Mutt & Co Pet Boutique in Hartlepool, Teesside, has only been open for just over a year and progress has been so dramatic that the store has been crowned UK Pet Retailer of the Year at the PetQuip Awards.

Owner Amy-leigh Norris (pictured, second from left, receiving the PetQuip Award) reveals how independent pet retailers can achieve success in today's challenging times.

When did you open the pet store?

We opened the pet store in August 2017 after two months of restoration work to the building.

Was there a pet shop there before?

It was a wool store for around 60 years but the lady retired and we acquired the property. I grew up in the area and always admired the big window display space, so I knew the building had great potential.

Amy-leigh (centre) celebrates the store's first anniversary with her team. Above right, the boutique at Christmas.

How many people work in the store?

There are five members of permanent staff between the boutique and the grooming parlour to the rear. We also have two students on work experience at the moment.

What’s your background?

Before I opened the store I was a stay-at-home mum for five years. I decided to retrain in canine nutrition and behaviour. I've always had an interest in animals and helping them. Changing my own dog’s diet for the better, I decided to study and train as much as I could and qualified as a canine nutritionist and raw feeding expert.

How do you attract business?

Word of mouth has been our best way of attracting business. New dogs come to the store every week as a result of current customers’ recommendations. We also attract business by keeping our customers up to date on our social media platforms with any new items of stock. We also post lots of photos of customers’ dogs on our Facebook page.

Do you offer other services as well as selling pet products?

We are a natural pet boutique selling all manner of natural toys and treats, but we also run monthly pet first aid classes, behaviour courses and nutrition seminars. All the companies we use or invite to the store are local businesses, mostly from our town because we believe in helping to boost the local economy. We also have an all-natural grooming parlour inside the store called  'Bark and Bone Grooming Parlour'. Georgia, our head groomer, is also a qualified nutrionist and behavouirst like me. We offer spa packages, from mudbaths to pawdicures. and all of our shampoos and products are free from harmful chemicals. We also do not use cages or muzzles, and have a one-dog policy. Each dog gets one-to-one attention, making the experience a lot more relaxing.

What sets you apart from the rest?

We offer several services in one store. We have a rapour with each customer and dog that comes in. If they come in on their birthday we make a fuss – they get a goodie bag and we set our Facebook profile to that dog’s photo. We can offer free professional nutritional advice and be confident we can change a dog’s diet and help that customer.

What’s the secret of your success?

It’s being kind and caring and going above and beyond for all our doggie customers. Customer service is our number one priority.

What does this award mean to you?

This award means the world to me. I have worked extremely hard to build up our clients and business and to say we won the award after being open just over a year is really special. It’s a great start for our business – I hope to grow and expand from this. I must mention my husband too because he has helped us to be as eco friendly as possible in the store. The vast majority of our stands, my counter and treat bar are all handmade by my husband out of recycled materials so it meant a lot of late nights.

What advice would you give to other independent pet shop owners?

The advice I would give to other independent pet shop owners is to be different. Find items that set you apart from everybody else. The pet industry is a crowed market, so offer more than one service. We knew before opening the store we were only going to stock raw frozen food and the best quality natural treats, so we aimed for the health market in pets – hence why I studied nutrition. We stand out and people travel to us. You will find people will come back if your offering something different.

A pet shop claiming to be the oldest in the UK has been put up for sale.

WE Howden in Coldstream, Berwickshire, was established in 1830 by George Wilson, the inventor of sheep dip, and has seen only four owners during its existence.

The company is being  sold by the Edinburgh commercial agency branch of Allied Surveyors and Borders-based solicitor and estate agent Hastings Legal.

According to Allied Surveyors, the business is trading from distinctive premises in Coldstream High Street. The B-listed frontage is easily identified by the Roman style columns each crafted from pink polished granite.

The current owner has operated the business for the past 45 years but has now decided to take retirement. He is only the fourth owner of WE Howden since 1830 and is now actively seeking a new owner who can continue its history and traditions, whilst also preserving the opulent fixtures and fittings in the shop. The dispensary in the front shop area, for example, was last fitted in 1896 and all of the fittings are original.

The business has a guide price of £175,000. It has an annual turnover of £160,000+, 30-35% gross profit.

To view the agents’ details of the sale click here

As well as delivering another highly successful two-day pet trade event, this year’s PATS Telford was able to reduce the show’s impact on the environment.

“We talk about ways of protecting the environment and it is critical that we all do something to reduce waste. At PATS Telford we introduced a number of new initiatives which will have an immediate impact,” said show organiser Gordon Thomas.

