and is packed full of vitamins, minerals, amino and essential fatty acids. 

Maintaining high quality standards is a key part to the Pet Princes philosophy and all the foods have been tried and tested, passing through a series of tests to ensure that they are devoid of artificial flavours, colourants and preservatives- enabling the brand to provide a full declaration of ingredients which not every pet food company can boast.

Only high quality human-grade meat is used which is gmo free and not tested on animals (ISO 22,000). The inclusion of fruits and vegetables combined with the integration of herbal and botanical extracts contribute further to improve and strengthen a cat or dog’s immune system, helping pets to enjoy maximum health whilst at the same time preventing a list of possible diseases and allergic reactions.

All the Pet Princes products come in colourful attractive packaging with a slight retro look which gives each product real shelf appeal.

Pet Nutrition will be exhibiting at this year’s Interzoo in Nuremburg, Germany from 29 May-1 June. (Hall 6 Stand 327), and visitors to the stand will have the opportunity to take advantage of show offers plus the chance to win free stock for their shop.

For further information, or to become a stockist Tel: 01452 610608 or visit the website: www.petprincesuk.com

Pet stores and garden centres can develop their own pet food brand and order just one bag – all in seven days from GA Direct.

GA is offering retailers the opportunity to make 100% mark-up on every bag sold and have a wide choice from over 40 top quality dog, cat, small animal and fish foods to develop their own brand.

"By dealing direct with the manufacturer to develop your own brand, we make it easier, quicker and cost effective, giving you complete control over your pet food," said GA's Georgina Bracewell.

"Customers can have their full colour label designed for free, full nutritional support and POS materials to support their sales.

"Call us free on 0800 032 6031 to see how we can increase your profits in your pet department."

The British Dog Groomers’ Association is delighted to announce the appointment of Stuart Simons as its new chairperson.

Stuart is the owner and proprietor of Groom Dog City and has two salons in central London, one in Hoxton and the other in Victoria Park, both thriving up and coming areas. Stuart holds his City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma and is actively working towards membership of the Guilds of Master Groomers.

Part of Stuart’s role will be to oversee the organisation of the 2014 British Dog Grooming Championship, which is taking place on Sunday 12 October at the Kennel Club Building, Stoneleigh Park.

Nigel Baker, Chief Executive of the Pet Industry Federation said: "We are delighted that Stuart has agreed to take on the chairmanship of the British Dog Groomers’ Association.

"Stuart is a popular figure in the grooming world, and as a current member of the Grooming Committee has always brought innovative and refreshing ideas to each meeting, which he combines with a diplomatic and practical approach to problem solving. It is these qualities which will enable Stuart to successfully lead the British Dog Groomers’ Association into a new era.

"The PIF team and I look forward to working with Stuart on driving forward the British Dog Groomers’ Association’.

Stuart takes over the chairmanship of the BDGA at an exciting time. The Federation has just launched a new range of member benefits, which offer BDGA members legal, HR, business and tax advice, as well as access to competitive specialist insurance rates to address the core risks faced by dog groomers in their work. The Federation is also in the process of recruiting new committee members and is developing the flagship British Dog Grooming Championship to ensure that it is truly representative of the grooming industry at large.

Commenting on his appointment, Stuart said: "As a groomer and having started from scratch, I feel that I am in a great position to highlight what support we groomers need to help take our businesses to the next level. 

"I want to bring the grooming community together and really focus on us all working as a team rather than against each other. I am thrilled to be leading the committee as I want our industry to be the best that it can possibly be and to have dog grooming seen publicly as the honed and developed skill that we already know it is’.

Stuart will take up his appointment with immediate effect.

There are currently places available on the BDGA Committee for members who would like to have their voice heard and to make a real difference to the future of the UK grooming industry. Please contact rosie.loft@petfederation.co.uk to express your interest in joining the BDGA Committee. 

Following its successful launch in 2012, the limited-edition Whiskas Bowl will be making a return into stores nationwide this year. 

Cat lovers across the country who missed out on the opportunity to buy this unique bowl now have the chance to own one and make a real difference to their cats’ meal times.

Whiskas launched its a whisker-friendly cat bowl in 2012, claiming it transformed meal times for pets by ensuring their sensitive whiskers were not impacted whilst eating. 

