•             Brits spend almost £500 annually on luxury items such as toys and special treats for their pets

•             Gen-Z (18-24) are spending over twice as much on luxury pet items than those over 55

•             Just over a third (35%) of Brits are more willing to purchase therapy for their pet than themselves

Latest data into pet owners’ outlook on costs and care for pets shows over seven in 10 (71%) Brits are willing to spend more on their pet than themselves.

The new research from MoneySuperMarket analysed pet owners’ attitudes towards financing their furry friends, revealing Brits spend an average of almost £500 on luxury items each year.

Pampering pets is much higher on the agenda for younger age groups. Those aged 18-24 are spending more than double on their pets than over 55s, shelling out an average of £759 and £308 respectively on luxury pet products each year.

Concern over pet welfare is also on pet owners’ minds, especially with more people returning to offices. Just over one in three (34%) owners are concerned that their return to work will have an impact on their pets’ anxiety. As a result, over a third (35%) are more willing to purchase therapy for their beloved animals than themselves.

Even though owners are worried about their pets’ mental health, over a quarter (26%) can’t afford therapy for their pets. Similarly, other pet costs are proving to be too expensive, with nearly three in 10 (28%) saying they are struggling to afford pet insurance and two in 10 (17%) even willing to risk not purchasing pet insurance to save money.

The costs of keeping their pet healthy and happy do not cross the mind of nearly a third (31%) of pet owners, which may be why dog owners are making extravagant purchases for their pooches, including 17% giving their furry friend a sweet treat of dog ice cream. Just over a quarter (26%) of 18-24-year-olds have also introduced their pet to technology with an intercom camera, and 14% give their pet CBD supplements.

Further data shows it’s not just dog owners that are splashing the cash on their pets. 10% of cat owners purchase Meowijuana (ground catnip) and half of Brits (51%) spend hundreds of pounds on cat play towers. Vegan diets are gaining traction too, as over one in 20 (6%) purchase vegan cat food.

Pet owners have also had their say on which dogs and cats are most sought-after, with 19% making Labrador’s a priority and 18% revealing their love for British Shorthair cats.

Alex Jones, pet insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, commented: “With 35% of pet owners willing to spend more on pet therapy than on themselves, it’s clear that we are a nation that really cares about the wellbeing of our pets, but the costs can add up.

“Our research into pet owners has showed us that many are struggling to keep up with the financial demands that pets can incur, with pet accessories often racking up big bills. Pet insurance was regularly seen as something that could be cut out in order to save money, when in reality this could lead to hefty costs in the future.

“There are great savings to be made on pet insurance policies, which can help owners balance their pets' needs with their own budgets. By comparing and saving on the MoneySuperMarket website, Britain’s pet owners can find the perfect policy for them.”

Find out more about pet insurance via the MoneySuperMarket website.

The Barking Bakery has hit the headlines in the Daily Mirror with the national newspaper reporting on the company's rapid growth.

The  daily publication even labelled it an exclusive with Michelle Turnbull, owner of the business, headlining the story: 'Dragon's Den rejected me but dogs love my cakes - even humans eat them'.

The newspaper report continued: “Getting turned down from investors on Dragon's Den didn't stop Michelle Turnbull, from Blackpool, turning her dog cake business, The Barking Bakery, into a huge success - she's even baked for Real Housewives of Cheshire pooches.”

Cheryl Parry, head of marketing at The Barking Bakery, said: “We are 'supaw' grateful to feature in the Daily Mirror. The positive feedback and exposure that we gain from these articles is so appreciated and we love that others recognise how fabulous The Barking Bakery is.”   

The Barking Bakery has just completed a successful two days at PATS Sandown where lots of interest was shown in the company’s range of products and services.

Cheryl added: “We took a much larger stand this year and it has paid off big time. The response has been incredible. If I had to describe how I feel about the show in one word it would be WOW.”

The full Daily Mirror story can be read here

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/dragons-den-rejected-dogs-love-26586226

PATS Sandown has proved itself yet again to be the UK’s No.1 Spring pet industry exhibition with suppliers and buyers agreeing the show had been a huge success.

With more than 130 companies and brands exhibiting their vast ranges, there was plenty for visitors to see and talk about during two days of non-stop activity.

As PATS celebrated its 25^th show, exhibitors were quick to give their approval of this year’s event.

“Without exception PATS is the most important pet trade event in the UK. It’s the ideal show to forge and build relationships within the industry,” said Will Baggaley, international sales and marketing director at Earth Animal.

And Jonothan Goodman, director of In Vogue Pets, commented: “We’re thrilled to bits with the response we’ve had at PATS Sandown. There are four of us on the stand and we’ve been kept busy throughout the show. We had a fantastic event when Sandown was last held but I have to admit this one has been even better with record numbers of inquiries and orders.”

Liane Avery, operations manager of Pet Trade Innovations, said: “It has been a great show. In fact, we were that busy we ran out of show offers on the first day.”

Meanwhile, Doreen Werner, sales and marketing manager of German company Mealberry, welcomed the chance to exhibit at PATS Sandown after a two-year break caused by the pandemic. “It’s wonderful to be here following all the travel restrictions. We were thrilled to win a New Product Award on our return to international events, and it has created a lot of interest from both new and existing customers.”

PATS Sandown celebrated its 25^th show at a special drinks reception, sponsored by pbwnews, after the first day. The event also marked the 50^th anniversary of loyal exhibitor Pedigree Wholesale.

