Zena Deane, co-founder of Huxley Hound, entered the Dragons’ Den with partner Mike and received a £50,000 offer from new Dragon Jenny Campbell. This week she reveals what it’s really like to appear on the BBC2 hit show.

Zena  and Mike received two offers when they appeared in the Den but decided on Jenny’s bid in return for 15% equity in their company. The couple had early asked for £50,000 in return for 5% of the business.

Here Zena speaks to Pet Trade Xtra about the whole Dragons’ Den experience.

When was the programme filmed?

We filmed at the end of April, although the audition and initial due diligence took place at the end of March.

How would you describe the whole Dragons’ Den experience?

Truly enlightening. I won’t deny that we were both extremely nervous as we entered the Dragons’ lair. However, sometimes it’s good to have what you deem to be a cutting edge business proposition probed and picked at by inspirational business entrepreneurs. As a small business with limited access to outsider mentoring, Dragon’s Den is a fantastic opportunity to go back to first principles and ‘sense check’ the very foundation blocks of your fledgling business.

What made you decide to apply for the programme?

You won’t be surprised to hear the usual intoxicating blend of brand exposure, expert insights and genuine investor exposure. You certainly have to go into the show with a thick skin and an open mind to glean any crumb of insight that could propel your brand to the next level. Deborah for example had some very honest observations about our packaging which was incredibly helpful because it happened to coincide with us finalising our new packaging plans.

Was it hard to take some of the comments made by the Dragons?

Not in the least. We operate in a highly competitive and bustling marketplace so have heard many of the observations (both positive & negative) before. We are very comfortable with the brand we are shaping but would never be so presumptuous to believe that there are some elements of our wider vision that we could have done better along the way. We have a young, ‘cutting edge’ idea so we are neither rigid in our outlook or foolish enough to assume 100% buy in. The fact that we captured the imagination of two high flying Dragons would suggest the good news significantly outweighed the bad.

You accepted an offer from Jenny Campbell that gave her 15% equity of the business, 10% above your original request. Was it a difficult decision to make in such a pressurised moment?

It is pressurised but we know the show works so we knew what limits we were prepared to work within. Suffice to say we believe the success of a pioneering brand is a flexible/adaptable mindset.

As well as the investment, will you be seeking advice from Jenny as the business develops?

I’m sure you can appreciate that there is considerable due diligence processes to work through so we’re limited with regards what we can say at present.

How active has she been since the show?

We met Jenny immediately after we left the Den and introduced her to Huxley who took meeting a Dragon in his stride.  In addition to Dragons’ Den we’re also looking at a wider platform to grow and nurture to make the next significant steps forward.

What reaction have you had from pet retailers since the show was aired?

Overwhelmingly positive!  Existing clients have been energised by the notion of us proactively backing our brand whilst the phone hasn’t stop ringing thanks to inquisitive new suitors.  Ever since the show aired orders have rocketed.  Immediately after the show we were boxing a new order every six minutes.

You’re exhibiting at PATS Telford later this month, what can visitors expect to see on your stand?

A much slicker and more evolved brand offering – last year was our debut and we were feeling our way. This year we have a lot of road miles and shows under our belt, not to mention a PetQuip Award nomination.

Are you pleased with the way the Huxley Hound brand has been received since its launch at the start of the year?

Yes we’ve grown up a lot.  Of course with deeper pockets but there’s always a lot more that you can do.  That said our report card would be an encouraging B+ (with scope for further improvement).

Is the intention to stick with treats or are you planning to extend the Huxley Hound brand to other products?

Tad secret squirrel – treats yes, different formats maybe!

What advice would you give any other pet company thinking of applying for Dragons’ Den?

If you truly believe in what you’re doing be brave and take the step, but accept this is not a free BBC ad and that you learn as much from grillings as you do from pats on the back.

For more information visit www.huxleyhound.com

If you missed the edition of Dragons’ Den featuring Huxley Hound you can watch it on iPlayer. Here’s the link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b093syc3/dragons-den-series-15-episode-2

Fast forward to 15.50 minutes to see the start of the Huxley Hound presentation.