The limited-edition cat bowl, free with a qualifying purchase of Whiskas products to the value of £10 or more, will be available in participating stores this month.

The demand for free gifts from consumers seeking extra value is rising so retailers are encouraged to make the most of the in-store activation, which includes a range of eye-catching POS materials.

Brand manager Katy Wragg said: “At Whiskas we understand cats’ natural instincts and know just how sensitive their whiskers truly are.

"We developed the Whiskas Bowl back in 2012 to make meal times as enjoyable as possible for cats. Following the success of the Whiskas promotional bowl we have brought it back once again so that even more cats can enjoy their meal times without their delicate whiskers getting in the way.”

Lily’s Kitchen has added a new variety to its dry range of food for dogs called Wild Woodland Walk.

The new grain-free recipe, a feast of venison and duck with salmon, combines freshly prepared meat and fish with fresh vegetables and botanical herbs to provide a digestible dry food. Wild Woodland Walk will replace Lily’s Kitchen Very Venison recipe.  

“Venison is a tasty and nutritious meat for dogs, high in protein, very lean and easy to digest. As the highest quality ingredients are at the heart of all of our recipes, our hugely successful Very Venison recipe was unfortunately often out of stock," said Henrietta Morrison, founder and MD of Lily’s Kitchen. 

"If we can't get our hands on the raw ingredients that meet our exceptional standards, then we won't prepare the products. And there simply hasn’t been enough high quality, fresh venison meat available to make the quantities of our 100% venison dry food that dogs have been demanding.  

"We have therefore created a new recipe using a delicious variety of Venison as well as Duck and Salmon inspired by the great outdoors, providing a delicious and unique new recipe to complement our dry dog food range. I’m confident Wild Woodland Walk will fast become a firm favourite."

Suitable for adult dogs and puppies from four months, Wild Woodland Walk, will be available from www.lilyskitchen.Wild Woodland Walkco.uk and in over 700 independent stockists and vets. It will come in a number of sizes; 1kg, 2.5kg and 7kg bags starting from £6.99 for 1kg.

CLIX CarSafe from The Company of Animals provides peace of mind for owners, the ultimate experience in travel safety and comfort for their dogs. 

In-car dog safety can be a real worry for owners – whether your dog’s an anxious traveller or loves nothing more than sticking its head out of the window - but it’s also a legal requirement.

Approved by leading pet behaviourist and The Company of Animals founder Dr. Roger Mugford, the NEW Universal Seat Belt Restraint from CLIX provides a strong and safe restraint for dogs in the car.   

The CLIX Universal Seat Belt Restraint attaches to any type of dog harness and securely fastens your dog into the car’s plug. The adjustable length makes the belt suitable for any sized dog and the rotating trigger hook prevents the belt from twisting. It’s another perfect solution when travelling in the car with a dog. At just £3.99 RRP, the CLIX Universal Seat Belt Restraint is an economical way of ensuring dogs are safe in the car. 

The CLIX CarSafe harness is extremely strong and secure. Designed by Dr. Roger Mugford and made from safety-standard seatbelt material, it loops ergonomically around the dog, with neoprene padding for a comfy fit even when walking.

It features double-sided adjustable buckles and clips together without the need to lift a dog’s legs and simply plugs into the car’s seatbelt buckles.   

The CLIX CarSafe comes in four sizes; extra small, small, medium and large. Prices start from £11.99 RRP and are available to order now.

For more information visit www.companyofanimals.co.uk

The attraction of finding lucrative new export markets for pet care products has resulted in over 55 British exhibitors joining the PetQuip-organised group that will be exhibiting at Interzoo at the end of May.

Interzoo, being held in Nuremberg between 29 May and 1June, is the world’s largest trade fair for pet supplies, and attracts buyers from around the world. 

Most of the 55-strong group will be located within the British pavilion, where the PetQuip association will be organising and manning a UK pet product information stand that will provide support services for the UK exhibitors and a product service point for overseas buyers.

The majority of the exhibitors have received cash grants which were secured for the companies by PetQuip under UK Trade & Investment’s Tradeshow Access Programme. 

Thirty-two of the companies will be exhibiting for the first time at Interzoo, and will be introducing many innovative products to international buyers. 