Pedigree Wholesale managing director Gerard O’Mahony said: “It’s wonderful to celebrate our milestone alongside PATS. We’ve had a great relationship with the exhibition over the years and it’s great to see it go from strength to strength.”

The first company to book a stand at the opening PATS Sandown exhibition back in 2009 was Inspired Pet Nutrition (IPN) and sales director Ben Anderson commented: “I have attended all the shows and have enjoyed everyone. I feel honoured and privileged to have been a part of the PATS success story and look forward to the next 25 shows.”

Much of PATS Sandown’s success is down to the fact it provides the perfect platform for retailers and buyers to see, feel and touch all the latest new products under one roof.

The year’s show was no exception as visitors gave it the thumbs up. Carol Bishop, manager at Willowbrook Pet Supplies in Somerset, said: “A trip to PATS is always worthwhile as it enables us to see the new trends and new products at first hand. I’ve seen some great ranges which we’ll be stocking in the next few months.”

Danielle Sargent, retail manager for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, added: “PATS is a great place to source products for our three retail outlets and online business. We’ve been spoiled for choice as there has been lots to see this year.”

Pet buyers from garden centres also heaped praise on the exhibition. Chris Brown, of Garsons, said: “This is our one-stop place for buying pet products for our garden centre. It’s the best place for picking up new supplies.” It was a similar story for Longacres Garden Centre, whose pet services manager Barbara Nottage added: ‘I love the relaxed and welcoming atmosphere of the show. It’s well laid-out, making it easy to source new products. We wouldn’t miss it.”

This year’s show also welcomed back international buyers following the easing of travel restrictions. Rob James, of Petwork Marketing, sources UK-manufactured products for a network of 50 stores across Spain, and he attended the show with partner Mireia Sabate de Val, who owns Princeps de Casa pet store in central Barcelona.

“It’s essential that we come to PATS because it is a great place to find products that haven’t been seen in mainland Europe,” said Rob. “The range of products on show has been of the highest quality. Without doubt it has been the best PATS Sandown yet.”

Date for the diary

PATS Telford: 25th-26th September 2022

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

Gallery of pictures below...

There was a welcome visitor on the Danish Design stand at PATS Sandown where the company showcased its new range of Battersea dog beds.

Rescue dog Reggie visited the show with owner Alice Hunt, a Battersea volunteer, to test out the beds.

“He certainly gave the range the paws-up,” said Alice.

A percentage of all sales of the beds is being donated to the charity.

WHM Pet Group, whose brands include Marriage's Feed and Honeyfield's, brought some added colour and variety to PATS Sandown with its Country Fair theme.

The Country Fair featured traditional favourites, including fun games, competitions, and even farmyard animals. As well as some lighthearted fun, some serious subjects were addressed by the WHM Pet ‘Woodstock Warriors’ who were promoting sustainability.

Country Fair Highlights

WHM Pets’ brands were at the centre of all the buzz at the Fair, with ‘Best in Show’ recommendations featured throughout the two days. The team also be educated visitors about all things small animals and how the Marriage’s Feed brand could help across many categories with its Poultry, Organics, Smallholding, Racing Pigeon and Small Animal feeds.

Wild bird care brands RSPB, Berry Ingredients and Honeyfield’s were also showcased. Honeyfield’s is a brand committed to innovation and this includes how the product is packaged. In 2021, it became the first wild bird care brand in the UK to use biodegradable and fully recycled plastic in their packaging. 

There were new products on offer at the Fair, such as the new Honeyfield’s 50 Fat Ball Box. These fat balls have no nasty fillers, have wholesome natural ingredients, and added seed for improved palatability. The packaging also follows suit with its cardboard packaging being 100% recyclable and 100% biodegradable.

There was a ‘Fat Ball Shy’ where the quality of fat balls was put to the test. Honeyfield’s fat balls have a softer texture due to the natural ingredients, whereas other fat ball brands can be harder due to unnatural fillers and limestone. Visitors could see which fat balls in the market were unfortunately capable of knocking down the coconuts due to their hardness!

Other games on offer included ‘Ring Toss’ for a chance to win bags of food and ‘Hook-a-Duck’ to win the best in local wines and easter treats! 

For more information about WHM Pet email sales-support@marriagesmillers.co.uk or call 01430 875853.

Television celebrity Diane Morgan has given start-up pet brand Karnlea her seal of approval after the Belfast company gifted her a case of its nutritious Bone Broth for her rescue dog Bobby.

The toy poodle – stage name, Robert Bovril Morgan – loved the beefy supplement which is made from 100 per cent natural products and has high levels of protein, collagen and minerals.

Karnlea’s owners, husband and wife team Lara and Ken McCullough were thrilled when they heard back from the comedy actress who features in TV favourites After Life, Motherland and Mandy.

She told them that the product was just what she had been looking for:

“Bobby is ten now so I'm always looking for something to keep his joints supple, and he LOVES this!!!,” she told them in a thank you note, accompanied by photos of her with Bobby.

The couple contacted Diane after seeing an interview with her in Your Dog Magazine in which she talked about adopting Bobby through the Blue Cross charity and how she loves sharing her life with him.

Said Lara: “We were delighted when we saw the article as we have been big fans of Diane’s since she first appeared as Philomena Cunk on Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe. We approached her to ask if she would like a case sent for Bobby and she replied to say it was just what she was looking for.”

“It was lovely that she took the time to thank us in this way. We are so pleased that Bobby enjoyed Karnlea Beef Bone Broth. It's so good for joints and bone health, and easy to digest, so ideal for older dogs.”