“Working with our contractors, the venue and our exhibitors, PATS is doing as much as possible to limit the amount of waste we send to landfill, and this is just the beginning.”

Eco-friendly initiatives at PATS Telford included:

• Visitors were handed recyclable paper bags with their catalogues instead of plastic carrier bags – used in the past.
• Water dispensers were provided with paper cones that are able to be recycled.
• Visitors and exhibitors were encouraged to recycle their plastic badge holders and lanyards, so they could be used again.
• The exhibition hall floor carpet will be recycled in the UK. The fibres that the carpet is made from are cleaned, shredded and melted back into plastic pellets that can be re-used to make more carpet.

PATS is also keen to work with venues like the Telford International Centre, which takes its environmental responsibilities seriously. The venue has a host of policies designed to reduce waste and pollution, as well as an onsite water filtration system which allows them to reuse glass bottles, reducing the need for plastic.

“We appreciate there is more we can and need to do, and we will strive to add more eco-friendly initiatives in the future,” added Gordon.

Meanwhile, after another successful show, PATS Telford has been receiving very positive feedback from both exhibitors and visitors.

Here are some of the comments received:

Exhibitors

“Thank you PATS Telford for another awesome show. It has been a jam-packed 48 hours but an excellent platform to meet and talk to pet trade wholesalers, retailers and independent stockists, both new and current.”

Karen Scott, Purely Fish

“The show was a huge success. The location means that we saw a lot of clients from further north in the UK, which was great for a company with a limited field sales team in that area.”

Chris Brierley, Cotswold RAW

“PATS Telford was our first trade event and we thoroughly enjoyed meeting dozens of independent pet retailers. The atmosphere was buzzing and there was great engagement from the trade.”

Jack Walker, Scrumbles

“This year's PATS Telford was the best one yet for us. Having launched Broadreach Nature + here in September 2015 it was amazing to come back and have so many positive leads. It was lovely to see a number of international buyers at the show looking to expand their ranges and gain new contacts.”

Anne Wood, Broadreach Nature +

Visitors

“This year’s PATS Telford was the third one I’ve attended and I have to say It was the best one yet. The effort put into some of the displays was outstanding and very eye-catching, and it was great to speak to so many enthusiastic and passionate suppliers.”

Nikki Harris, TFM Countrystore, Lincoln                

“Thank you for an absolutely fantastic show this year. We found hundreds of new great products that our customers will love.”

Piers Smart, Scampers Pet Store, Cambridgeshire

“I had a wonderful day at PATS Telford. There was an impressive number of stands, including a good range of new suppliers. The New Product Showcase was vast, and it was amazing to see such a fantastic selection of exhibits. The show demonstrated how the pet industry is ever changing to meet the needs of the consumer.”

Jane Fisher, The Pet Shop, Ripon

“PATS Telford never fails to impress! The Telford International venue is perfectly suited for this important event in the pet trade calendar, particularly with its central location, easy access and free parking.”

Jamie Gleave, Paws and Claws, Frodsham, Cheshire

The focus now turns to PATS Sandown in Surrey, which is being held on Sunday and Monday, 10^th-11^th February 2019.

A pet owner was furious after finding a stone in a packet of gourmet dog biscuits he bought at Pets At Home, according to a report on the Liverpool Echo website.

Chris Smith told the Liverpool Echo that he bought the packet of 'Deli Dog Choc Chip Mini Cookies' for his mongrel Bailey at the Pets At Home store in Speke.

Chris said that he noticed something glimmer as he poured out the treats for Bailey, halfway through the pack.

A spokesperson for Pets At Home confirmed to the Liverpool Echo that the item found in the biscuits was a piece of stone.

"We were concerned to learn from Mr Smith that he had found what he believed to be a piece of glass in a dog biscuit.

"Of course we take complaints of this nature extremely seriously and, having investigated with our supplier, we can confirm this wasn’t glass but a small stone."

The full Liverpool Echo report can be read by clicking here

Poppy’s Picnic's meteoric rise in the fresh raw pet food market has been recognised once again with a win in the ‘Start-up of the Year’ category at the Business Leader Awards. The win comes hot on the heels of a Wiltshire Business Award and finalist announcements in the upcoming Rural Business Awards and NatWest Great British Entrpreneur Awards.

Since appearing on BBC Dragons’ Den, where founder Dylan Watkins and Director, Louise Mackintosh were offered four investment opportunities, the innovative company has already won ‘Business Start-up of the Year’, while also being nominated in the Outstanding Excellence Award category, at the 2018 Wiltshire Business Awards.

Three of their products also made the finals of the PetQuip Awards in the ‘Pet Product of the Year’ category, beating off competition from hundreds of other entries and receiving Highly Commended recognition from the judges.