In June, Wynnstay Group, which supplies services and products to the agricultural industry, said in its results for the six months ended April 30 that it had commenced a review of options for Just For Pets and had booked a GBP3.9 million goodwill impairment charge related to the business.

The group said this followed a marked deterioration in Just for Pets' trading environment, with changing consumer behaviour, new sources of competition and greater cost pressure leading the 25-store chain to become loss making.

Wynnstay said it expects to recognise exceptional charges related to the write off of net assets and associated costs.

"This has been an extremely difficult decision to make, and we are saddened by the announcement of the notice of the intention to appoint administrators for the Just for Pets business. Having thoroughly investigated and pursued other options, it has been concluded that this was the correct path to take, both for Just for Pets and Wynnstay, given the difficult circumstances in which JfP has found itself in recent years. We will be working closely with advisers to ensure that Just for Pets employees, customers, suppliers and Wynnstay shareholders are best served," said Wynnstay Chief Executive Ken Greetham.

Shares in Wynnstay Group were up 0.5% at 510.00 on Thursday.

AQUA 2017, the UK’s aquatics and water gardening trade event, will stage its biggest ever trade show in October with a record number of over 100 exhibitors showcasing their products and services.

Visitors to the exhibition at Telford International Centre on October 18-19 can expect a busy and exciting event as all the exhibitor stands have been snapped up.

The exhibition halls will be packed with UK and international companies, and as well as meeting up with a long list of AQUA regulars, visitors will be greeted by a host of new faces.

“I’m happy to report that the UK’s major exhibitors are again heading for Telford. It’s a really exciting time for the exhibition and I can promise visitors it will be the biggest ever AQUA show,” said show organiser Annie Foord.

And AQUA event chairman Dr David Pool added: “This event was set up by the aquatic trade for the aquatic trade and the organisers are constantly listening to feedback and looking for new ways to improve the visitor experience. We’re certain that time spent at AQUA 2017 will prove to be both memorable and valuable.

“A lot of planning and hard work has gone into organising this show and I’m confident you will have an enjoyable and profitable visit.”

Once again the New Product Showcase is set to be one of the highlights of the exhibition. A record number of more than 100 new products were showcased in 2015 when AQUA was last staged, and a higher number is expected this year. All the items will be entered into the New Product Awards, which will be judged by a team of independent retailers on the opening morning of the show.

In recognition of the growing importance of the New Product Showcase, the Awards will be for first time presented to the winners at a sold-out AQUA dinner, in front of an audience of over 600 people from the trade after the first day of the show.

There will 10 different categories making up the Showcase and Awards. They are:

• POS/Merchandising/Support
• Reptile
• Pond Construction/Decoration
• Pond Pumps
• Pond Filters
• Pond Food, Care and Accessories
• Aquaria, Furniture and Decor
• Freshwater Equipment
• Aquarium Food, Care and Accessories
• Marine Equipment

As well as getting to see all the new products to be launched on to the market, visitors will be well looked-after during their stay. There are more catering facilities and everyone will receive free tea and coffee, and a lunch voucher. Visitors can also benefit from free parking next to the exhibition hall.

Fish4Dogs is expecting the patter of tiny feet – 404 of them to be exact – as a supporter of a festive theatre production of Dodie Smith’s magical tale of The One Hundred and One Dalmatians.

The ‘spot-acular’ festive offering is being staged at Birmingham Repertory Theatre from 30 November to 13 January.

Fish4Dogs’ sponsorship not only supports one of the country’s leading repertory theatres, which as a registered charity relies on the support of individual donors, trusts and sponsors, but is also helping Hearing Dogs for Deaf People which as a result of a unique partnership with The REP, will receive 20 per cent of all funds raised during the run.

A doggy creche for hearing dogs will be created in The REP’s foyer on selected dates. Fish4Dogs will be helping look after canines in its care by providing ‘doggy bags’ for their owners to take away after the show, while guarding them from anyone looking remotely like Cruella de Vil!

The Fish4Dogs team joined members of The REP for a launch in Birmingham’s Victoria Square on 10 September when Sunday shoppers literally saw dots before their eyes amidst a throng of Dalmatians – including owners and volunteers from Hearing Dogs for Deaf People - who were there to support the launch.