Karnlea recently launched the UK’s first ‘ambient’ liquid bone and a new flavour variant is planned for later this year. Although the brand is new, Lara and Ken are not newcomers to the pet industry having previously run other successful pet businesses over the past 15 years.

Karnlea Beef Bone Broth is sold through independent retailers and its website: www.karnlea.com

Premium raw pet food company Bella & Duke has opened the UK’s most pet friendly office as work life returns to normal with the addition of some four-legged team members.

New survey data found nearly 80% of office workers in the UK are currently unable to take their new pet to work due to it not having the adequate facilities, which is costing over a third of Brits (39%) on average £100 per week equating to over £5,000 annually on pet day-care. 

Six in ten Brits said if offices across the UK were more pet friendly, they would take their cat or dog into work with them rather than leave at home or put into pet day-care. Over half (51%) of pet owners said they would request to work from home to be able to look after a pet, and nearly a quarter (22%) of pet owners would consider looking for a new job that allows pets in the office highlighting the importance of pet wellbeing to their loving owners.

A collaborative effort between pet experts at Bella & Duke and the build and design team at Space Solutions, has seen the creation of what is believed to be the UK’s most pet friendly office.

A number of benefits, services and facilities have been implemented to improve employee welfare as well as their four legged companions, including:

• Full-time Pet & People ‘Park Ranger’ to offer pet support ensuring that the needs of office pets as well as visiting pets are being met
• Bella & Duke’s in-house expert behaviorist, Caroline Spencer, who’s there to ensure pets are at their happiest when in the office. There will also be the opportunity for employees to learn from Caroline and improve knowledge of dog body language and behaviour
• Inbuilt kennels for a pet safe and cosy space to relax
• Designated picket fence pet sensory garden 
• Agility courses and fun interactive areas for pets to blow off steam, learn new tricks and bond with their owners  
• Pet friendly decor and design, with specific plants and flowers such as areca palms, banana plants and aspidistra. As well as a selection of pet friendly herbs in the pet sensory garden
• Calming sprays 
• Toys, snuffle mats and other enrichment
• Library books where pet owners can educate themselves on how to look after your pet

Working with pets at home during lockdown provided a number of benefits which would be equally welcomed into office working space;

The top five ways Brits found having a cat or dog helped owners during lockdown included:

• Helping with mental health (59%)
• Made working from home less lonely (52%)
• Gave me a reason to take a break to play/go for a walk (44%)
• Gave me a routine to stick to (41%)
• Was a good way to build exercise into my daily routine (40%)

Mark Scott, CEO of Bella & Duke, said: “Our pets have always been right by us, even more so during lockdown, so we felt it was time we did right by them. We hear of companies talking about being pet friendly, but with pet wellbeing at the core of what our company does, we wanted to take it one step further and create THE UK’s most pet friendly office. 

“Bella & Duke has over 130 employees with over 60 pets between them from cats and dogs to ferrets and snakes, so we had to make sure our new office space was adaptable to meet our employee needs as well as their companions.

“It’s our mission to help pets live a happier life, so we encourage more businesses to think about their pet friendly office and work policies to enjoy the benefits four-legged employees can bring.” 

Research helped inform the key design aspects to ensure a pet friendly office, with Brits revealing the the top five ways in which they would like their office to be more pet friendly:

• Designated areas for pets such as a cattery or kennels 33%
• Pet insurance (25%)
• Pawternity (paid leave after getting a pet) (23%)
• Treats and calming spray available throughout (23%)
• Ensure pet friendly plants and flowers (22%)

In terms of the benefits having pets in the office could bring, 43% of Brits agree having a cat or dog in the office would boost team morale, over 30% believe people work better with a cat or dog in the office and 36% agree it’s also better for the pets wellbeing to accompany their owner to work.

Dr Brendan Clarke, Chief Veterinary Consultant for Bella & Duke, said: “The need for acknowledging and supporting mental wellbeing for both pets and people is of utmost importance for Bella & Duke. Our relationships with our pets play a vital role in wellbeing in today’s world and being able to have our pets accompany us to work plays a key part in that. The new office from Bella & Duke creates a relaxed environment for both pets and people, with safe and comfortable spaces for pets to relax. Bella & Duke are constantly striving to improve the space and listening to comments from the experts they work with to build on the fantastic office they have already created for staff and their four-legged friends.”

Jim Mathieson, Group Managing Director at Space Solutions, said: “Our Design & Build team worked closely with Bella & Duke to create a workplace with health and wellbeing at its heart. This project was all about the employee and pet experience and focused on creating a unique and interactive space which goes beyond the conventions of a typical office environment. We were proud to work alongside this hugely passionate company and to have the opportunity to be part of creating the UK’s most pet friendly office.”

The UK regions which saw the biggest rise in cat/dog owners and where offices might want to consider adapting their offices to accommodate this include:

• Wales (51%)
• West Midlands (44%)
• East of England (38%)

A Manchester business which regularly welcomes dogs into the office invited a top canine first aid expert to show staff what to do in an emergency.

Well-known doggy brand Yappy.com, which sells a whole range of fun personalised products featuring the customers' canine friends, invited Rachel Bean RVN to give a demonstration in canine first aid this week.

Being a dog-focused business, all of the staff at Yappy.com love dogs, and out of the 33 employees that work there, 17 like to bring their dogs to work into their South Manchester-based offices on a rolling rota basis.

And while every effort is already made to make the pups welcome and safe at the lush offices, the company recognised that it was vital to know what to do if the worst should happen.

