Stricter controls on securing dogs in travelling vehicles, including the crash testing of car harnesses, are needed in the UK, according to a leading pet supplier. 

Alex Wilson, sales and marketing director of AmPet Products, believes that incidents of serious injury or even death to pets involved in traffic accidents could become more common if animals aren't better restrained inside cars.

"Many of us have to travel great distances with our dogs, and yet so many of them are not restrained in cars," says Alex (pictured left). "Or if they are, the equipment used is neither safe, nor tested to be suitable for the vehicle. 

"The highway code states that a dog must not be a distraction...yet it does not state or offer any guidelines as to what equipment should be used. 

"Even RoSPA in their information about travelling dogs in cars only talks about using a car harness but offers no guidelines on what is a suitable car harness for a dog. 

"Here in the UK we have no legislation as to what is deemed a suitable safe car harness or crate.

"Most UK retailed car harnesses have had no crash testing and would fail crash testing if they were tested. There are a couple of US-based and Canadian companies who manufacture car harnesses who have had their products tested that are distributed in the UK. The Roadie from Ruff Rider Technology and the Canine Friendly Car Harness from RC Pet Products have been tested and exceed minimum safety standards and distributed by AmPet Products. 

"Crates are another issue. Wire crates sold over the counter in pet shops, whilst ideal as a driver distraction, would give the dog no protection in an accident, in fact they would collapse onto the dog. There is a Swedish crate distributed by Safe Dog in London that has been fully crash tested and ideal for travelling dogs. 

Safety for dogs in a car is not just about the dog, but the driver and passengers too," added Alex "If there should be an accident and the dog is either unrestrained or in a harness that blows apart, then that dog will become a projectile and could injure or kill anyone in the car. The safest place for a dog in an accident is to end up in the footwell."

For information about crash-tested car harnesses visit www.ampetproducts.com

The Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association has stepped in to help one of its members avoid an onerous condition on its renewed pet shop licence by using the new OATA primary authority scheme.

Somefin Fishy Ltd, which is based in Greasby on the Wirral, contacted OATA to ask for advice on a condition being asked by its local council, which was putting a requirement on the shop to create a register of every fish sold.

The company joined OATA’s new primary authority scheme which meant OATA could asked for ‘assured advice’ on behalf of the shop from the City of London Corporation. Its advice was that there is no need for such a register, which the local council accepted and withdrew the condition.

Once a shop joins OATA’s free primary authority scheme, its local licensing authority should use the inspection plan agreed between OATA and the City of London Corporation and follow any assured advice provided by the Corporation. 

OATA Chief Executive Keith Davenport said: “This is a good example of how our new primary authority scheme can help make it simpler for retailers to get or renew their annual pet shop licence.

“We were very happy to help Somefin Fishy fight this case because it’s a prime example of a shop being asked to do something they don’t want to do and which doesn’t achieve anything for their business. Asking a shop to take customer details for every fish sold is not a legal requirement and is just onerous red tape that makes it much more difficult to run a business. We recognise some businesses do want to do this – which is fine if it’s their choice – but no business should be forced to.

“I think it shows local authorities are taking this scheme seriously and are following the assured advice we get from the City of London Corporation. This is really important because it is part of our work trying to establish a consistent set of standards for all pet shops, which we currently don’t have.

“So we’d urge other OATA retail members to take a look at our scheme and consider joining for the peace of mind it offers, particularly at this time of the year when licences are renewed.”

Somefin Fishy’s Stan Kakouri, who owns the shop with his son, said: “What was really annoying was that we were the only shop in the area being asked to collect this information and I think it would have alienated customers who don’t always want to give out their personal information. And it would have opened up a can of worms for us about how we store people’s data. 

“I can’t thank OATA enough. Keith was on the case as soon as I contacted OATA for advice, almost instantaneously which I’ve never experienced from an organisation. He was just fantastic and I’m really pleased that, with his help and by joining this scheme, the council has withdrawn this condition and renewed our licence.”

More information about the primary authority scheme can be found on OATA's website http://www.ornamentalfish.org/primary-authority. 

A premium dog accessory brand that manufacture dog leads and collars has released a new counter top display unit for its signature product range.

Oscar & Hooch, a family owned business founded by Paul and Elaine Steckler, has created a new self-standing point of sale unit, specifically designed to showcase its handmade collars.

Available to order for existing stockists and new pet retailers, the new display can feature up to 10 medium sized collars at a time. Manufactured with a luxury soft suedette and available in a variety of striking colours, each collar hangs beautifully from the two part display unit.