Said Jo Little, Marketing Support Manager for Fish4Dogs, “We had a tremendous time launching this wonderful theatre production which will provide vital support for these two worthwhile charities.

“It was lovely to see all the Dalmatians who attended. I’ve never seen so many spotty dogs in one place before and we had some tempting Fish4Dogs treats to give them as a little reward.”

Rachel Cranny, Head of Fundraising at The REP said; “We are extremely grateful to Fish4Dogs for their support and are thrilled to be working with them alongside this special production."

Fish4Dogs will be continuing help promote the production during its run with a social media competition to win a giant cuddly Dalmatian toy in a guess the number of spots challenge.

Pictured: Fish4Dogs Marketing Support Manager Jo Little and Marketing Assistant Will Edwards go dotty for 101 Dalmatians.

Lily’s Kitchen has unveiled its largest Christmas range to date, making sure that our four legged friends can join in with all the Christmas fun.

The limited edition ‘Christmas Fireside Tails’ collection is a seasonal range of meals and treats bursting with natural goodness to help every dog and cat enjoy the festivities alongside the rest of the family and with their beautiful handcrafted designs, the products are guaranteed to set tails wagging and felines purring, whilst driving incremental sales for retailers.

Comments founder and CEO Henrietta Morrison, “All of the Lily’s Kitchen team include our dogs and cats in everything we do - it’s not loopy, its love -  because they are our family and we know our customers feel the same.    Our 2017 festive range is our biggest yet and is set not only to bring excitement and seasonal sales opportunities for our retail partners, but it will ensure that for our pet family members, it’s the most wonderful time of the year too.”

 NEW! Showstopper this year, ‘Christmas Collection’ Biscuit Selection Tin for Dogs, 210g, RRP £19.95

Discover this charming assortment of naturally delicious Christmas biscuits for dogs in a collectable treats tin. A show-stopping Christmas gift for any dog lover to crack open and share the love.

Includes:

• Gorgeous limited edition keepsake tin to keep treats in all year round
• A menu card to help your dog pick their favourite selection this year

And, a selection of naturally delicious treats, many of which are only available in our Christmas Collection:

The Gingerbread Dog

• Turkey & Cranberry Treats
• Organic Bedtime Biscuits
• Rise & Shines Baked Treats
• Giant Organic Cheese & Apple Treats
• Salmon Shortbread Fingers
• Whitefish & Seaweed Rusks
• Fishy Turmeric Bites

‘Christmas Fireside Tails’ Advent Calendar for Cats, RRP £9.95

A fabulous festive gift for cats to anticipate Christmas in the most deliciously exciting way… the charming, hand drawn Christmas Advent Calendar for cats depicts a cosy scene of fireside tales, with each window generously filled with Lily’s Kitchen naturally wholesome treats. Let them discover recipes made from Chicken with Liver, Chicken with Shrimp and Turkey with Cranberry and delight your favourite furry friend every day with some extra love and a surprise treat.

‘Christmas Fireside Tails’ Advent Calendar for Dogs, RRP £9.95

The Christmassy Advent Calendar for dogs makes a fabulous gift and is generously filled with naturally wholesome, delicious treats for your dog to help countdown to Christmas.  This hand drawn Christmas Advent for dogs depicts a cosy scene of fireside tales, with each window generously filled with Lily’s Kitchen naturally wholesome recipes so that with tasty Rise & Shines, Cheese & Apple Training Treats and Bedtime Biscuits to discover, you can delight dogs every day with an extra cuddle and a surprise treat!

 NEW! ‘Christmas Treats’ Cracker for Dogs, 100g, RRP £3.49

New for 2017 and lovingly baked for dogs that have been good all year round, this Christmas Treat Cracker is filled with delicious little treats that are made with natural turkey, cranberries, thyme and cinnamon.

‘Christmas Treats’ Cracker for Cats, 50g, RRP £2.95

Share a purrfect magical Christmas moment with cats when opening this cracker brimming with delicious Christmassy treats, each made with natural turkey, chicken liver and cranberries. Wonderfully festive nibbles that even the fussiest of felines will adore!