Qualified veterinary nurse Rachel, who showed staff key skills such as life-saving CPR and bandaging, said: "It was wonderful to go along to meet the yappy.com staff and it was clear how much they all love dogs.

"Bringing your dog to work is a wonderful perk of working for employers like yappy.com, and it's wonderful to see how responsible they are being, by getting skilled up in canine first aid.

"There are lots of everyday hazards wherever you go, but having these skills gives you the confidence to act fast and save a life should the worst happen."

Rachel is an ambassador for the RSPCA-backed Safe Pets and People campaign, a national petition and lobbying effort which is led by national qualification provider the iPET Network.

The campaign is calling for mandatory first aid qualifications for all UK pet professionals, who currently do not by law need to know what to do in an emergency.

And Rachel believes that the more people who know canine first aid, the safer the nation's dogs will be.

She added: "It is essential that the rules change to make sure that pet professionals have these skills, and I don't think that many people realise that their dog walker, groomer or pet sitter actually might not know what to do.

"And more widely, the more people that know these skills the better, particularly now that many workplaces have become more dog friendly following the pandemic puppy boom and the return to working from the office."

Alison Parsons, PR Manager at yappy.com added: “Our team’s dogs are a huge part of the Yappy family and we love having them in the office as much as possible.

 "As a pet-centric business, we’re always looking to ensure that it’s as much fun for the dogs too and that their welfare is a priority in our office environment. 

"The opportunity to learn Canine First Aid was very much welcomed by our dog crazy team and everyone came away from the session feeling much more confident that they would know how to deal with an emergency situation involving their dog, should they ever get into difficulties either at the office or at home.”

To find out more about Rachel Bean go to www.rachelbean.co.uk

To find out more about Safe Pets and People and sign the petition go to www.safepetsandpeople.org

Sophia Hutchinson, from Warwickshire has been awarded the prestigious title of Internation PhoTOGrapher of the Year in the 2022 TOG Awards photography competition, taking home the $500 cash prize for her photograph of Amber, a Dalmatian.

The TOG Awards is an international photography competition organised and administrated by That Photography Spot, whose community follow multi-award-winning portrait photographer Jessica McGovern. The TOG Awards runs annually and in 2022 garnered over 650 entries from 24 different countries worldwide. From these entries, Sophia Hutchinson achieved the overall title with the highest average score given by three highly acclaimed photographers.

The judges, Jessica McGovern along with Meg Loeks from the USA and Tracey Lund from the UK all worked on the entries throughout February to allocate scores for each image in a matrix system that outputted averages to decide the winner. As well as the overall prize, there were also three categories and seven subcategories up for grabs.

Jessica explained, “to achieve one of the top scores in The TOG Awards is a serious achievement, but to gain the highest collated score across nearly 700 entries is remarkable. We can only see great things to come for Ms Hutchinson, whose imagery was truly stunning.”

“The TOG Awards exist to find and celebrate talent within the photographic community, from all walks of life, no matter the subject matter or professional focus. We had a strict rule when judging to not cast bias for, or against, any specific style of work, yet still meet the criteria seen in international print competitions. I’m really pleased that we have done just that.”

That Photography Spot is an online photographic learning platform with a popular YouTube channel focussing on pet photography, so the number of entries including animals in The TOG Awards was not a surprise. The next cycle of The TOG Awards opens in November 2022 and aims to meet and exceed all targets achieved this year, including the grand prize pot.

To find out more about The TOG Awards visit https://awards.thattogspot.com or to view Sophia Hutchinson’s work, you can find her website here: https://petsbysophia.com/.

Natures Menu has won a Cat Food and Treats New Product Award for its Especially For Cats 12 multipack range, at the PATS 25th annual industry-leading event in Sandown.

Guideline criteria for the judging included such as product innovation, design, quality, packaging, value for money and sustainability.

The winners of the awards were chosen by a team of independent pet retailers, who say the product showcase had produced a high caliber of entries with a tremendous amount of innovation. They were pleased to see such a wide range of products in all of the eight categories.

Natures Menu attended Sandown PATS to debut the newcomers to their Country Hunter puppy range, and their Especially for Cats range.  The raw pet food leaders also highlighted their sustainability drive, aiming for all Natures Menu products to be in recyclable packaging by 2024.

The recently launched Especially for Cats food range has proven to be very popular within feline feeding for its easy-open and sustainable can packaging; it recently moved from pouches to recyclable cans to help cat owners dispose of packaging responsibly.

James Langan, Natures Menu Managing Director, said : “We are honoured to have won a PATS new product award for our Especially for Cat multipacks. Our entire team work hard to provide our customers with the best quality services and products - it is great to see our hard work being rewarded with this great accolade.”

BETA International is set to be a must-visit event for retailers and buyers as the equestrian industry’s leading companies show their commitment to the exhibition on 11-13 September 2022.

Bookings for the showpiece at NAEC Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, are impressive with 75% of last year’s stand space already sold as many industry-leading exhibitors show their commitment to the event.

Companies who have already booked their stand at BETA International 2022 include: Abbey England, Bliss of London and Cavaletti Saddles, Charles Owen & Airowear, Elico Equestrian/Jenkinsons, Equilibrium Products, ETN, LeMieux, Mackey Equestrian, NAF, Neue Schule, Shaws Equestrian, Shires Equestrian, Silvermoor, The Original Muck Boot Company, TopSpec Equine, Vale Brothers, Waldhausen, Westgate, Science Supplements and Woof Wear.