Forthglade, The Hatchwell Company, Igloo Pets, James and Steel, Natures Menu, Oskar & Hooch, Spike's World, and ALF Ltd are just a few of the companies exhibiting as part of the British contingent at Interzoo. Here's a sneak preview of what they'll be showcasing.



Forthglade (9-619) is one of Europe’s leading natural wet pet food manufacturers that has experienced brand sales increasing 40% over the past year. A recently launched product is the Natural Lifestage Multicase, featuring three nutritionally balanced product variants, including chicken, duck and lamb. All three variants contain either brown rice or potato and vegetables, fortified with added vitamins and minerals, including seaweed, glucosamine and chondroitin. The Multicase is an excellent option for those consumers who like to feed a range of flavours but would prefer to buy this convenience in just one case.

The Hatchwell Company Limited (9-614) has been producing products for the pet trade for over 80 years. These include innovative, seasonal and everyday pet treats such as advent calendars, Easter eggs, Christmas puddings and functional health treats. The company’s toothpaste for pets is now part of its leading Dentifresh dental range. Hatchwell also produces healthcare products, nutritional products, flea treatments, and grooming products. Its range covers products for dogs, cats, small animals, birds and equines. 

Igloo Pets Ltd (9-618) is a manufacturer and designer of a 2-in-1 cat loo and carrier. The carriers are designed to enable the cats to easily circle and stand up in the loo, and can be converted easily to a carrier by removing the privacy plate and locking down the door.  The carriers are also suitable for most small animals.  The company also produces matching colour scoops, liners, filters and a ‘Snow litter’ that is ideal for use with Igloo’s carrier. Additional product launches at Interzoo include two sprays; the ‘Ice Fresh’ deodorizer and the ‘Crystal Clean’ cleaner. Both are ideal for all litter trays and hutches. 

James and Steel (7-364) will be displaying its ‘Enchanted Home’ pet furniture that is constructed by hand and is available in a range of stylish designs. Also displayed will be the ‘Tuffs’ range of super tough plush toys comprising cheeky fabric characters, some containing body squeakers. Other products include ‘Medi Pet’  cat and dog grooming products, flea treatments, supplements and household cleaning items and GreenCat’ eco-friendly clumping cat litter made from corn husks. GreenCat is dust free, odour eliminating and can be flushed away for easy cleaning. 

Natures Menu Ltd (9-453) will be showing its raw and natural pet foods, including a new Country Hunter range that has been created from traditional English country meats including venison, rabbit, duck and salmon. The ready-made raw meals and meaty 600gram size wholesome cans offer consumers something that is new and nourishing for their pets. There is also a new gently baked Oaty mixer that has been popular in UK pet stores during the past year. Oats have significant nutritional properties for dogs including calming.  B vitamins and magnesium, and they are also easy for dogs to digest and can be used to support a raw diet.

Oscar & Hooch (9-615) will exhibiting a new range of stylish and practical dog accessories. The Suedette fabric collars and leads are extremely hardwearing and are antibacterial and anti-dust mite protected. The range comprises twelve trend setting colours and uses the finest materials sourced and manufactured in the UK. All of the products are machine washable, stain repellent and scratch resistant. 

Spike’s World Ltd (9-614) is extending its poultry product range with the addition of a new ‘Feathers & Beaky’ top-fill drinker. The product will make life much easier for the increasing number of people keeping a few chickens in their back gardens. The high quality materials used plus the robust design complement the company’s award-winning feeder, vegetable holder and chicken gyms. The company will also be showing its full range of wildlife foods including ‘Spike’s Dinner’ for hedgehogs and ‘Wildthings’ for swans, ducks, badgers and foxes. 

Hugo Kamishi (9-610) is a new range of products from ALF Ltd, a major distributor to the trade of aquarium and pond products. The Hugo Kamishi range includes a wide selection of imitation plants made from a selection of materials, coloured and natural gravels, decorative stones and ornaments and .is exclusively for bricks and mortar shops. There are over 400 items with new products being added on a continuous basis. ALF is able to distribute over 100 brands to European markets.

The new Jungle Green LED Lights at WhitePython offer a totally unique and modern concept to keeping jungle or rainforest dwelling reptiles.

The low wattage lights are designed to replicate natural sunlight after being filtered through the green leaves of a jungle canopy.