Celebrating the achievements of companies and the people who run them across the South West, the Business Leader Awards received over 200 high calibre entries this year and competition to become a finalist was fierce. All the judges, who are major players in the world of business and finance, unanimously voted for Poppy’s Picnic to win the award.

Louise Mackintosh received the award from comedian Russell Kane at a glittering Gala Dinner held at Ashton Court, Bristol.

Since politely declining investment opportunities from the Dragons, including a £60,000 investment from Deborah Meaden, Poppy’s Picnic has successfully overfunded to raise £600,000 through crowd funding, and has been part of the NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator Programme – a scheme for fast growth businesses - for the past 18 months. With the help of the bank, the business has grown from an idea founded in Dylan’s kitchen, to a business valued at £4.8milllon.

Poppy’s Picnic meals are handmade by fourth generation Wiltshire butchers, and only include the best human-grade British ingredients. A new manufacturing plant near Melksham, Wiltshire will be operational in Q4 and will support the production of new ranges and online orders, as well as enabling the business to expand its international and retail order capabilities. The company also plans to produce cat food from early 2019.

Founder Dylan Watkins believes that simplicity - or RAWPLICITY as he calls it - is the key to Poppy’s Picnic’s success:  

“Our aim from the start has been to make it easier for more people to feed fresh. Much like humans should eat fresh food and avoid a processed diet to ward off obesity and disease, the same applies to our four-legged friends.

"Any fresh food in a dog’s diet is better than none and we make innovative products to help people switch completely to feeding our raw meals, or even just add a little boost to a kibble diet. It’s about being inclusive and helping people make changes for good, and our ever-growing family of Poppy’s Picnic feeders are helping us spread the word.”

Rural Business Awards

There are additional accolades in the pipeline as well. Poppy’s Picnic has reached the regional finals of the Rural Business Awards, sponsored by Amazon, which are the only UK-wide business awards specifically for the rural sector. Poppy’s Picnic is listed as a finalist in the ‘Best Rural Start-Up’ in the South West region. The regional winners, to be announced on 18 October, will go forward to the national finals which take place in February 2019.

NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards

Finally, Dylan Watkins, Founder of Poppy’s Picnic is a finalist in the ‘Scale-Up Entrepreneur of the Year’ category in the Wales and South West region of the NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards. Now in their sixth year, the awards acknowledge the hard work and inspiring stories of British entrepreneurs and businesses in Great Britain. The Awards have previously celebrated some outstanding entrepreneurs, such as the founders of BrewDog and JustEat which have taken the UK by storm. The Wales and South West Gala Finals will take place on 22^nd November. A further National Winners event will be held 24 Janaury 2019 in London.

IAMS has announced the launch of its new range IAMS for Vitality, which will be supported by a £2million multi-channel media campaign, the largest in the brand’s history.

The campaign will Include TV advertising, PR, digital, social, mass sampling and sponsorship of the world’s biggest dog show, Crufts.

IAMS for Vitality is the next evolution of the brand’s historic dry food range, IAMSProActive Health, with an upgraded recipe that includes fresh chicken to meet demand for premium ingredients and appeal to a wider audience.

The new and improved formula responds to insight revealed from IAMS own survey of over 8,000 pet owners across Europe, which highlighted that shoppers are seeking a nutritious food which promotes health benefits for an active life and is available in a wide range of tasty flavours that pet’s will enjoy.

That’s why the new IAMS for Vitality range, which has been developed together with vets, offers expert nutrition that has been tailored to fit all life stages, breed sizes and target specific needs together with a great taste pets will love allowing owners to enjoy their pet at their very best.

What’s more, the range features all the essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients needed to support the 7 signs of healthy vitality. This includes strong muscles and good digestive health as well as a healthy urinary tract and heart. IAMS for Vitality also supports a glossy coat, healthy skin and teeth and a strong immune system for a happy, playful pet that looks and feels great whatever their life stage.

With over 70 years of experience, IAMS new and improved formula offers cats and dogs a range of nutritional benefits including:

• High levels of animal protein, with up to 85% for dog and 91% for cat (out of total protein)
• With fresh chicken for both cats and dogs in addition to a new lamb variant for dogs for a taste they will love and improved digestibility
• No fillers, artificial colours, flavours or GMOs
• Wheat free+

Ashleigh Foster, Senior Brand Manager at IAMS, said: “We’re very excited to announce the launch of our new and improved IAMS formula together with our largest media campaign to date. We’ve listened to what owners are looking for in their pet’s diet and responded with a range that combines vet expertise with everything needed to support the 7 signs of healthy vitality. IAMS for Vitality is also available in a number of great tasting flavours as well as newly featuring deliciously fresh chicken for nutrition pets will love.”

