Organisers of Aquatics Live have called on the pet trade to support the event in future as visitors to last weekend's show claimed there were not enough exhibitors.

Almost 4,500 people – an increase on last year – attended the consumer show at London Olympia, and they ranged from novice to expert. Organisers were happy that they’d fulfilled the brief from the trade to attract new hobbyists.

But Tom Spencer, of On Show Productions Ltd, said: "If there was a criticism from visitors it was there were not enough exhibitors.

"The public is hungry for the opportunity to see first-hand the latest developments in aquariums and equipment and when they come to the exhibition they do so with the intention of spending money. This has been proved two years on the trot, and especially this year when all the high-end tanks at the show were sold, some of them two or three times over.

"Aquatics Live is there to support the trade and it offers a great sales and marketing tool which wasn’t available until last year. It benefits manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, and the trade needs to show its support by becoming more directly involved."

Exhibitors who had stands in 2011 reported greatly increased footfall in 2012 and some retailers took three times the amounts they did last year.

Axel Finken, CEO of Giesemann Lichttechnik, said: “As a first-time exhibitor at Aquatics Live, Giesemann was very pleased with both the number of people who visited our booth and with the qualifications of those visitors.

"We saw interested people from all over the UK, many of whom we might never have otherwise met. We saw a great deal of interest in our aquarium series Linea, Contura, IQ and Esprit, and our lighting products Teszla and Futura.

"Our very steady booth traffic reflected the ever-increasing demand from the aquarium community for more information on our high-quality products. Aquatics Live demonstrated again that it is the 'not to be missed' event in the calendar for the whole aquarium community in the UK.”

The aquatic seminar sessions which included talks from eight national and international celebrities were well-attended and even in the reptile sessions, where seminars are notoriously under-supported, seats were packed out for Mark Amey and John Berry.

The presence of headline marine speaker Joe Yaiullo was in doubt when the second storm hit New York and his public aquarium on Long Island was under threat, but he reshuffled his flights and arrived, jet-lagged, to present his talks.

The show dates for 2013 are the 16^th and 17^th November and bookings for stand space are now being taken by On Show Productions Ltd (Tel: 0207 430 2500).



Photos © 2012 MindStudio and © 2012 Brian Goldstein for Aquatics Live

A new scheme to raise the standards of dog training in the UK will be launched at Crufts next year.

The Kennel Club Accreditation Scheme for Instructors in Dog Training and Canine Behaviour (KCAI) and Purina PRO PLAN, have formed a partnership to deliver the highest standards of education, guidance and support to all those who work with dogs.

The partnership between Purina PRO PLAN and the KCAI Scheme will deliver face-to-face quality educational guidance and advice to canine professionals through a series of regional events throughout 2013 and beyond. 

KCAI is the UK’s independently recognised stamp of quality for those delivering the highest standards of care and advice to dog owners.

The partnership will begin with a new and exciting feature at Crufts 2013 - the KCAI Career Zone in collaboration with Purina PRO PLAN. 

Aimed at professionals in the dog world, the KCAI Career Zone will see industry experts offer seminars, workshops and career guidance. KCAI members and professionals working with dogs, who book into the Career Zone in advance, will be offered free entry to Crufts.

There will be a KCAI Scheme Annual Member Event at the Kennel Club Building at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, on 8^th and 9^th June 2013, designed to develop the knowledge and experience of KCAI members through a series of workshops and lectures.

Here, Purina PRO PLAN will deliver a series of lectures explaining the fundamental role that nutrition plays in canine behaviour. 

There are further events planned across the UK and the full schedule will be announced shortly.



Judith Nicholson, Recommendation Manager for Purina PRO PLAN, said: “There are a large number of dedicated, knowledgeable and experienced people working in a whole range of canine related fields; dog trainers, canine behaviourists, rescue and re-homing employees and volunteers, those who work for assistance dog charities, dog wardens and animal control officers, canine physical therapists and veterinary nurses.  All of these areas require specialist knowledge and training to meet a professional standard. 