Unlike other lighting systems, the LED modular systems can be installed in a matter of seconds. With its simple magnetic tape fixing, you can position the lights in the desired area without the need for any screws or fixings. What’s more, with it’s innovative auxiliary fittings, there is no need for unwiring plugs to poke the leads through the back of the terrarium.

Important: Does not emit UVA or UVB.

You can view the full range of LED lighting at www.whitepython.com

If you run a reptile shop and you’re looking to stock these products, they are now available through Peregrine Livefoods and Monkfield Nutrition.

TopLife Formula has announced it is sponsoring a Flyball puppy in training and her teammates in their quest to move up the ranks of the agility sport.

During 2014, the Cheshire based brand will be supporting local team, LiveWires and its newest recruit - Cassie, a playful Border Collie. Border Collies are renowned for their energy and trainable nature, making them the ideal agility team candidates. TopLife will be following Cassie from her first training session, through to competing and tracking her progress as she grows.

Flyball is a race between two teams of dogs. The dogs compete by running through two parallel lanes over 4 low hurdles, where they must then collect a tennis ball from a spring loaded box before racing back over the hurdles to their handler to release the next dog. It is growing in popularity across the UK, with new teams joining the leagues every year. Flyball was originally popular in America in the 1970’s. It wasn’t until the 1990’s that it made its debut in the UK at Crufts. It is now a widely recognised canine discipline and has grown into an internationally staged event.

Cassie is owned by Anne Alcock, who also manages the LiveWires Flyball team. Cassie has a lot to live up to; LiveWires won the British Championships in 2007, 2011, 2012 and 2013 and were runners up in 2008 and 2010. This year the LiveWires team went to Crufts at the NEC in Birmingham and although Cassie was too young to compete, her teammates came a respectable 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th.

Cassie who is now nearly 9 months old is progressing through the initial training sessions and showing great promise. Owner Anne says “At the moment she just needs a healthy diet, lots of exercise and of course her TopLife milk to help keep her in good condition. She loves to play, jump on and off the sofa and practise work for weekly classes, however not so much when it’s raining! She is showing great progress in her Flyball training so far.”

TopLife Formula, the natural pet milk treats for Dogs, Puppies, Cats and Kittens, are made from highly digestible goats’ milk and offers owners a healthy way to complement their pet’s diet. Brand manager Simon Mayne comments: “We are very pleased to be supporting Cassie as she starts training. Our TopLife milk for puppies will help maintain her condition and keep her well hydrated after running. We look forward to seeing her competing later this year!”

TopLife Formula looks forward to following Cassie’s journey into the world of Flyball. To keep informed of her progress and development visit www.toplifeformula.com.

Following a highly successful Crufts 2014, which saw almost 160,000 dog lovers enjoy the world’s greatest dog show, the Kennel Club is offering the opportunity to buy tickets for Crufts 2015 at a discounted rate.

For a limited time tickets for Crufts 2015, which takes place from 5-8 March at the NEC in Birmingham, can be purchased with 10% off this year’s admission and Best in Show ticket prices.

Until 30 April, weekday tickets will cost £14.85 for adults and weekend day tickets cost £15.84 at the discounted rate, with Best in Show tickets starting from £15.75 (prices subject to fulfilment fees). Children under 12 will continue to go free.

When the discount period ends tickets, including Best in Show tickets, will formally go on sale in September, at 2015 rates, which are yet to be confirmed.

Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, said: “We saw a fantastic turn out to this year’s event, as visitors came along in their thousands to see the world’s biggest dog event. Many people have already asked us about next year’s show and so we are offering dog lovers and Crufts fans the chance to buy tickets for 2015 at discounted prices.

“Crufts celebrates the British love affair with dogs in a unique and special way and we are so pleased that people continue to get so much pleasure from the event. The show reflects the extraordinary and special relationships that people have with their dogs.”

To book tickets for Crufts 2015 at the discount rate visit www.crufts.org.uk/ticket-office or call the Ticket Factory on 0844 444 9944.

The Kennel Club has supported Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer after she secured a House of Lords debate on electric shock collars on Monday...

Baroness Miller questioned the government’s current proposal to introduce guidance for the use of collars as opposed to an outright ban and called for further action to be taken to protect dog welfare.

The short debate follows Matthew Offord’s Ten Minute Rule Bill presented in the House of Commons earlier this year which calls for a ban on the sale and use of electric shock collars. It is scheduled to have its Second Reading in June.