BETA International, sponsored by bit and bitting specialist Neue Schule, will be organised for the first time by Impact Exhibitions & Events, who also stage the UK’s pet and aquatic industry events, PATS and AQUA.

“There are some exciting plans to make the 2022 exhibition an unmissable event in the equestrian industry calendar,” said organiser Gordon Thomas.

“Companies are booking their stands for the September show and it’s wonderful to be holding it at such a lovely venue as NAEC Stoneleigh, which the equestrian market know and love.”

Sarfraz Mian, CEO of main sponsors Neue Schule, commented: “As activities open up and international travel becomes easier after the pandemic lockdown restrictions, we look forward to welcoming our customers from the UK, across Europe and beyond, back to BETA International. We’ve missed them and their return will be a real boost for this year’s show, giving it a truly international dimension. Currently, there’s a huge amount of enthusiasm for equestrian activities and this can only be good for the industry. It points towards it being a highly successful BETA International for all concerned.”

One of the first major changes for 2022 is the event reverting back to its popular show days of Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, after being held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday in 2021.

But many of the key features, including the New Product Gallery and a full seminar programme, will return as the show promises to deliver three action-packed exhibition days. 

The importance of BETA International was summed up by HKM Sports Equipment (UK) Ltd, who have already booked its stand. Director Laura Parry said: “It’s one of the highlights of the year for us. It presents the opportunity to showcase our products and new collections and gives our customers the chance to make their forward orders for the upcoming seasons.  It is also a perfect opportunity for us to meet new potential customers.”

These comments were echoed by Grant Hadwin, Citrus-Lime’s Head of Sales and Supplier Partnership, who commented: “BETA International is arguably the most important show in the equestrian calendar. We’ve doubled our number of equine customers and we’re working with even more brands and suppliers to improve our service. We wouldn’t be anywhere else in September.”

Barbara Huddart, Head of Marketing at BEDMAX, said the company was looking forward to exhibiting again this year. “BETA International provides a platform for us to meet our existing customers, to introduce ourselves to potential new customers and for open discussion with others within the industry.”

Silvermoor has attended BETA International for several years, and Head of Marketing Annabel Frater revealed: “In our opinion it is the number one equestrian trade event. From networking with industry stalwarts to showcasing our latest products to the right audience, BETA International gets it right year after year."

And Paul Jeffery, of Saddlery Trade Services, said: “BETA International gives smaller companies like STS Walsall a chance to network with our customers and demonstrate our new products. It also gives us a chance to meet new clients and build lasting relationships.”

Retailers and buyers wishing to register for free entry to BETA International should visit www.beta-int.com where a full list of exhibitors can also be found.

To find out more about exhibiting at BETA International, contact Fiona Dagger at Impact Exhibitions & Events on 01892 862848 or email fiona.dagger@impact-exhibitions.com.

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Pets At Home has withdrawn three popular dog leads from all shops in the UK and Ireland after a dog died in a tragic accident, according to a report on the Belfast Live website.

Archie the Beagle-Harrier was being walked when the clip securing his harness to the KONG-branded lead snapped open without warning, leaving him unsecured. He consequently stepped in front of a van and was killed outright.

His heartbroken family, Joanne McPoland and Ed Hughes from Dunmurry, Belfast, had bought the lead just 48 hours earlier.

Pets at Home were contacted by the couple immediately after the incident and within hours the product range had been removed from shelves. And the cost of the lead, £18.99, was refunded to the couple.

The firm behind the lead is California-based Mission Pets Inc, who license it to KONG.  Mission Pets told Belfast Live a product recall was triggered as soon as they heard about the fatal accident.

Michelle Elliott, president of Mission Pets, said: “Product safety is a top concern. We are in direct contact with the parties involved to gather all the facts and circumstances.

"Our engineers would like to see the product that failed. Once we understand the situation better, then we will work quickly towards resolution.”

A spokesperson for Pets At Home, told Belfast Live: “We were devastated to hear about what happened to Archie and our hearts go out to Ms McPoland and Mr Hughes at this very difficult time.

“We take safety concerns of this nature very seriously and are removing from sale three Kong products that use this carabiner clip, including the Rope Dog Lead, whilst we work with Kong to understand what happened.”

And a spokesperson for KONG said: “We at KONG are heartbroken and working closely with our partners at Mission Pets to thoroughly understand the situation that occurred.”

The full Belfast Live story can be read by clicking here

Picture of lead taken by Joanne McPoland and Ed Hughes.

Beaphar has announced the appointment of John Toole as UK Country Manager and Jane Austin as UK Sales Manager following an internal promotion.

The appointments follow the retirement of both Sue Huggett , UK Business Manager and Roland Huggett,  UK Sales Manager, who have been leading the team for almost 30 years. 

John Toole, UK Country Manager 

John joins the team with over 20 years of commercial experience within the animal health industry having worked in both veterinary and retail sectors, in senior marketing and commercial roles. His extensive experience in companion animal parasiticides includes the POM to OTC switch of Frontline® and most recently helping Vetoquinol develop their retail business following the acquisition of Drontal®. 

John said: “I am delighted to be joining the team. Beaphar has been extremely successful in bringing a vast range of innovative healthcare products to the retail market across many species. I look forward to continuing the exciting journey the company has been on with our retail partners”.

Jane Austin, UK Sales Manager 

Jane is promoted to UK Sales Manager after almost 28 years in the business.  Jane has held a variety of roles since joining Beaphar UK as one of the first employees to the business.  Since then, Jane’s roles have included: Regional Sales Executive, Training Manager as well as her previous role of Field Sales Manager which she has held for the last 10 years. 