“We at Purina PRO PLAN are delighted to be working with the KCAI Scheme to ensure that canine professionals are given access to quality  training and education resources.”

Paul Rawlings, Chairman of the KCAI Board, said, “The KCAI Scheme has been growing rapidly, as more and more people understand the need to work under a quality ‘kitemark’ and a robust code of practice, which can reassure dog owners that their pet is getting the high standard of care that they deserve.

“Ourselves and Purina PRO PLAN are passionate about improving the health and welfare of dogs through training, education and optimum nutrition. Our partnership marks an exciting new era for the scheme, where we can work together to continually raise standards and support experienced and knowledgeable professionals in the canine world.  

“Crufts is an ideal place to launch this venture, being a key event in every dog lover’s calendar where dog professionals can exchange news and views.”

The full list of seminars, workshops and mentoring opportunities being offered over the four days of Crufts and details on how to register will be announced in December on the Crufts website.

With the British Trust for Ornithology reporting that the number of woodland birds visiting gardens this autumn is 15% higher than in recent years, Gardman are advising pet shops and garden centres to stock up with bird food.

The levels of bird populations in gardens during October were similar to what is expected at the end of November as birds turn to bird feeders and berry-producing shrubs in the garden.

“This early seasonal rise in bird numbers in gardens with the likelihood of colder weather conditions when birds look for higher calorie foods is an opportunity for retailers to ensure that they are well stocked up on bird food and bird feeders,” says Ann Guest, Wild Bird Care Category Manager. 

“Different bird species require different foods, whether seeds, suet blocks, nuts or berries, so it’s as well to stock a wide range of foods and the relevant bird feeders so that bird lovers are able to purchase whatever they need to help garden birds survive the winter.”

Full details of Gardman’s wild bird care products are available on www.gardmanwildbirdcare.co.uk

Did you know that just FOUR different types of reptile make up over 65% of the thousands of species being kept and sold as pets?

Leopard geckos, bearded dragons, tortoises and colubrid snakes such as corn snakes represent in excess of 65% of reptiles sold in Britain.   

These specific animals have become the mainstay of the reptile pet trade because they have all of the attributes of a good terrarium pet - they’re relatively small, they’re easy to keep, they’re colourful and interesting and last, but not least, they’re easy to handle.

“By focusing on these five species you will be catering for the vast proportion of customers by providing animals that are easy and fun to keep.” says Tony Jones, Head of Communications for the Federation of British Herpetologists.

“And being available in many different colour morphs means you’ll never be spoilt for variety and choice.”

Thankfully all of these species are produced in large numbers by professional and hobbyist breeders around the world. 

According to the Reptile and Exotic Pet Trade Association, approximately 80-85% of reptiles sold in the UK are captive bred and over 300,000 reptiles and amphibians are bred in the UK each year. This number is increasing annually.

Inventors of pet friendly products have just over a week to submit their entries to Pets at Home to stand any chance of showcasing their ideas.

Pets at Home is holding its fifth Innovation Day on Wednesday 5 December, where budding developers and designers are given an exclusive opportunity to present their ideas to a panel of key decision makers at the pet care firm.

The company is currently fast-tracking numerous innovative concepts and solutions into the business as a result of the open days and it is eager to see many more.

Claire Gavin, head of innovation at Pets at Home, said: “We all look forward to our Innovation Days as they offer a unique opportunity to meet many passionate pet product designers and entrepreneurs.

“We are always on the lookout for exclusive products that have been developed with the pet and their owner at front of mind.  

"While customers will always want to pamper their pets, today’s economic climate means products that deliver well thought through solutions often to sensitive issues and true value for money are likely to be well received by customers.   

"For example, products that enrich the life of pets and enable owners to care even more responsibly build closer bonds and better relationships between pets and their owners. These are all characteristics which we’ve seen in some of the successful ideas from Innovation Days in the past.”

The Smart Kitz Cardboard Castle is an easy-to-assemble cardboard castle for small pets which, after being showcased at the April Innovation Day, is now on the shelves in all 328 Pets at Home stores.