 

NEW ‘Christmas Three Bird Feast’ for Dogs (Tray), 150g, RRP £1.29

Perfect for smaller dogs and new for 2017, share all the excitement of festive family fun and feasting by treating dogs to their own naturally delicious and wholesome Christmas dinner. This new seasonal recipe is packed with succulent, freshly prepared turkey, duck and goose combined with a jolly sprinkling of cranberries and festive parsnips. Also available in 400g (Tin), RRP £2.49

 
NEW! ‘Christmas Turkey Feast’ for Cats (Tray), 85g, RRP £0.95

A naturally delicious new seasonal dish for your favourite feline. Packed with freshly prepared turkey, succulent ham and juicy cranberries, this is the festive feast they’ll be dreaming about all through the holidays.

Lily’s Kitchen make proper food for pets. The delicious range of recipes are made with the finest natural ingredients like fresh meat, vibrant veg and botanicals and herbs, all sure to keep your pet happy.  All the treats are oven baked, low in fat, made with natural ingredients – and are utterly scrumptious, too.

For more information visit www.lilyskitchen.co.uk

The Pet Industry Federation (PIF), the UK’s largest trade association for the pet industry, will be showcasing some exciting initiatives at PATS Telford from 24^th-25^th September.

From its stand, A31, staff will be on hand to talk to visitors and members about its new public facing website mypetpeople.co.uk and events including the British Dog Grooming Championship and the PIF Forum & Awards.

Visitors can also find out about imminent changes to the government’s primary authority scheme and the new licensing regime, as well as any information regarding PIF’s range of membership benefits, education opportunities and courses. There will also be the opportunity to win tickets to this year’s Forum & Awards event, taking place at Whittlebury Hall, Northants on Tuesday 28 November.

PIF’s grooming division, the British Dog Groomers’ Association has been working in collaboration with KD Grooming Studio to organise the PATS Grooming Workshops, taking place at Stand G54. These interactive demonstrations and talks will be given by some of the country’s leading groomers and will focus on the knowledge and expertise required to successfully complete modern grooming techniques. They are not to be missed!

In addition, Nigel Baker, PIF CEO and a member of the DEFRA expert panel will be delivering a free seminar on both days on the new licensing regime and primary authority, covering the Enterprise Act and the planned changes to animal establishment licensing being introduced in 2018. If you want to know how these will affect your business, drop into either seminar, taking place in the seminar theatre at 14.40 on Sunday 24^th September and again at 13.20 on Monday 25^th September.

Entry to PATS is FREE, but registration is advised to make it easier on the day, more information can be found at www.patshow.co.uk

Further information on the Pet Industry Federation can be found at www.petfederation.co.uk or by calling 01234 273933.

Interpet Limited has again been awarded Silver accreditation against the Investors in People Standard, demonstrating the company's continued commitment to high performance via good people management.

Investors in People is the international standard for people management, defining what it takes to lead, support and manage people effectively to achieve sustainable results.

Underpinning the Standard is the Investors in People framework, reflecting the latest workplace trends, essential skills and effective structures required to outperform in any industry.

Investors in People enables organisations to benchmark against the best in the business on an international scale.

Commenting on the award, Mark Hoskins, Managing Director, said: “Our Investors in People journey began in 2012 and we have been evolving our people management in line with best practice ever since. We are committed to continuous improvement throughout our business and are especially delighted to have been accredited Silver against the latest and even more challenging version of the Standard.”

Paul Devoy, Head of Investors in People, said: “We’d like to congratulate Interpet Limited. Investors in People accreditation is the sign of a great employer, an outperforming place to work and a clear commitment to success. Interpet should be extremely proud of their achievement.”

Pictured:  Mark Hoskins, MD of Interpet, and some of the Interpet team based at their HQ in Surrey.

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• The dog is a member of the Pastoral Group
• The breed is well known for starring in adverts and films
• It’s a breed native to the UK

From its distribution base in Killinghall near Harrogate, GPCo produce a range of products based on Whole Turmeric.

The business has a strong advocacy around championing human food use of turmeric, through a simple method of ‘cooking’ and preparation, which allows for a number of product formats, including; ready-made turmeric pastes, and in supplement form.