“I am looking forward to the new challenge in a company that I have been proud to have been part of the growth team, since its inception,” commented Jane.  “And I look forward to enhancing the growth even further in my new role.” 

Beaphar would like to take this opportunity in thanking Sue and Roland for their dedication and hard work over the last 28 years and for helping make Beaphar UK the business that it is today. 

For more information on stocking Beaphar products, please contact your Beaphar Sales Executive, or our customer service team, who can be contacted on 0333 006 6236. 

The first Don’t Walk Your Dog Day is taking place on Saturday 2nd April to raise awareness about how not all dogs thrive on daily walks.

Created by dog trainer Niki French from Pup Talk, the day aims to show dog lovers that there are many different ways to give your dog brilliant mental and physical stimulation instead of taking them for a walk. 

Pet professionals, pet brands and dog guardians/owners can show their support by sharing posts using the #dontwalkyourdogday hashtag. They can share their experiences of walks where their dog has struggled and what they like doing other than going for a traditional walk.

There are many situations when it would be helpful to know what else to do with your dog other than taking them for a walk. Here are just a few reasons to skip a walk:

• A nervous, anxious, reactive dog, constant exposure to stress makes things worse.
• Weather that is too hot or too cold, perhaps even dangerous for our dogs.
• Over-excitable dogs that just get more excited with too much stimulation.
• A dog with reduced mobility, that is ill or recovering from surgery.
• A guardian/owner that is mentally or physically injured or unwell, with no one that can take their dog out for them.
• A bitch in season or a pre-vaccinated new puppy.

Playing games at home is a great way to build skills our dogs need and boost our relationship with them.

Niki explained: “The #dontwalkyourdogday is about highlighting that not all dogs thrive on one or more walks a day.

“A growing number of my clients had nervous or reactive dogs and I was showing them all the amazing activities you can do at home to help dogs grow the skills they’re lacking to be happy on walks.

“Skipping some walks can help both dogs and owners alike destress. When 50% or more of walks are stressful, it’s time to do something different. Replacing walk time with playing training games at home can give the dogs the skills they’re missing to live calm and happy lives in the modern, busy world.

“My own dog is a young Collie Cross and he is noticeably calmer with fewer walks and more training games at home.

“The day is about raising awareness of all of the times when replacing a dog’s walk with another activity is a positive thing to do.”

To join in, anyone can use the #dontwalkyourdogday hashtag on social media, and you can find out more at https://go.puptalk.co.uk/awareness-day/.

Niki French is the author of Amazon #1 best seller STOP Walking Your Dog and also hosts Pup Talk The Podcast. Niki is 53 and lives in Twickenham, Middlesex with her boyfriend and Battersea rescue dog Bodie.

For more information contact Niki on info@puptalk.co.uk or tel: 07770 581882

A national shortage of qualified cat groomers has led industry leaders to call for more dog grooming salons to add it to their business offer.

iPET Network recently launched the UK's first portfolio of Ofqual regulated cat grooming qualifications, and say that with a little training the skill could be a lucrative add-on for existing businesses.

Nationally since the start of the pandemic 3.2million households brought home a pet of some kind. And many feline coat types need regular maintenance to keep them from having welfare issues.

People looking to diversify their dog grooming business to offer a service for cats are being asked to consider doing just that, as a way to alleviate what industry leaders are saying could be a national animal welfare problem.

Fern Gresty, co-director the iPET Network said: "With more pets cats than ever in the UK due to a pandemic surge in pet ownership we are looking at a shortage in qualified cat groomers.

"This is bad for cats, as unlike dogs, many don't present at the groomers until they actually have a welfare issue such as matting. Owners assume that cats groom themselves and to a certain extent they do, but care must be taken to ensure that there is regular coat maintenance and that things don't get out of hand.

"There has never been a better time to consider expanding an existing grooming offer to include cat grooming, and our qualification are suited to first time groomers and experienced groomers alike."

As a result of the pandemic many people are considering a complete change of career and working with animals in a flexible way is an attractive option.

It is also fun, and there are lots of ways to excel in this exciting industry, be it taking part in competitions and events, to simply creating your own brand and watching it soar.

iPET Network co-director Sarah Mackay added: "Cats are very different to dogs in both physiology and temperament, so training is required, but the skill is a very rewarding addition to your grooming career and cats are not a scary as you think.

"For new starters too, knowing that you are joining a growth industry when starting your own business really is a winning formula, and what could be better than caring for beautiful cats as your day job!"

iPET Network has put together a definitive guide for anyone wishing to learn more about a career in cat grooming.

To find out more click here

The winners of the PATS Sandown 2022 New Product Awards, sponsored by pbwnews, were chosen by a team of independent pet retailers, who arrived at the show before 9.30am on Sunday, March 27th, in order to make their choices from more than 200 new products entered.

Their decisions took into account a number of guideline criteria such as product innovation, design, quality, packaging, value for money and sustainability.

The judges agreed that the New Product Showcase had produced a high calibre of entries with a tremendous amount of innovation. They were pleased to see such a wide range of products in the eight categories

The Awards were presented to the winners at 1pm on Sunday by David Rees, editor of pbwnews, and show organiser Gordon Thomas.

Here is a full list of the winners together with the judges’ comments:

PATS Sandown 2022

New Product Award Winners (sponsored by pbwnews)

Cat Food and Products

Natures Menu Especially for Cats Multipack

Natures Menu (stand F14)

Judges said: “This product contains fabulous ingredients from a popular and well-known brand. It’s ideal for those owners wanting to feed their cats with high quality food. It’s also reasonably priced.”