Nigel Bateson, of Smart Kitz, said: "We had been developing our Cardboard Pet Castle designed for house pets such as rabbits, cats, rats and ferrets etc. and presented this to the Pets at Home team at their April Innovation Day.

"The team immediately saw the potential and after working together with the buyers to ensure our castles could be presented in a marketable and retail-friendly manner, the product went on sale at the start of September. They are doing so well they are planning to stock them right through Christmas. 

"The good thing about Innovation Day was being able to get straight in front of the key decision makers and explain fully how our products would appeal not just to owners but also to the instinctive nature of small pets.

"The buyers loved the environmentally-friendly credentials of the product and the idea behind it - which is to enrich the lives of pets and also to increase contact between owners and their pets.

"I'd advise anyone looking to present their products at the Innovation Day to remember that Pets at Home are looking for uniqueness, creativity and a real understanding of both pets and their owners."

Nick Carr of Addicare presented the Addicare anti-bacterial anti-odour dog bed at an Innovation Day in January and was successful in bringing his product to the shelves of Pets at Home stores for an eight-week trial.

Nick said: “We were confident the Addicare dog bed would catch the attention of the buyers at Pets at Home as it’s a completely unique product which uses silver technology within the fabric to eliminate bacteria and odour.

"The Innovation Day was an incredibly positive experience as it gave us the opportunity to meet the buyers and increase our brand awareness in the industry. Sales of the product have been really successful and we’re looking forward to the next steps.”

If you have a fully developed and prototyped product for the team to consider send through details of your design concept to productdesign@petsathome.co.uk. Pets at Home will then contact anyone whose concept wins the chance to deliver a 30 minute  pitch to the panel of trading experts on December 5^th at the Stoke on Trent distribution centre.

The deadline for responses is Friday 23^rd November.

The Bucktons range of specially selected feeding mixes for racing pigeons will continue to develop and dominate throughout 2013 with the announcement today of increased investment from new owners Westland Horticulture.

This investment is to support product development, to drive awareness of pigeon racing and continued local event support and comes in light of the Driffield facility once again being awarded an ‘A’grade BRC accreditation; the only bird feed company to receive this certification.  

The Bucktons brand continues to set the highest quality standards for professional and amateur pigeon fanciers and breeders essential in this highly competitive sport.

The range will be supported throughout the year with a targeted advertising campaign highlighting the strap line ‘You can always tell a Bucktons Bird’. 

It will also appear at various regional pigeon shows throughout November through to February 2013 including the number one event in the pigeon calendar – Bucktons will once again be the principle sponsor of the British Homing World Show of the Year in Blackpool this coming January.

Rachael Dickinson, Senior Brand Manager for Westland Horticulture, said: “The Bucktons brand has been synonymous with pigeon racing for over 50 years and we are determined to build on this success and remain at the forefront of this exciting sport. 

"Our competitive selection of feeding mixes have been developed to ensure key dietary requirements are met and to ensure Bucktons is the ‘Trusted Brand for Pigeon Fanciers all year around’.”

For further information about the Bucktons and its range of specialist feeds visit www.bucktons.co.uk

Hollings Ltd has announced plans for investment over the next three years which will see its current manufacturing site triple in size.

The factory, which is purely for processing and cooking, has already doubled its capacity over the past two years. The company is currently in the process of building a new storage area to hold all finished products.

The Skipton factory, where all the packaging and distribution takes place, has also seen some changes.

"We recently upgraded our packaging machinery to fulfil the growth in customer sales," said Emma Hollings. "We believe continued investment is the key to the future and we keep investing in machinery, people and ideas in the every growing natural treat market."

The company has also recently revamped its website. Visit www.hollings.uk.com  

A parish council has proposed plans to use DNA testing on dog waste in a bid to catch owners who allow their pets to soil the pavement.

Councillors sitting on Sundridge with Ide Hill Parish Council in Kent discussed the plans after hearing a string of complaints from locals in the villages.

Villagers living in Sundridge and Ide Hill, about five miles from Sevenoaks, complained inconsiderate pet owners were "ruining the area".