“We’re incredibly happy with the final design of our new counter top display unit. Our goal was to create something which complimented the distinctive styles found within our signature range of collars,” explains Elaine Steckler, sales director of Oscar & Hooch.

“I’m very much looking forward to receiving feedback from our network of existing stockists, along with the thoughts of new customers in the coming months.”

Oscar & Hooch’s products are manufactured within the UK. Both their dog collars and leads are presented as signature ranges. All products are machine washable and are finished with stylish nickel plated hardware.

Those who are interested in ordering the counter top display unit should contact the Oscar & Hooch sales team.

For further information about Oscar & Hooch, call 01934 713 667. Alternatively, please visit www.oscarandhooch.com.

She outlined three types of cash-splashing pet owners.

Mainstream humanisers, who account for about two thirds of pet owners, opt for reliable premium brands “that convey an indulgent feel”.

The 20% to 30% of pet owners who are so-called anti-humanisers choose smaller, ethical brands over large corporations and are most likely to put their pets on wild, raw or organic diets.

Extreme humanisers, who make up roughly 5% of pet owners, tend to be high-spending urban-dwellers who value status, fashion and exclusivity and see their pet as a personal accessory or a substitute for a child.

Euromonitor identified this group as the most likely to buy their pets designer outfits, crystal encrusted drinking bowls, exercise activities such as doga and pawlates, and extreme grooming treatments such as stencilled tattoos and coloured hair chalk.

“Many owners increasingly think of their pets as an extension of themselves and want to dress them to reflect this,” said Paula Flores, head of pet care research at Euromonitor.

Two thirds of animal owners see their pets as a beloved family member, according to a Euromonitor survey, and 54% of respondents said they consider it common for people to celebrate holidays with their pets.

PATS Sandown has secured a strong line-up of speakers for two days of seminars designed to give pet retailers ahead-of-the-game ideas on new lines, new approaches and new profit potential.

The talks, produced in association with Pedigree Wholesale, will take place in the Seminar Theatre in the Esher Hall of Sandown Park Exhibition Centre on both days of the show – Tuesday and Wednesday, March 17-18, 2015.

The free-to-attend series of seminars will cover topics including: retailing RAW pet foods; using social media to build a loyal customer following; 20 business tips in 20 minutes; getting more online visitors to your website; and what customers are saying about your pet business online.

There will also be a chance to earn Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points for those people attending a special seminar by animal healthcare specialists Merial. The CPD points will go towards the ongoing development of Suitably Qualified People (SQP) working in the pet industry.

Guy Blaskey, from Pooch and Mutt, has given talks at PATS for the past four years and he says: “At every show the audience seems to be full of people who are really interested in pushing their businesses forward and learning about modern marketing techniques.

“I always get some very interesting questions at the end of the talk and people often follow up with queries via email, twitter or facebook.”

At PATS Sandown, Guy will be giving an introduction to condition-appropriate feeding for dogs.

“One of the easiest ways to discover new ideas that could help boost your business is to attend the free seminars at PATS,” said organiser Annie Foord.

“If there’s a subject that catches your eye then make a mental note of the time or write it down in your diary so you don’t miss it.

“Most seminars last half-an-hour so there’s no time to become bored. In fact, because of the time limit, there’s a lot of information packed into such a short session and often it’s a good idea to take notes or write down bullet points. Usually, the speaker will take questions at the end of the talk.”

As well as this free programme of seminars there will be so much more to see on the exhibitor stands packing two halls at Sandown. Visitors are now being urged to register for free show entry by going online at www.patshow.co.uk. 

Award-winning pet food maker ORIJEN UK & Ireland has invested in sponsorship of Crufts, the world’s largest dog show held at the NEC, Birmingham from Thursday, March 5 to Sunday, March 8.

This will include a purpose-built stand in the main hall, which perfectly reflects the concept behind ORIJEN. That is: feeding dogs as nature intended with fresh ingredients from known and trusted local farmers, prepared in kitchens by a family run business who really care what they feed their dogs.

Attendance to Crufts is in excess of 140,000, with almost every visitor owning at least one dog. The event is considered to be on a par with Wimbledon, Ascot and Henley and enjoys a high level of media interest. 

It gives ORIJEN a great opportunity to spread their message and get even more dog owners feeding their much loved pets appropriately with a diet of biologically appropriate, low glycaemic dog foods and treats. 