Dog Food Products

Carnilove True Fresh – Turkey, Beef or Fish Dry Food

Carnilove (stand N14)

Judges said: “It’s a great to see a potato-free dog food with excellent ingredients. This product comes in attractive packaging at a good price point.”

Dog Treat Products

Dog Treat Baking Kits

The Doggy Baking Co (stand A5)

Judges said: “This range of products is a great new idea within the pet industry.  It’s innovative, unique, easy to use and tasty. Dogs will just love it. The product also looks fantastic and will fly off the shelves.”

Dog Accessories and Toys

LickiMat UFO

Sharples Pet (stand G7/G4)

Judges said: “This is a great addition to an excellent range. The introduction of suction cups will make the product stick to any surface and is a very clever idea.”

Dog Harnesses, Leads and Clothing

Friday Collective Corduroy

EzyDog UK (stand L4)

Judges said: “A good looking product at a great price. It’s attractive as well as being tough and durable. Extremely practical, it also has a focus on style and fashion.”

Small Animal and Bird Products

Little One Starter Set

Mealberry (stand E9)

Judges said: “At a good price with attractive packaging, this product is a good starter pack for new and junior pet owners. It’s an excellent and well-rounded addition to the small animal market.”

Pet Care Products

Natural Calming Puppy Hamper

Pet Remedy (stand K5)

Judges said: “This is a great product for helping to settle and train a new puppy. It allows the owner and puppy to bond quickly. It’s a fabulous product.”

Grooming Products

Hemp Shampoo for Pets

Voyager (stand A6)

Judges said: “This is a completely different product from others on the market, giving it a unique selling point. It’s also eco-friendly and sustainable.”

A new company called Good Dog Food has been launched in a bid to develop a novel range of healthy, eco-friendly pet food products made by using cultivated meat.

Good Dog Food is an exclusive venture between Roslin Technologies and Agronomics, focusing on pet food. Roslin Technologies is partially owned by the University of Edinburgh and has preferential rights to IP from the Roslin Institute, famous for Dolly the sheep, the world's first cloned adult mammal.

Meat provides essential nutrients for companion animals but when produced from livestock or fish, it is a major driver of climate change and often results in the over-exploitation of natural resources. 

Good Dog Food believes that many pet owners are looking for more sustainable alternatives and cultivated meat can provide a healthy, ethical, and sustainable source of meat for their pet's food. Cultivated meat is grown from cells without the need to raise and slaughter animals and has the potential to have a significantly lower environmental impact.

Roslin Technologies brings to the venture its world-leading animal cell line technology, including its pluripotent stem cells that continuously self-renew – ideal for cultivated meat production. In addition, Roslin Technologies' privileged relationship with the University of Edinburgh provides the venture with access to leading animal science and world-class research facilities and capabilities.

Agronomics brings a network of passionate investors and cultivated meat experts that will provide the expertise to build the venture. Led by CEO, Owen Ensor, Good Dog Food will focus on the development, registration, and product launch of healthy, eco-friendly cultivated meat pet food products. This will reduce the use of live animals and can considerably reduce the environmental footprint of pet food.

Screenshot taken from Agronomics website.

Jim Mellon, executive director of Agronomics and chairman of Good Dog Food said: "An untapped sector of the agricultural market is the production of pet food via cellular agriculture. We are delighted to be able to announce our first joint venture in the cultivated meat field, to focus on the production of cultivated pet food.

“As a dog owner I have been looking for high-quality meat alternatives to provide to my dogs. Good Dog Food will do exactly that. It is even more exciting to know that Good Dog Food may accelerate the introduction of cultivated meat to the broader public."

Ernst van Orsouw, Roslin Technologies' CEO, added: "We are very pleased to be launching this exclusive venture with Agronomics. Combining our joint passion for a more sustainable world and our unique complementary expertise will allow Good Dog Food to become the global leader in cultivated meat-based pet food products and make a positive impact on the food chain."

Just for Pets, voted UK Pet Retailer of the Year in the 2021 PetQuip Awards, has opened its 21^st store in the Oxfordshire market town of Witney.

The new store is located at the former H&M site at the Woolgate Centre, and follows the opening of Just for Pets’ 20^th store at Leamington Spa a month ago.

The store, specialising in natural treats and raw foods for cats and dogs, has already been well received by residents. One Facebook user said: “That’s great, we need a good pet shop in Witney, can’t wait for you to open” while another commented: “No more driving into Oxford for pet supplies – with 11 pets I need a decent pet shop nearby.” 

Just for Pets also stocks a wide range of well-known British brands, including Barbour, Joules, Hugo & Hudson and Sophie Allport. 

Last year the company launched a Best of British pledge to support smaller, up and coming UK pet product suppliers which has filled the store with some hidden gems that customers can’t find elsewhere.

A number of local people have already been employed and enrolled on a training programme developed by Hannah Molloy of Channel 4’s Puppy School. 

Store manager Declan Cronley said: “The team has been working and completing the training programme at Just for Pets for a number of months now and we can’t wait to offer the best and most up to date advice to our customers. 

 “While the store specialises in dog we will offer a strong selection for cat, small pets, birds, reptiles and even wildlife."

Pets are always welcome in store with free weighing scales and nutritious treat samples available.

More pictures below...

An eight-week consultation will seek views on improvements to the pet microchipping database system, including faster access for approved users and regular reminders for keeping records updated which will help improve breeder traceability.   