The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) funded two pieces of research on electric shock collars which were published last summer and show that electric shock collars can cause long term negative behavioural and physiological changes in dogs, even when used by professional trainers following an industry set standard of training.

The research also showed that most owners did not read the instruction manuals or chose to ignore the advice provided which leaves these devices open to misuse by users.

The Kennel Club commissioned an independent survey on public opinion in England regarding electric shock collars which found that 72% of the public disapprove of the use of electric shock collars and 74% would support the government in introducing a ban on electric shock collars.

Baroness Miller explains: “I chose to raise this important issue in the House of Lords to put pressure on the government to take further action on the issue of electric shock collars. With the publication of Defra’s research, the welfare organisations’ opposition to their use and the increased public support for a ban, there is a need for the government to reassess their current proposal.

“A number of countries have already introduced a ban on electric shock collars, including Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. The Welsh government also banned electric shock collars in 2010. This legislation has helped them to better protect dog welfare and I strongly urge the government to consider this and take further action.”

Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, commented: “The Kennel Club commends the work of Baroness Miller in keeping this issue in the government’s consciousness. Stronger action must be taken by the government in order to better protect the welfare of all dogs in the UK.

“We are wholeheartedly against the use of electric shock collars and believe a ban is the only real option to help ensure that pets are trained without the risk of stress and pain. We will therefore continue campaigning with the public’s support to achieve a ban on these irresponsible and detrimental devices.”

For more information on the Kennel Club’s electric shock collar campaign, visit www.thekennelclub.org.uk/our-resources/kennel-club-campaigns/electric-shock-collar/.

The Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association’s quest to get barley straw products pulled from the EU Biocides Regulation is flourishing again after it received responses from the Drinking Water Inspectorate.

The popular pond products are included in the EU law, which came into force last year, although OATA won a reprieve for the items after officials said they would look into what information manufacturers had to supply to enable the products to remain on the shelves over the longer term.

But OATA wants the products removed altogether from the regulation, which will save the time and costs of demonstrating how the products, which sell for a matter of pounds, work.

“We continue to maintain that it makes no sense to have safety concerns for barley straw products which go into our garden ponds when no-one seems worried about the amount of barley straw tipped into our reservoirs to control algae,” said OATA Chief Executive Keith Davenport.

“It seems water companies don’t have to carry out any kind of risk assessment on the barley straw that goes into reservoirs yet dry goods manufacturers could end up doing expensive risk assessments for products that sell for just a matter of pounds and which end up in garden ponds.

“I’ve raised this point with the Drinking Water Inspectorate, the Health and Safety Executive – which has responsibility for enforcing the regulation – and water companies to try to find out just how much barley straw goes into what ends up as our drinking water. 

“But apparently no-one knows or seems to care as our latest correspondence from the Drinking Water Inspectorate shows. Yet we have this sledgehammer piece of legislation about products that go into our garden ponds. It seems the powers-that-be have more safety concerns about garden pond water than tap water. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – that’s still just plain bonkers.”

In a letter to OATA, the DWI said: “I can confirm we have had no correspondence with the HSE or any other government body on the subject of the use of barley straw to control algae in the water supply infrastructure.”

If barley straw products are not removed from the regulation then manufacturers will have to pay for complicated risk assessments to demonstrate how the products work chemically. The fear is that this work could make them uneconomical to continue to produce.

CSJ Specialist Canine Feeds has always followed a policy of supporting canine sport by sponsoring the Scottish and the Welsh International Gundog teams at the CLA Game Fair as well as other prestigious events.

These events include: the Boston Ch. Show, the World Sheepdog Trials, the British Flyball Championships, CSJ Canine Max Dog Games (which included Terrier racing and Bloodhound Trials), the International Agility Festival and the first ever International Federation of Sleddog Sports World Cup & British Sleddog Sports Federation National Championship.

For anyone who couldn’t make it, want re-live the events or find out more about the sports CSJ commissioned videos with action, interviews and information that can all be seen from their website – to see the thrills and spills click on the links below:

Sleddog – IFSS World Cup and BSSF National Championship 2014 (including Scooter Bikejor and CaniX)   http://www.csjk9.com/news/ifss-world-cup-2014_p1296.html

Gundog – CLA Game Fair 2013   http://www.csjk9.com/news/cla-game-fair-video_p1260.html

Agility – Kennel Club Agility Festival 2013   http://www.csjk9.com/news/kennel-club-agility-festival-v_p1267.html

Flyball – British Flyball Association Championship 2013   http://www.csjk9.com/news/video-of-british-flyball-assoc_p1271.html

Pictured: Mary Carter and Satanta Sleddog team.