Look out for the ORIJEN team in Hall 3, Stand 25.

For more information visit www.orijenpetfoods.co.uk

Ceva Animal Health is currently undertaking a major new national TV advertising campaign to raise awareness of the benefits of its leading veterinary behaviour product Feliway amongst cat owners.

Featuring the strapline ‘Transforming behaviour begins with Feliway’, the advertisement will educate cat owners on the action they should take to keep their cats happy and maintain a happy home, particularly in multi-cat households where inter-cat tension may be a problem. 

It focuses on the real life testimonial of a pet owner and the challenges of introducing a new cat to a household.

The 30-second advertisement, which is aimed at ABC1 women, was launched on Christmas Day and will run until until Sunday 11 January.  It will be featured on ITV1, Channel 4, Channel 5, digital channels including E4, Film4, ITV2, ITV3 and ITVBe and London Live.

For further information on Feliway visit feliway.co.uk.

Tow watch the video click here

Just three months after its launch, Royal Canin’s Urban Life, for dogs living in cities and towns, is already being stocked by over 80 specialist pet retailers, and has been supported by activities reaching over 44 million potential customers.

Urban Life and Agility 4100 are part of a new Lifestyle Health Nutrition range, tailored for the specific needs of urban dogs and sporting dogs respectively.

Retail marketing manager Gemma Duffield says: “We have been delighted by the response, which makes it clear that urban dog owners are prepared to seek out the right nutrition for their pets, supporting Royal Canin’s philosophy to put the animal first. The specialist pet trade has recognised that Urban Life is another innovative asset, unique on the market, for their business.”

The support package behind Urban Life was designed to target town and city dwellers in particular, using local radio advertising during the morning and evening rush hours and daytime, electronic billboard advertising at commuter stations, and promotions in five major shopping centres to increase awareness and encourage dog owners into the specialist pet trade to get the product. Urban Life was also the centre of attention on Royal Canin’s stands at the National Pet Show and Discover Dogs.

Outdoor media alone reached over 41 million people, while radio activity in conjunction with Heart FM reached 2.4 million potential customers in urban areas.  Competitions also increased awareness, with a Toyota Yaris (ideal for urban motoring) won by a West Country customer, and a dog friendly holiday and a year’s supply of dog food being won by a customer in Blackpool.

Retailers who took part in the launch were also rewarded – Oliver Hutchings of Totally Pet in Walsall won a London theatre break for two, while Barbara Nottage from Longacres Garden Centre in Bagshot, Surrey who is stocking both Urban Life and Agility 4100 won a two night weekend break to Paris.

The campaign was backed up with a pre-recorded training seminar for retailers, featuring Royal Canin training manager Vikki Haydon V.N Cert SAN, and a live event with Dr Fabienne Dethioux DVM, MRCVS looking at the stress of modern life for dogs.

Gemma comments: “We are determined to maintain the momentum and excitement for this new product, which offers the specialist pet trade a new and exciting way to differentiate themselves and enhance their expertise.  Everything we do is designed to bring customers into the pet trade, which is YOUR opportunity to turn them into a customer for life.”

Dogs living in towns and cities are exposed to oxidative stress due to pollution in their environment, and can also be under stress from the noise, traffic and crowds they encounter every time they leave their home. 

Urban Life contains an exclusive blend of antioxidants to help combat oxidative stress, while specific fish proteins help support good brain function in the intense environment of the town or city. 

Designed for Junior, Adult and Senior dogs, the range is divided into two segments – small dogs up to 10kg, and large dogs between 11-44kg.  Available in both kibble and chunks in gravy format, URBAN LIFE is a unique nutritional innovation for urban dogs.

For more information, speak to your Royal Canin Retail Business Manager, visit www.royalcanin.co.uk, or call 0845 300 5011.

A lot of interest was shown in the ORIJEN and ACANA brands on the Bern Pet Foods stand at the National Cat Club Show in Bracknell last month.

With over 400 cats on show, Bern showcased their award winning ORIJEN and ACANA cat foods.  The brands represent a new category in dog and cat food called “BAFRINO” that is, Biologically Appropriate, made with Fresh Regional Ingredients from trusted local suppliers and Never Outsourced to any other pet food manufacturer.

Cats evolved as true carnivores, that is in order to thrive they must be on an almost exclusively meat-based diet.  ORIJEN is made up of 80% meat, 20% fruit, vegetables & botanicals and 0% grain. 