IAMS for Vitality new cat range is available in:

• Kitten with Fresh Chicken
• Adult: with Fresh Chicken, Freshly Frozen Lamb, Freshly Frozen Salmon or Freshly Frozen Ocean Fish
• Senior: with Fresh Chicken or Freshly Frozen Ocean Fish
• Specialised diets: Light in Fat, Indoor (new), Hairball and Dental (new)

IAMS for Vitality new dog range is available in:

• Puppy with Fresh Chicken
• Adult: with Fresh Chicken or Freshly Frozen Lamb (new)
• Senior: with Fresh Chicken
• Specialised diets: Light in Fat

To find out more about the full range of IAMS for Vitality visit www.iams.co.uk/forvitality. 

With the onset of Autumn exclusive UK distributor Pedigree Wholesale has launched a new range of coats from Hurtta. The range includes the Drizzle Raincoat, Downpour Suit and Rain Blocker.

Available in two colours, Currant and Raven, and 13 sizes from 20 to 90cm the waterproof Drizzle Raincoat is an essential outfit for all dogs in rainy, windy or muddy conditions.

The Drizzle Raincoat is also excellent in cooler temperatures due to a warming foil patterning in the lining.

Thanks to its muscle-warming properties the Drizzle is also ideal for dogs engaged in active sports for warming up and maintaining their well-being before and after performance.

The Drizzle is made from an elastic, silent and breathable fabric with a weatherproof Houndtex® layer, whilst 3M reflectors maximise visibility in the dark.

The waterproof and dirt-resistant Downpour Suit protects dogs in the best possible way in changing weather conditions. The Downpour Suit has a high collar with built-in rain trap which prevents water going inside.

The Downpour Suit is made from a durable and comfortably flexible outdoor fabric that doesn’t rustle when the dog moves.

The adjustable leg length makes it possible to modify the overall and with both neckline and waist tightening mechanisms the overall can be adjusted to fit perfectly and keep it in place in even the most active play. The Downpour Suit is available in one colour Raven and 17 sizes from 30S to 60L.

The waterproof Rain Blocker with front legs offers a completely new solution to protecting dogs in the rain, combining the protection of an overall and the ease of use of a coat. The coat features a high collar with built-in rain trap. With back length adjustment and neck and waist tightening drawstrings, the coat can be adjusted to fit perfectl.

The Rain Blocker is made of a durable, flexible and comfortable outdoor fabric. Extensive reflectors in the collar and rear hem improve visibility in the dark. Rain Blockers are available in two colours, Raven and Stream, and 10 sizes from 25 to 70cm.

All coats include an opening in the back to connect a harness.

Professionals in dog clothing, Hurtta have been designing and manufacturing premium quality clothing since 2002.

If you would like more information about Hurtta coats contact Customer Services on 0115 982 3900 or speak to your Relationship Manager.

Natures Menu has launched two new variants to its Country Hunter Raw Superfood Nuggets range – Grass Fed Beef and Turkey & Goose.

Country Hunter Superfood Nuggets are made with quality human grade ingredients and are complete and nutritionally balanced to ensure dogs get their daily nutritional requirements. 

Grain and gluten free and naturally gentle on digestion, the Country Hunter range is ideal for dogs with sensitive tummies and allergies. What’s more, the nuggets are the simplest way to raw feed - completely fuss free, simply count out the amount of nuggets needed, thaw and serve. The seriously meaty complete and balanced range is also rich in antioxidants and made with ground bone for calcium, phosphate and magnesium.

The Grass Fed Beef is made from 80% beef with a delicious blend of swede, carrots, peas and blackberry; it can be a great starter meal for those considering switching their dog to a raw diet. The Turkey & Goose is made from 80% turkey and goose meat with a delicious blend of swede, carrots, peas and taste-tingling redcurrant – an ideal festive meal for a furry friend!

Natures Menu only uses quality, human grade meats in its raw meals, and absolutely no meat meals or meat derivatives. All its complete and balanced meals are veterinary approved and made to FEDIAF guidelines.

To stock the Country Hunter range or any of Natures Menu’s other products or for more information visit www.naturesmenu.co.uk or speak to an expert for advice on 0800 0183770. 

Manchester-based pet bed specialist Scruffs has started the new month with a free giveaway featuring its best-selling memory foam collection.

The Scruffs Chateau pet bedding collection forms part of the company’s memory series of orthopaedic pet beds, ideally suited to older dogs, larger breeds or pets that require more support for their joints, back or body.