The council plans to collect DNA from waste and use it to prosecute anti-social owners.

Although never before used in the UK, DNA testing on dog mess has been used in Germany and the USA with databases being created for persistent offenders. The mess can be matched to individual dogs.

Waste is matched against samples of fur or saliva taken from dogs.

Owners must give consent for the DNA sample to be taken from their pet, but once they are on the database their behaviour can be logged for their entire lifetime.

Meanwhile, Scottish pet owners who refuse to clean up after their dogs are being targeted by Highland Council.

The local authority has launched a new poster campaign to encourage members of the public to notify it of persistent offenders.

People who do not clean up after their pets can be fined up to £60.

The problem has dogged the council for a number of years. In the past rewards were offered to those who properly cleaned up and disposed of poo.

Last year, the local authority adopted a scheme started in Falkirk, which involves volunteers wearing green wrist bands to show they have pledged to clear up after their dogs.

The volunteers also carry spare bags for other walkers to use.

Britain's shoppers are more likely to buy gifts for their pets than they are for their grandparents this Christmas.

A report by SAS and Verdict found that 15.8% of 10,000 shoppers surveyed said they were buying presents for their pets this year, compared to 14.3% buying for grandparents.

Despite the tough economic climate, consumers are still predicted to spend £86 billion during the festive season, an increase of 1% from last year.

Tech-savvy shoppers are increasingly using their mobile devices and tablets to research and purchase gifts, and retailers offering in-store collection services will triumph over extreme weather conditions.

The huge contribution made by millions of animals in military conflicts was remembered as dogs, horses and even a mule attended a special remembrance service at the Animals in War monument on London ’s Park Lane.

The animals attended the event alongside many of the UK ’s animal welfare and advocacy organisations who laid wreaths in memory and admiration of all the animals that died whilst serving alongside their human allies.

Although the contribution made by animals in war has recently received international recognition with films such as War Horse, The Animals in War monument was only unveiled by HRH the Princess Royal in November 2004, 90 years after the start of World War I.

Trustees of the Animals in War Memorial Fund raised the £2 million needed to build the monument through a national appeal and the consequent generosity of many individual donors, charities and companies.

Eight million horses and donkeys died in the First World War whilst transporting ammunition and supplies to the frontline. Many mules also served courageously on the Western Front and in the overwhelming heat of Burma , Eritrea and Tunisia during World War II.

They were represented today by Polo the Mule alongside The Irish Draught Horse Society (GB), The Donkey Sanctuary, The Horse Trust, The British Mule Society, World Horse Welfare, Redwings Horse Sanctuary, The Household Cavalry, The Brooke and Blue Cross. 



Hundreds of dogs were used to run messages, lay telegraph wires, detect mines, dig out bomb victims and act as patrol dogs.  Many of these bold dogs battled on despite suffering injuries, showing courage beyond belief and loyalty to their handlers.  They were represented by Louie the Labrador alongside Dogs Trust, The Kennel Club, PDSA, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, Blue Cross, RSPCA, Greyhound Rescue, Irish Terriers, NOWZAD and the Retired Greyhound Trus

More than 300,000 pigeons served Britain in the First and Second World War.  They saved thousands of lives by carrying vital messages, over long distances.  These feathered heroes struggled on through all weathers, often injured and exhausted in order to carry the vital messages.  The Royal Pigeon Racing Association paid Tribute today.

Many other animals served bravely throughout the years, including elephants, camels, oxen, bullocks, cats, canaries and even glow worms. The Animals in War Memorial service is organised by Dogs Trust and the Petplan Charitable Trust.  Animals in attendance this year include: three horses from the Household Cavalry led by Captain Rupert Hills, Polo the Mule accompanied by The British Mule Society and chocolate Labrador Louie accompanied by Dogs Trust.

Dogs Trust Chief Executive, Clarissa Baldwin OBE, commented: “The Animals in War Memorial is a fitting tribute to the millions of animals who, through no choice of their own, served bravely alongside our servicemen and woman during military conflicts. Their contribution, whatever their size will be remembered forever with our sincerest thanks.”