Cat owners and breeders alike clearly understood the ORIJEN and ACANA concept of feeding their pets as Mother Nature intended. Consequently, Bern enjoyed an impressive number of sales as well as new sign ups to their exclusive Breeder Scheme.

Loaded with high inclusions of fresh meats plus richly nourishing liver, tripe, cartilage and marrow - all in rations that mirror the natural diet – ORIJEN promotes peak health in cats and kittens of all breeds, ages and life styles.

There has been a recent surge in the keeping of Betta fish (aka Siamese fighting fish; Betta splendens) in the UK, thanks partly to the wide range of colourful varieties now available.  There is, however, some confusion regarding appropriate husbandry conditions for this species, particularly regarding temperature requirements. 

In order to avoid welfare issues, a Betta care-sheet has been compiled by specialist experts from the Anabantoid Association of Great Britain (AAGB) in conjunction with Dr Peter Burgess and other aquatics professionals.    

Guidelines for keeping Betta fish (Betta splendens) in captivity

Compiled by the Anabantoid Association of Great Britain in association with Dr Peter Burgess

(1) Temperature.  There is a misconception that Bettas do not need heated water. In fact, these fish, which originate from South East Asia, require warm temperatures of around 24-28 C, with minimal fluctuations.  Hence, the Betta aquarium requires a suitable heater that is thermostatically regulated.  Bettas that are kept too cold may appear sluggish, have poor appetites, and will be more prone to disease.

(2) Water quality.  Bettas are no different to other fish in their requirements for good water quality.  Adequate filtration should be installed, but avoid filters that cause excessive surface-water movement as Bettas are surface-breathing fish from slow-moving waters, and cultivated forms can be weak swimmers.  Regular partial water changes (using dechlorinated tapwater) should be undertaken. Salt should not be added, except as a temporary treatment for certain disease conditions.

(3) Adequate space.  For a single Betta, an absolute minimum water volume of 5 litres is recommended for long-term maintenance.  Smaller volumes present a significant challenge in maintaining good, stable water conditions.  

(4) Environmental enrichment.  Wild Bettas are found in densely vegetated habitats hence their aquarium should contain live aquatic plants, such as java moss and floating/surface-growing species (e.g. Ceratopteris thalictroides) for surface cover. Adequate lighting is required to keep the plants healthy.  Bare tanks or bowls may cause stress as the Betta will have nowhere to escape from perceived threats. The aquarium should have a close-fitting cover.

(5) Proper nutrition.  Feed a good quality dry diet that delivers all the Betta’s nutritional needs.  Cultured live or frozen foods can also be given.  Inferior diets will lead to nutritional deficiencies and digestive problems that may result in poor health and reduced longevity.

(6) Suitable tank-mates.  A single male Betta can be kept alone or in a suitably-sized community aquarium containing placid species that won’t attack his long fins (conversely, a male Betta may attack other fish with long fins - such as a male guppy).  Never keep two or more adult male Bettas together as they will fight, often to the death.  Male and female Bettas should not be housed together except for breeding purposes: they are likely to become aggressive with each other either before or after spawning.  Breeding Bettas requires a lot of time and experience and many tanks are needed for raising the fry (which will eventually fight) although it is undoubtedly a rewarding and fascinating process.

For more information on keeping and breeding Bettas and other anabantoid fishes, visit: www.aagb.org

Training Tips, Dinner Bait and Gnaw Rolls are guaranteed to grab the attention of even the fussiest dogs with their meaty taste and aroma.

Being semi-moist and air-dried for extra flavour all three products are 80% meat and, as always from CSJ, made from natural ingredients of the highest quality.

Training Tips are handy sized to conveniently reward without a lengthy distraction and contain Cranberry and Blackcurrant in addition to Venison, Wild Boar, Bison and Beef meat.

Gnaw Rolls are an ideal reward which also benefits oral health and contain Venison plus Seaweed and Parsley.

Dinner Bait containing Venison, Wild Boar, Bison and Beef meat plus Cranberry and Blackcurrant has been designed as a tasty topper for the dog’s usual dinner and is ideal for encouraging fussy feeders or recuperating pets.

For more information go to www.csjk9.com or call 01745 710470.

Construction work on veterinary charity PDSA’s new pet hospital in Oldbury, Birmingham, has started.

The new hospital, located off Wolverhampton Road, will replace the current PDSA facility on Hagley Road West, Quinton.

It will cost £1.5 million to build and equip, so the charity is urging local pet lovers to ‘dig deep’ and support the project.