A company spokesperson said: "Scruffs’ monthly competitions and sweepstakes are a key way for us to give back to our ever-growing community of fans, for their ongoing support to the brand."

The competition is running from Wednesday 3rd October until Wednesday 31st October 2018.

To enter, visit "Pets Love Scruffs" on Facebook to find the post and follow the on-screen instructions. Entry is free, there is no purchase necessary and the company does not require any personal information.

Full terms and conditions can be found on the company’s social media channels.

For more information, contact a member of the Scruffs marketing team using pr@petslovescruffs.com or via phone on +44 (0) 161 702 5060.

The best news service every week.

Subscribe for free by clicking here

The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 came into force on Monday.

The new regulations will strengthen animal welfare, particularly around puppy sales, in England.

These will:

• Ensure that breeders must show puppies alongside their mother before a sale is made.
• Tighten regulations so that puppy sales are completed in the presence of the new owner – preventing online sales where prospective buyers have not seen the animal first.
• Ban licensed sellers from dealing in puppies and kittens under the age of eight weeks.
• Regulate adverts, including on the internet, by ensuring licensed sellers of all pets include the seller’s licence number, country of origin and country of residence of the pet in any advert for sale.
• Introduce a new “star rating” for dog breeders, pet shops and others to help people rate them on their animal welfare standards.

These regulations, which are strongly supported by animal welfare organisations such as the RSPCA who’ve campaigned for a number of years, complement the government’s commitment to introduce a ban on third party sales of puppy and kitten sales which has recently been consulted on.

Animal Welfare Minister, David Rutley, said: "These regulations will end mistreatment and malpractice of puppies and crack down on unscrupulous breeders so pet owners will have no doubt their new dogs have had the right start in life.

"The licensing systems for businesses that work with animals have not been reformed for almost fifty years. The changes in place from today simplify these into one system for local authorities, help consumers to make better informed decisions and will further improve animal welfare.

"These changes form part of our efforts to ensure we have the highest animal welfare standards in the world. This includes making CCTV cameras mandatory in all slaughterhouses as well as our plans to increase prison sentences from six months to five years for animal abusers."

The myriad of licensing systems that local authorities use to regulate businesses which deal with animals, or animal activities, have been in place for over 50 years. This has led to outdated regulations meaning some businesses require several licences and others, such as home boarding and dog day care businesses, were not always covered.

These regulations introduce a new system for local authorities to use for the different areas of activity (detailed below), simplifying the licences needed by businesses, ensuring all businesses working with animals are covered and driving up animal welfare standards.

A key part of these new licences will be a new “star rating” (out of five) for dog breeders, pet shops and other licensed activities involving animals. This rates these businesses, on welfare and other grounds, and helps buyers use the best breeders as well as local authorities to more heavily regulate the poorer rated (such as through more welfare inspections, increased costs and shorter licences).

This announcement follows a public consultation which ran from 20 December 2015 to 12 March 2016.

The five areas of licensed activities with animals by businesses are:

• Selling animals as pets
• Providing or arranging for the provision of boarding for cats of dogs
• Hiring out horses
• Breeding dogs and
• Keeping or training animals for exhibition

DEFRA have re-issued the guidance documents for the new Animal Activities Licensing Regulations, which came into force on Monday.

The amended versions have addressed some of the points made in feedback provided by the Pet Industry Federation, in collaboration with the Corporation of London, in response to members’ concerns.

Nigel Baker, PIF chief executive said: "We’re really pleased that DEFRA have been open to changes at this stage and delighted that a number of improvements have appeared in time for these regulations to take effect.

"Although not all of our changes were taken on board, we are continuing to collate comments to feed back to DEFRA in the new year, once we get a clearer idea of how the licensing is working in practice.

"We will also use our Primary Authority partnership with the Corporation of London to generate bespoke advice for our members if there are particular and common issues that arise, once inspections under the new licensing regime take place."

The new regulations address the huge changes in pet owner attitudes and lifestyles and take account of different business models which have sprung up in recent years and the rise of internet.

There will be one generic licence for commercial pet businesses, regardless of how many licensable activities they undertake and there will be standardised criteria on the various activities providing a framework of minimum standards which businesses must meet in order to gain a licence.

In addition, a star-rating system will be introduced for businesses, and there is a requirement within the legislation for trained inspectors.

The revised supporting guidance, along with a link to the actual regulations and a changes log, are available on the PIF website at www.petfederation.co.uk

For further information about how the Pet Industry Federation is helping its members comply with the new regulations, visit the PIF website, telephone 01234 273933 or email info@petfederation.co.uk

Nominations are now open for the prestigious Ceva Animal Welfare Awards 2019.