The Shareholders and Directors of I’Anson Brothers Ltd have purchased 75% of The Golden Paste Company (GPCo) as part of this exciting new agreement with the portfolio of products working alongside the British Horse Feeds range of Speedi-Beet and Fibre-Beet.

Explains Sales Director, Will I’Anson: “We are very excited about this latest acquisition and partnership.  There is a great deal of synergy across all our related brands and product ranges not only in the UK but with our feed partners worldwide.

“We have many synergies and great opportunities together thanks to our wide distribution network, strategic feed partners in the UK and across the globe, our strong presence in the Animal feed, Pet and Equine Market, a bespoke NOPs approved manufacturing capability, and a wealth of experience from everyone in the team.”

Janine Kell will continue as Managing Director to head up the GPCo team, working alongside her husband Darren, Celine Scott and Kirsten Baul. 

Said Janine: "We are excited for the opportunities that the support of I’Anson Brothers Ltd will enable us to achieve. Further developing our range of innovative products and making them more readily available to the market, servicing new and existing customers."

The business will also benefit from the support of the I’Anson Brothers Ltd infrastructure and up selling opportunity from all divisions and alliances.

The use of turmeric dates back nearly 4,000 years to the Vedic culture in India, where it was used as a culinary spice and had religious significance.

For further information contact I’Anson Brothers Ltd on (01765) 689332.

Pictured:  Will I’Anson and Janine Kell celebrate the good news.

It is well known how much pets suffer from anxiety during the firework season, however their owners often get overlooked. With this in mind, a survey by Ceva Animal Health, manufacturer of ADAPTIL and FELIWAY, has revealed that nearly 65% of owners are anxious about their pet while fireworks are going off, with over 65% of owners believing that their pet picks up on this anxiety.

Moreover, nearly 80% of those questioned stated that they try and calm their pet if it is anxious while fireworks are going off and over 50 per cent of owners are so concerned about their pet that they do not leave it alone in the house.  As a result, over 50% of owners state that they enjoy fireworks less due to their pet’s fear.

Andrew Fullerton MRCVS, behaviour technical manager at Ceva Animal Health, comments: “The firework season is a stressful time for both the nation’s pets and their owners, however owners should act normally around their pets and try to keep as calm as possible to help them feel more settled.  Overly fussing a pet that appears frightened will reinforce this behaviour.  Instead owners should try and distract pets with a toy or game.

“Building a den for a dog and a hideaway for a cat a few weeks in advance will give pets a safe place to retreat to when fireworks start.  Plugging in an ADAPTIL or FELIWAY CLASSIC Diffuser close to the den will help them feel secure and create a calm environment for them to retreat to.   Ceva also has a list of top 10 tips to give to owners (along with the diffuser) around firework time.  Confining two cats to a household while fireworks are going off may cause inter-cat aggression.  FELIWAY FRIENDS can help reduce conflicts and aggression between cats.”

Ceva is offering retailers a comprehensive marketing pack to help educate and support customers with noise sensitive pets in the run up to the firework season.  The pack features a 60-minute video, a range of marketing material including leaflets, leaflet holders, posters, wall displays and a PR toolkit to support PR campaigns, copy for websites and newsletters and suggested social media posts for Twitter and Facebook.

Now that most schools are fully up and running for the new term, pet owners are being urged to spare a thought for their pets.

Experts in pet care say that when pupils return to full time education, cats and dogs are more likely to suffer from separation anxiety, which can result in a change in their animals’ behaviour at the end of summer holidays.  

A study by Pets at Home* revealed that more than four in 10 children admitted to having more fun with their pet than they do with their friends or siblings with more than half of children surveyed spending more than an hour interacting with their furry friend each day.

The results also discovered that a third of children are unhappy when spending time away from their pet and one in ten were noticeably upset whilst apart from them.

Carolyn Mentheith, an expert in dog training and behaviour, said: “The main problem with the end of the holidays is that very often the dog will have had 24/7 company as the family are all at home - and then suddenly everyone vanishes and the dog is left home alone. This is especially a problem for people who choose to get puppies during the holidays and at a time when they have time to devote to their new arrival.