A female solicitor was jailed today after she condemned her pet dog Roxy to an horrific slow death locked in the kitchen for over a week.

Katy Gammon, 27, a trainee lawyer specialising in medical negligence cases, went to work leaving her five-year-old boxer puppy trapped without food and water.

She failed to check in on the dog for a week and went to stay with her mother - during which time the animal died in agony.

Tragic Roxy lay undiscovered for ten weeks by which time her body was so decomposed an RSPCA inspector had to use a snow shovel to pick it up.

Gammon was sentenced to 18 weeks behind bars and banned from owning animals for life, at Bristol Magistrates Court.

Animal lovers launched an online petition and gathered 100,000 signatures for justice for Roxy the boxer dog.

A number of protestors gathered outside the court in anticipation of Gammon's appearance, campaigning for "tougher sentencing for animal cruelty".

The court had previously heard Gammon trapped the dog in the kitchen by tying a rope to the handle and fixing it to a hook in the hallway.

Roxy had frantically clawed at the door, leaving fragments on the floor, as she tried in vain to escape before dying in agony - which would have taken around six days.

It was heard Roxy, which was never house trained, was known to urinate and defecate in the house in Lawrence Weston, Bristol, so Gammon decided to confine her.

The body of the pet was found at the end of August last year after Gammon started staying with her mother at a nearby address and initially began returning to feed Roxy.

But she then dislocated her knee and was unable to get to the house and instead claimed her ex-boyfriend was feeding the animal.

But Gammon admitted that this was a lie and on November 3 a neighbour alerted police after seeing flies swarming in the kitchen of Gammon's house.

Police arrived and were greeted by a strong smell of decomposition and the kitchen still closed with the rope.

They called the RSPCA and the remains of Roxy were removed for a post mortem.

A vet said Roxy would have taken up to six days to die gradually, painfully, first becoming blind and falling into a coma before finally passing away.

Gammon, who worked for the eminent Bristol-based legal firm of Lyons Davidson, previously pleaded guilty to two counts of cruelty.

She admitted to causing unnecessary suffering to the dog and failing to prevent causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

The British Veterinary Association is calling on dog owners to support a new campaign to keep their pets on leads near livestock, as recent figures confirm that attacks have risen by more than 50% in the past three years.

The campaign, spearheaded by the Farmers Guardian, aims to improve relationships in rural areas by encouraging walkers to keep dogs on lead near livestock.

New figures, obtained by the farming publication from Freedom of Information requests to UK police forces, showed there were more than 1,000 attacks on livestock by dogs in 2013, up from 691 in 2011.

BVA president and vet Robin Hargreaves (left) said: “These figures make disturbing reading for anyone with an interest in animal welfare. Our members see first hand the terrible consequences when dogs are not kept under control around livestock, especially during lambing season.

"Chasing and attacks can lead to serious injuries, fatalities and spontaneous abortion for sheep and other livestock. The results of these avoidable attacks are deeply distressing for the animal, the farmer and for the vet.

"We don’t want to discourage people from walking their dogs in the countryside. It’s great exercise and has health benefits for both owner and pet. However, responsible ownership, including keeping dogs on lead when necessary, is the cornerstone of good relationships between dog owners and farmers.

"It’s important to always know where your dog is in rural areas as they can cause a lot of damage in a short time. Most owners are well meaning but if a dog is out of sight they may not even be aware of the chasing or attack.  

"We’re supporting this campaign to encourage dog owners in rural areas to keep their dogs on lead when walking near livestock.”

It is good practice for owners to keep dogs on leads at all times when walking near livestock but it is particularly important during the spring. Attacks early in the year often lead to lambs being lost and sheep being killed and injured. If you feel threatened by larger livestock then you should quickly release your dog before attempting to escape.

Owners are also asked to bag and remove their dog’s faeces when walking in the countryside as it can spread disease among livestock and wildlife.

For more information and advice from vets on animal welfare issues visit the BVA website at www.bva.co.uk/news