The recommendations follow last year’s Pet Theft Taskforce report, which highlighted the need to improve navigation of the database system and the transfer of keepership records.  

The consultation seeks views on new requirements for registering additional details and a single point of access, so microchip records can quickly be accessed by approved users to help identify the owners and keepers of pets.

The transferring of keepership records will also be strengthened to prevent lost or stolen animals being re-registered without the keeper being aware, and to stop the creation of duplicate records. 

The proposals aim to improve breeder traceability by making it compulsory for the breeder’s details to remain on the database for the lifetime of the animal - even when the animal changes keeper or when the microchip record is transferred to another database.    

Animal Welfare Minister Lord Goldsmith said: “Pets are much loved members of the family, and microchipping is the best way of making sure owners can be reunited if their pet is ever sadly lost or stolen. “We have reviewed the current regulations and the Pet Theft Taskforce’s recommendations, and it is clear improvements are needed to better protect the welfare of our nation’s pets. These proposals will create a more effective system to better animal welfare and deter pet theft.”

David Bowles, Head of Public Affairs at the RSPCA, said: “We are pleased to see Defra launching a consultation into improvements to the microchipping database system.“We’d support the introduction of a single, centralised database of microchipped cats and dogs or would love to see better collaboration and communication between the current 16 separate databases. “This would make it much easier to quickly reunite stray, missing and stolen pets with their owners and would also save a lot of time for charities, such as the RSPCA, local authorities and vets when they’re trying to trace an owner.

Justine Shotton, British Veterinary Association President, said: “We’re delighted that the Government is gathering views on how to make the microchipping system fit for purpose.  We strongly recommend microchipping as a safe, effective and permanent way to identify individual animals, but the sheer number of databases and the fact that they don’t routinely communicate with each other currently present significant barriers to successful reunification of lost pets and owners.   “Streamlining the system into a single point of entry and driving up standards across all databases would help to spare heartache for many pet owners and start things on a positive footing when compulsory cat microchipping is rolled out next year.”

The changes will also apply to cats after 99% of people supported a proposal to introduce compulsory cat microchipping in a recent consultation. Cat microchip records will be stored on the existing database system and benefit from the new improvements.

Nationwide pet retailer Jollyes today confirmed it had extended its logistics partnership with supply chain specialist Wincanton for two years, in a significant and transformational contract for the business. 

Since 2019, Wincanton has provided warehouse and distribution services to Jollyes stores across Great Britain and Northern Ireland, operating from its multi-user warehouse in Wigan, Greater Manchester. 

The new transport and warehouse contract will see Wincanton store, pick and deliver over three million cases of products per year, replenishing all 70-plus Jollyes stores and fulfilling over 7,000 deliveries each year.  

The operation is supported by Wincanton’s warehouse management system (WMS) to deliver tailored inventory management, item tracking and performance reporting. 

The extended contract will help support Jollyes’ ambitious growth plans that will see it open 20 new stores in the next 12 months alongside further acquisitions which have recently seen nationwide store locations grow to over 70 for the first time. 

The new contract will also incorporate ‘backhauling’ agreements that will see Jollyes take responsibility for picking up products from six key suppliers on their return to Wigan, taking lorries off the road and reducing road miles. 

Suppliers involved in the programme include Mars, Gold Line, GA Pet Food Partners, Blazers, Pets Choice and Johnsons Veterinary. 

Eight lorries sporting new Jollyes livery will hit the roads in May. Carrying messages such as 'No Treats Are Left in This Lorry Overnight', the lorries will bring Jollyes’ refreshed branding in support of the pet owners of Britain to the highways of Britain. 

Joe Wykes, chief operating officer at Jollyes, said: “Our partnership with Wincanton is foundational for Jollyes and crucial to supporting our ambitious growth plans over the next three years. 

“What’s more the innovative backhauling agreements with our supplier partners will deliver significant environmental benefits as we reduce road miles.” 

Carl Moore, Managing Director of Digital and eFulfilment at Wincanton, commented: “Our partnership with Jollyes is another demonstration of our strength in helping our customers ensure supply chain resilience. We relish the opportunity to continue to support Jollyes on their future growth journey and ensure we maintain consistent levels of service in tough market conditions all the way to 2024.” 

Your Dog’s Club, a dog-only online retailer that strives to provide the best quality products and services for dogs across the UK, is giving dog owners the rare chance to obtain shares within its fast-growing business and receive a certificate in their dog’s name — all by investing as little as £10.

In addition to receiving a personalised, photo-frame worthy share certificate, investors will receive complimentary dog products and earn generous discounts to use when shopping on Your Dog’s Club’s online shop.

Jon Ralph, founder and managing director at Your Dog’s Club, said: “We’re super-excited to welcome more Waggys into the club and grow our online dog community.

“The huge increase in pet ownership over the last 18 months means we’ve hit the market at the right time, enabling dog owners to invest in the business and reap pawsome rewards that will benefit both themselves and their four-legged friends long-term.”

Kevin Kibble, an investor in Your Dog’s Club since 2021, added: “As a dog owner, investing in Your Dog’s Club was the best decision. Not only do I get a high return on investment, but I receive multiple products, discounts on food and useful nutritional advice that helps me better care for my two-year-old rescue dog, Molly. Plus, having a share in the company feels rewarding as I can connect with like-minded individuals who love dogs.”

To get priority access and learn about the various shareholder packages, visit: www.yourdogsclub.co.uk/pages/invest-in-your-dogs-club