“The puppy comes straight from the constant company of their mum and littermates into the home, thinks that their new life will consist of having humans around them all the time - and they never learn the coping strategies needed to cope with being on their own for the very first time in their life.

“While it's great to get a puppy in the holidays while you have time to devote to them, part of that time has to be spent slowly and gradually teaching them that it's safe to be alone.”

This opinion is shared by head of pets at Pets at Home, Dr Maeve Moorcroft.

Dr Moorcroft, said: “After being surrounded by family for a few weeks, pets get used to the fun and attention children bring them, but a suddenly empty home can affect them.

“Even well-behaved pets start exhibiting strange or unruly behaviour when this happens, but there are actions you can take to minimise this.”

Now back to school season is truly here, Pets at Home has developed five top tips for preparing your pet:

1. Keep all arrivals and departures low-key. For example, when you arrive home, ignore your pet for the first few minutes, then calmly stroke them. This may be hard for you to do, but it's important
2. Lessen the feeling of loss by leaving behind an item of clothing in their bed, as having your scent around will help your pet relax
3. Leave the TV or radio on to reassure the pet that someone is at home
4. Where possible, try to play with your cat or walk your dog before you leave so they will be more inclined to sleep while you are away
5. Don’t punish bad behaviour such as chewing the furniture, make sure they have enough toys around to keep them entertained. For pets that do show signs of being stressed, try using calming products like Feliway for cats, Adaptil for dogs or pet remedy for all pets, including small animals

A young Staffordshire bull terrier dodged death after an 11-inch stick became lodged in her throat when a game of fetch went disastrously wrong.

PDSA vets say it was a miracle the stick avoided major arteries as it pierced through one-year-old Brandy’s mouth, travelled through her throat and ended up in her chest.

Owner Sophia-Jayne Lye, said Brandy was playing with her daughter Soe, 22, at their home in Shooters Hill, London, when she suddenly heard screaming.

She said: “I was inside when I heard Soe screaming. I rushed out and saw Brandy lying there with a huge stick coming out of her chest. It was unbelievable. Luckily she was still breathing but I knew we needed to get her help urgently.”

They took Brandy to PDSA’s Thamesmead Pet Hospital, where vets rushed the stricken dog in for surgery to remove the stick.

PDSA Pet Hospital Lead, Laura Davey, said it was one of the worst stick injuries she’s ever seen:

“When we saw Brandy’s injury, we couldn’t believe she was still alive. It was a huge stick and it had travelled right through her mouth and throat and into her chest, narrowly missing her lungs.”

Owner Sophia-Jayne said the family endured a tense wait while Brandy spent nearly four hours under anaesthetic having surgery.

She added: “I thought initially she wouldn’t make it. The prognosis wasn’t good and the vets told us to expect the worst.

“But amazingly, Brandy made it through surgery and PDSA did a fantastic job as she has now made a full recovery! We’re immensely grateful and I can’t thank them enough for everything they’ve done.”

The stick had travelled between two major arteries, missing them by a matter of millimetres. During the lengthy operation, the vet team had to use many litres of saline to flush the wound clean and flush tiny dangerous splinters from the site.

PDSA vets say the incident underlines how dangerous throwing sticks for dogs can be. On average, the vet charity sees stick-related injuries on a weekly basis, across its 48 pet hospitals. Injuries include wounds to the mouth and throat, choking and intestinal blockages.

Laura added: “The most serious injuries tend to occur when a dog runs into a stick that has become lodged in the ground after being thrown, and the dog becomes impaled.  

“We don’t want people to stop exercising their pets or even playing fetch, but we want pet owners to use safer alternatives to sticks, such as a dog-safe ball or rubber safe-stick.

“Brandy was incredibly lucky; if the stick had hit an artery it would have been fatal. She was also fortunate to benefit from our lifesaving A&E service, which has received fantastic support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery. We were able to remove the stick and she went on to make a full recovery. Sadly, not all dogs with injuries like this get such a happy ending.”

Taking place on 29^th August during the 33^rd World Veterinary Congress in Incheon, Korea, awards were given to six veterinarians representing each of the six WVA world regions to recognise and reward veterinarians who have provided outstanding and exemplary welfare-related services.