Scheduled for completion in summer this year, the new hospital will bear the name The Marian and Christina Ionescu Centre of Surgical Excellence, following a generous donation towards the building costs, including the major operating theatre.

The hospital will be the charity’s first centre of surgical excellence. Its design means it will be a hub of surgical excellence for pets in need in the region.

The purpose-built facility will have state-of-the-art operating theatres, a critical care ward and the latest diagnostic and surgical equipment, to help the vet teams deliver outstanding surgical care for sick and injured pets.

The new facility will also act as a teaching hospital to further advance and develop the veterinary skills of graduate and specialist vets.

PDSA Director General Jan McLoughlin visited the site with her own dog, Bobby, to lend a paw and officially kick-off construction work (pictured above).

Commenting on the new hospital, Jan said: “We are all so excited to see work start on our new pet hospital. Our current site in Quinton is much-loved but it’s time to move on . We have seen a 79% increase in the number of pets in the Black Country and Birmingham needing our help since 2006. After 40 years of intense use, our old site is no longer fit for purpose.”

PDSA’s dedicated team of vets and nurses in Quinton currently provide over 90,000 treatments a year and can see up to 190 pet patients every single day. The new pet hospital will allow staff to increase these numbers by around 25% to provide over 112,000 treatments annually.

It’s not just pet owners who commit to losing a few extra pounds in the New Year. They are also taking a closer look at what they are feeding their overweight dogs.

Overweight pets, like humans, can suffer from a number of health issues such as osteoarthritis, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Obesity can also cause discomfort and illness and has been proven to reduce life span.

Overweight dogs benefit from a diet that’s protein-rich but limited in carbohydrates and fat.  Rich in the nourishing proteins that promote lean muscle mass, ACANA Light & Fit features 60% chicken, fish & eggs, 20% fruits & vegetables and 20% low-glycaemic Alberta oats.

Metabolic Energy is 3100 kcal/kg with 40% energy from protein, 20% from fat and 40% from fruit, vegetables and oats.

A diet of ACANA Light and Fit, adhered to the correct feeding guidelines and combined with a proper exercise regime, will ensure a long, healthy life for all breeds and life stages of dog.  With the extra exercise, it might even help their owners lose a few pounds in the process!

For more information visit www.acanapetfoods.co.uk

A Widnes-based business specialising in exotic pets has secured funding from Merseyside Special Investment Fund (MSIF).

North West Pets and Exotics has received a £30,000 loan, using a combination of finance from the Start Up Loans Fund and Regional Growth Fund, which has been used to help with start-up costs including fitting out the store and taking on staff.

The store sells a variety of creatures including snakes, lizards, scorpions and spiders as well as tanks, food and other associated products.

Barry Jones, founder of North West Pets and Exotics, said: "I breed a lot of the animals myself so I can provide assurance on their quality. It is also an important part of eliminating the black market for them.

"As well as providing animals for pets, we are also looking to branch out into providing displays for hotels and other businesses."

MSIF was set up in 1996 and provides funding of up to £2m to smaller businesses in the Merseyside area.

In store since only autumn 2015, Mr Fothergill's newly launched range of seeds endorsed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is already proving a success with the company's retailers and their customers, reports the seed brand's David Turner. 

"At the end of December 2014, the sell-in of collections was 108 per cent of target, and with top-up orders already being placed the sell through is equally encouraging", he says.  

"We are extremely pleased with early sales, and have had to pack more stock than our initial expectations for the whole season. This partnership with the RSPB is beneficial for us both and we look forward to a long relationship with such a high-profile charitable organisation".

Attractively presented on a free-standing display unit, made from FSC-approved card, it displays 16 single varieties, three Four-in-One collection packs and three Shaker Boxes of wildflower mixes. 

Ideal for high-traffic areas, the pre-merchandised unit requires minimal construction, and can either be displayed with a main range of flower seeds or used for secondary siting where it makes an ideal linked sales opportunity when positioned near wildlife food and feeder displays, says Turner.

Each packet or box carries a silhouette icon to tell consumers whether the contents attract birds, pollinating insects, butterflies or a combination of the three, all of which the RSPB now seeks to protect. The charity receives a royalty from Mr Fothergill's for every pack sold to help its work with British wildlife. 

For more information on Mr Fothergill's retail seed ranges for 2015, please telephone 01638 554111, log on at www.mr-fothergills-trade.com or e-mail info@mr-fothergills.co.uk