Returning for its seventh year, the Ceva Animal Welfare Awards 2019 will once again celebrate the achievements of remarkable people from the farming, veterinary, charity and education sectors.

Ceva has identified the importance of highlighting the welfare achievements of farming professionals by launching two exciting new agricultural awards – the Farmer of the Year Award sponsored by R.A.B.I. for farmers who strive to provide and encourage a high standard of animal welfare on their farm(s) and Farm Educator of the Year sponsored by NADIS.  This award acknowledges the work of a SQP, advisor, university or other educational institute that works hard to research and educate on the importance and benefits of farm animal welfare.

Another new award for 2019 is the Outstanding Contribution to Animal Welfare Award sponsored by Your Cat and Your Dog magazines.  This award is for an individual or team that stands out from the crowd by influencing and significantly contributing to making a visible difference in the world of animal welfare.

Outstanding farmers, vets, vet nurses, animal welfare professionals and animal welfare teams can now be nominated to receive an award by their peers and the general public.  Nominees can come from all walks of life, all ages, and from anywhere in the world.

The award categories include:

Chris Laurence Vet of the Year – sponsored by Vet Record

This award is dedicated to our head judge, Christopher Laurence, in recognition of a veterinary surgeon (either companion or farm animal) who demonstrates their commitment to the continuous improvement of animal health and welfare.

Vet Nurse of the Year – sponsored by Agria Pet Insurance

This award is to give appreciation to a veterinary nurse (either companion or farm animal) who excels in their role by demonstrating and/or educating to the highest level of animal health and welfare.

Charity Team of the Year – sponsored by PDSA

This award is for an inspiring team whose drive and passionate dedication has changed the lives of animals for the better.

Charitable Contribution of the Year – sponsored by Blue Cross

This award is for an individual, in either a voluntary or paid role, who is constantly committed to making a difference to animal welfare.

International Cat Care Welfare of the Year – sponsored by International Cat Care

This esteemed award recognises an individual who has made a significant contribution to the development of feline welfare. The winner of this award is selected by International Cat Care and therefore this category is not open to nominations.

Farmer of the Year – sponsored by R.A.B.I.

This award is for a farmer who strives to provide and encourage a high standard of animal welfare on their farm(s).

Farm Educator of the Year – sponsored by NADIS

This award is to acknowledge the work of a SQP, advisor, university or other educational institute, that works hard to research and educate on the importance and benefits of farm animal welfare.

Outstanding Contribution to Animal Welfare – sponsored by Your Dog and Your Cat magazines

This award is for an individual or team who stands out from the crowd by influencing and significantly contributing to making a visible difference in the world of animal welfare.  This award is selected by our judging panel, from all nominations received for 2019 and therefore, this category is not open for direct nominations.

Since the first Ceva Awards in 2012, hundreds of people and teams have been nominated, with the winners decided by a panel of esteemed judges headed by Christopher Laurence MBE BVSc.  The winners and runners up will be honoured at a glittering ceremony taking place on the eve of BSAVA Congress on 3rd April 2019.

“We are delighted to be able to acknowledge the outstanding and inspirational welfare achievements of people from the farming, veterinary, charity and education sectors at the Ceva Animal Welfare Awards and are looking forward to receiving nominations which increase in both quality and quantity year on year,” comments Ceva Animal Health managing director, Cuneyt Seckin.

If there is a farmer, vet, vet nurse, animal welfare professional or animal welfare team that you feel deserves to be recognised for their ongoing commitment to animal welfare, visit www.cevawelfareawards.com to nominate.  Entries must be in by Friday 11th January 2019.

A new book urging consumers to "vote with their wallets" to stop cruelty to animals was launched at Conservative Party Conference.

Campaigning MEP John Flack wrote Animals Can't Vote...But You Can, to highlight cruel abuse of animals in agriculture, tourism and entertainment.

It covers factory farming, inhumane caging of birds and livestock, live transportation, slaughter methods, circuses, tourism, and meat from pets.

He urges us all to use commercial muscle to shun entertainment or spectacles involving animal cruelty and to eat only ethically-sourced food.

The book calls for the current confusing patchwork of conflicting labelling initiatives to replaced with a single clear and simple regime to let people know just how animals have been treated.

Mr Flack, Conservative MEP for the East of England, is Vice President of the European Parliament's Animal Welfare Intergroup.

He said: "We humans have the votes and the power animals lack.  Not just at the ballot box, but in choosing what we buy and eat, what we wear and how we entertain ourselves at home and abroad.