Dr Wensley has concentrated much of his professional life on the issue of animal welfare. He worked on various international welfare projects as a young volunteer veterinarian. He is currently Senior Vice President of the British Veterinary Association and has been active in promoting the organisation’s strategy on animal welfare and developing the five key factors in the UK’s animal welfare regulations.  In addition to the BVA, Sean is also senior veterinary surgeon for communication and education at veterinary charity the PDSA.  Here he works with a veterinary team that develops and delivers national advocacy on companion animal health and welfare problems - including the PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) report - as well as practice-based animal welfare initiatives with the charity’s nationwide network of pet hospitals. 

Other regional award winners were:

Dr Joseph Othieno from Kenya

Dr Othieno has raised awareness of animal health issues in Kenya and on a wider scale through his journalism. As well as being a respected veterinarian, he regularly writes articles on a series of veterinary issues in the mass media including appearances on television.

Dr Marlyn Romero from Colombia

Dr Romero was nominated for the Awards following her work in Colombia and Latin America on the research into animal welfare issues particularly in slaughterhouses. She has authored numerous publications on the subject and is leading a research group looking at animal welfare on the theme of ‘One Health’.

Dr Daniel Ventura from the Philippines

Dr Ventura is cited for his work in promoting animal health in his home country, particularly in the field of veterinary education and spearheading a steering committee that has promoted the adoption of a syllabus entitled ’Advanced Concepts in Animal Welfare’. He has also led a campaign called ‘Better Lives for Dogs’ and recently organised a mass rabies vaccination day for dogs and their owners in Cebu City, Philippines.

Professor Johann (Hans) Coetzee from USA

Prof Coetzee has been active in the animal welfare area for many years particularly in the area of cattle where he has led research looking at ways of advancing methods to treat livestock better. Key examples of his work include co-founding the biannual International Symposium on Beef Cattle Welfare. He has also been involved in work looking at the subject of pain management issues in the production of farm animals and has been a regular commentator in the media on these subjects.

Dr Shehab Osman from Egypt

Dr Osman was nominated for his work as Chairman of the Cairo Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and for promoting a variety of animal welfare issues in his country and on the international scene. He also advises Egyptian government departments and the health authorities on a number of areas including the management of stray dogs which is a huge problem in Egypt. He also acted as Chairman of the Egyptian Federation for Animal Welfare for four years.

Presiding over the Awards ceremony were Dr. René Carlson, Immediate past president of WVA and Dr. Marc Prikazsky, chairman and CEO of Ceva.

René Carlson, comments: “I am delighted and honoured to present the 2017 WVA Animal Welfare Awards to six remarkable veterinarians from across the world, who are contributing in their daily lives to the protection and welfare of various species of animals. In addition, these individuals provide information to the public about animal welfare best practices.”

Marc Prikazsky, adds: “The welfare of animals is a primary concern for many people across the world. As our approach to the wellbeing of animals continues to evolve, so too must education and the role of the veterinary community, to reflect its commitment to animal welfare and to become a true advocate and leader in this field. As a veterinarian, I am very proud that Ceva has been able to support the WVA in establishing these awards and would like to congratulate each of the individual winners on their immense contribution to improving the welfare of animals.”

Less than 2 years after their partnership began Logan Williams and his young dog Ned have just won the International Young Handler Championship competition held by the International Sheep Dog Society.

At Lodge Park near Cheltenham on 8^th to 10^th September the trials attracted huge entries plus crowds of visitors and in their classification Logan and Ned beat off strong competition from other excellent young handler and dog duos to carry off the prestigious title.

Amazingly Logan only purchased Ned in October 2015 when he was 7 months old for the farm.  After lessons they competed in their first trial in May 2016 and came away with first – Logan says, “The love and passion for the sport has grown from here.”

The pair’s long run of successes now include winning both the Young Handlers and Novice at the South Wales Sheepdog Trials Association Novice Trial in August 2016 and becoming Reserve World Champions in the Young Handler competition (only 3 points behind the winners from Norway) in the CSJ sponsored World Sheepdog Trials in July 2017.

There’s more about Logan and Ned on CSJ’s website www.csjk9.com and there’s surely more success in store for the pair.

Photo courtesy of  Lisa Soar