The BVA urges vets in practice to read the report which identifies where owners are misinformed or unaware and highlights areas that vets in practice can work on with their clients to help achieve better wellbeing for pets. 

Commenting, Peter Jones, President of the BVA, said: “This is another excellent report from the PDSA offering real insight into clients’ motivations. Understanding what drives owners’ attitudes, as well as helping them to understand key health and welfare issues, should help us to clarify misconceptions in the consulting room and hopefully change behaviour at home.

“On the positive side, with pet obesity ever rising it is good to see that there is a slight increase in the proportion of owners starting to recognise obesity in their pets. This is, no doubt, in part due to the tireless work of charities like the PDSA and the veterinary profession as a whole. 

“Sadly, despite most owners’ awareness of the ill effect that bad nutrition has on their pet this has not led to them cutting out pet treats. The fact that few can identify a healthy body shape shows that much remains to be done.

“The section on preventive healthcare remains worrying with many owners seemingly not believing in the concepts of microchipping, neutering and vaccination. Vets have a real responsibility to help communicate these issues to the pet owning public for the benefit of both clients and their animals.

“The report very clearly identifies where owners are misinformed or unaware and highlights areas that vets in practice can work on with their clients to help achieve better wellbeing for pets. 

Verm-X for Poultry, Ducks & Fowl, the number one product in the world for the natural protection and intestinal control in poultry, is a powerful and effective blend of high quality herbs that also help to improve the general good health of all birds.

Available all the year round through over 2,500 retail outlets, Verm-X is manufactured in a state-of-the-art pelleting facility, which is one of the only low temperature specialised plants in the UK.

Poultry owners can choose between pelleted or liquid formulations to suit management routines. Both forms are equally effective and there is no waste as one can eat the eggs that are produced whilst Verm-X is being fed.

The packaging carries a ‘Veterinary Approved’ logo and an acknowledgement of the Veterinary Medicine Directorate's (VMD) acceptance to the marketing of Verm-X which differentiates it from the illegal marketing of any unlicensed products in the market place. Verm-X is also registered for use on organic holdings.

For any further information or to place an order contact Verm-X on 0870 850 2313 or visit www.verm-x.com

The aptly-named CatWalk Pets & Aquatics store in Essex was the unlikely setting for a glamorous fashion shoot at the weekend.

Women’s clothing label Lashes of London chose Catwalk in High Street, Barkingside, Ilford, as the setting for next year’s spring/summer collection.

Models posed with rabbits plus some of the shop’s more unusual residents, including chickens.

Fashion director Nicole Levy said she knew the shop because she lived in the area. “It wasn’t very logical, it’s just something I thought would be really fun and different.”

Catwalk Pets stocks all sorts of animals, including exotic lizards and even bats.

Owner Shazia Dar said: “A fashion shoot isn’t what you expect but it’s fantastic. I think they all ended up buying something, it was a fun day. It’s brilliant to introduce animals to fashion.”

A father's bet with his children backfired after a picture of them holding up a sign pleading for a cat received over 117,000 'likes' on Facebook.

American Dan Urbano underestimated the powerful combination of the internet and cats when he bet his young children their appeal couldn’t get anywhere near 1,000 hits on the social network.

He promised seven-year-old son Remi and his one-year-old sister, Evelyn, that if they achieved the magical figure he would treat them to a new feline companion.

Posing with a whiteboard message, the kids uploaded a picture on their mother Marisa's Facebook page which quickly took the internet by storm.

It read: 'Hey FACEBOOK! My sister & I REALLY want a CAT! My Papa PROMISES we can get one if we can get 1000 LIKES! PLEASE like this picture! Thank you.'

The  photo become so popular on Facebook that it eventually received over 117,000 likes.

And father Dan honoured the bet when the family picked up a new pet from a local animal shelter near their home in Boston. 

They named the cat Hairietta L. Pawturr, with the 'L' representing the 'likes' the picture received on Facebook.