"My book presents some hard-hitting snapshots of what is downright abuse by any civilised standards. They are there to make people stop and think. I want to ignite something in people's consciences and in their hearts.

"We must change what we are doing, for the animals' sake and for our own."

Collarways was delighted to have two of the brands it represents receive Silver Awards from PetQuip. 

Firstly, the innovative 2-in1 grooming and massage tool, mookiemax, was placed second in the highly competitive Pet Product of the Year for Accessories.  This great grooming tool aims to relax both pet and owner and have been developed by a team of pet experts to bring pets and their owners closer together in a fun and playful way. 

Designed for use on medium to long-haired dogs, cats, rabbits and other small furries, mookiemax can be used with the cap on as a gentle massager to help relax pets or, with the cap off, to detangle fur in sensitive areas.   For relaxation and use “on-the-go” there is also the original mookie available.  Made in the UK both are available in 6 colour combinations: Berry/Teal, Sky/Berry, Chilli/Lemon, Berry/Bubble-gum, Electric/Chilli and Teal/Satsuma.

The Petweighter bowl was awarded Silver in the Pet Product of the Year, Health and Technical Category.

PetWeighter comprises a base, and a bowl that locks onto and removes easily from the base for filling and cleaning.

The base can be filled with water, sand and water, or ice, to give it a weight of up to 13kg. When the bowl is placed back on the base, pets aren't able to move the bowl around or knock it over to spill their food or water.  The bowl itself is light and easily detachable from the base so it's effortless to fill and clean.

The elevated eating position may help improve pet's digestion and can also be easier on their joints. Both digestion and joint complaints are increasingly common in veterinary practice and elevated feeding is often recommended by vets.

The PetWeighter is designed by healthcare engineers with hygiene in mind to ensure that the bowl has no cracks and crevices that will attract dirt. The PetWeighter will also stay where you put it which will help establish a dedicated pet feeding area in your home, and result in only one feeding zone to clean!

For more information contact:

www.collarways.com    info@collarways.com    01747 830021

While consumers are most likely to use their hearts over their heads when buying for their pets, The Market Creative reports that there are distinct gender differences in their attitudes.

More than 70% of women would greatly miss their favourite pet store if it were no longer available, compared to just 55% of men.

Their male counterparts are much more likely to follow the crowd with 64% valuing recommendations from friends and family when choosing where or what to buy for their pets, compared to 44% of women. They are also more likely to be influenced by scarcity with 52% admitting to want a pet product more if it’s rare or running out (women 38%).

The Market Creative asked more than 100 pet owners about their attitudes to buying for their pets. The survey found that people are more likely to be led by their heart and stick to the brands they know than look for retailers or suppliers that share common values or ethics.

Sue Benson, Managing Director at The Market Creative said: “If you know what is driving your customer’s biases and influencing their behaviour you can be much more effective at communicating what they need. Behavioural insight gives brands the opportunity to respond to customers on a more human level. Acknowledging and supporting our irrational decision-making process along the customer journey makes brands not just more relevant but more likeable too.”

Marketing tips

●      Celebrate loyalty by showing how you can offer support from vulnerable puppy to old friend. 

●      Reinforce the benefits of buying or use humour to show what life would be like without you.

●      Encourage recommendations with a family and friends reward scheme. 

●      Reassure customers with facts and figures or real customer stories. 

●      Create point of sale material with genuine customer feedback and reviews.

●      Encourage customers to leave their tips on your website, building on the value of community. 

For further information visit themarketcreative.com

Nylabone has created a new range of Beef Jerky flavoured Power Chews.

Made with durable nylon and boasting a textured surface for additional chewing fun, the new Power Chews are designed to satisfy the natural chewing instincts of even the strongest jaws.

Available in five sizes from extra small to extra-large, the chews retain their beef jerky flavour throughout whilst the bristles raised during the chewing process promote clean teeth and help control the build-up of plaque and tartar.

The chews are available to order now.

www.nylabone.co.uk

Long Paws’ new Poop Porter turns out to have created something of a 'Marmite moment'.

Poop Porter is an attachment for your dog lead that will hold not only a few new poop bags, but also a few used poop bags.

Poop Porter is a rubber holder with two teethed holes. The larger hole is designed to hold the knot of a used poop bag, until you come across a poop bin and can dispose of the offending bag. The smaller hole holds a few new poop bags at the ready.

According to Long Paws director, Elan Mansur, most dog owners don’t mind picking up their dogs poop. But they really dislike having to walk around holding the poop bag in their hand until they find a poop bin. Poop Porter attaches to a dog lead, and lets the lead do the carrying for the dog owner.

Long Paws has been advertising Poop Porter on social media for around three weeks now.

According to Mansur, the comments they’ve received are quite decisively split

"Either customers love it and order two or three at a time, or they absolutely hate the idea, and seem to be offended that someone would not enjoy walking around holding a poop bag. It’s like Marmite," he said.

Long Paws has never been a company to shy away from a little controversy, and loves that the product draws such strong opinions.

They have already started preparing the Christmas edition of their Poop Porter, which is a poo-emoticon shaped version, with a Christmas twist.

“We can see our Poop Santa appearing as Christmas Tree decorations before they start getting used on dog leads."

Poop Porter retails for £3.50 and is available for trade and retail purchases from Long Paws.

www.longpaws.co.uk/poopporter

The Lickimat from Sharples Pet won a New Product Award at PATS Telford this week, and already there is talk of this innovative item becoming the next bestseller in pet stores.

Lickimat Boredom Busters are designed to enhance a pet’s environment as well as benefiting its health. 

Lickimats are designed as tasty boredom busters for a cat or dog. By spreading a pet's favourite soft treat over the surface, an owner can create a tasty fun game with them having to seek out every morsel with their tongue.

Owners can freeze treats in the summer for a refreshing, longer lasting entertainment. They also work well as a slow feeder for cats.

Here are some of the benefits of the Lickimat:

• Repetitive licking is soothing for your pet, releasing calming the hormone cortisol into the body
• Medical free way to promote calm behaviour in your pet while home alone or during stressful times, like storms or fireworks, also great for calming pets before a procedure/treatment at the vets or groomers
• No over feeding because Lickimat makes a small tasty treat last longer
• Licking enhances the sense of taste, allowing pet to enjoy just a small amount of food
• Helps promote fresh breath by scraping off bacteria and undigested food particles from the tongue
• Stimulates saliva production and helps clean tongue, teeth and gums
• Saliva production can aid digestion as it contains enzymes like Amylase

For fun pet interaction three designs are available.

• Lickimat Buddy, (the most popular design), with its cross maze design, is perfect for trapping chunky treats like mushy meat or fish. 
• Lickimat Soother, with its raised bumpy design, is perfect for runny treats like yoghurt or gravy
• Lickimat Playdate, with its square pocket design, is perfect for trapping chunky treats like mushy meat or fish.

The New Product Award judges commented: “We liked the versatility of this product, and the fact there wasn’t any unnecessary packaging.”

There was so much to see and do over the two days of PATS Telford exhibition. If you weren't lucky enough to make it, here's a picture round-up from Telford...

Marriages injected a bit of fun to the show with their garden-party themed stand – pink party gear, cakes and lemonade. Lisa Osborne, Marketing Manager, said: “The garden party theme was an obvious one for us because we are delighted to be welcoming the RSPB to the Marriages party. They are a natural fit for us because they’re environmentally friendly and care about wildlife just like us.”

A pet shop in a North Norfolk town has shut down without warning, to the dismay of regular customers and its four staff members.

Claws and Paws, which has been trading in Station Road, Sheringham, for 20 years, was open for business as usual on September 18 but, when staff came to open up the shop the following morning, they found a notice on the door from a local lettings agents, saying the premises was now in possession of the landlords.

A report in the North Norfolk News said the owner of the shop had not been in touch with the two full-time and two part-time workers, leaving them worried about pay due to them  and their future employment prospects.

One long-standing staff member, who did not want to be named, told the newspaper: “All I can say is the shop was closed by the landlord and we didn’t know anything until we turned up to work on Wednesday morning to find we couldn’t get in as the locks were changed.”

A full report can be read by clicking here

Henrietta Morrison, founder and CEO of Lily’s Kitchen, is stepping into a new role as Executive Chair and Global Brand Director. David Milner will become the new CEO.

David has been a non-executive Director of the business and was the former CEO of Tyrrells crisps. He brings a wealth of experience of challenger brand growth. 

Henrietta started the business at her kitchen table ten years ago following the illness of her Border Terrier, Lily, now aged 15. Since its launch, Lily’s Kitchen has been recognized with numerous awards, including a Queen's Award for Enterprise and was also a founding member of BCorp UK.

“I’m extremely proud of what we have achieved so far,” said Henrietta Morrison.

“We have a brilliant team that has worked hard to bring proper food to our pets, create a new category and build a beloved brand in a market dominated by huge players.

"I’m excited by my new role and delighted to have David Milner lead the team as we continue to drive growth and innovation at Lily’s Kitchen.

"We work very well together and I’m thrilled that we can build an even stronger partnership with him joining the business full time as CEO.”

David will start his new role on October 2nd.