Sales of dog treats have experienced healthy growth over the past few years, and this is set to continue this year with a more obvious focus being placed upon low-fat, healthy and nutritional treats*, says leading brand 8in1.

Signs of economic recovery and the humanisation of pets (leading to a shift towards more quality products) are driving factors behind this growth.

Pet owners are continuing to view their pets as family members, and as such, are keen to lavish their pets with gifts, fulfilling experiences and a host of tasty treats.

The US can be said to lead the way in terms of trends, and with the opening of a pet bakery, luxury pet hotels and even pet spas and slimming classes, it is clear to see that the humanisation of pets is an ever growing trend. This is likely to showcase its increasing influence upon the UK market in the coming year.

It is evident that this trend is influencing the future of Pet food, as many products are beginning to resemble food that we would find in our own supermarkets, with a stress placed upon healthy, quality ingredients.

8in1 MINIS – the healthy option

8in1 MINIS are bite-size treats which are a healthy supplement to every dog’s diet. They come in three unique, tasty flavours - Lamb & Cranberry, Beef & Apple and Chicken & Carrots - and are enriched with vitamins, low in fat and contain no added sugar or gluten, and are therefore also suitable for sensitive dogs.

The attractive, two-colour design – available in flower or ring shapes – and the meal-like composition of the products will also appeal to consumers in store. Dog owners can be sure that by offering their pets the new 8in1 MINIS, they are giving them a healthy reward that not only tastes great, but also provides them with many essential nutrients. 

^{*Dog Food in the UnitedKingdom, Euromonitor 2014}

PetQuip Retailer of the Year, Betty & Butch, has put on the red carpet treatment for its customers, with four lucky people winning a photoshoot with their pets.

In September the Manchester store ran a Facebook competition for customers and their dog's to become 'A Star For A Day' 

Four customers won a photoshoot with the chance to appear in an 8ft backdrop for the store's window display and 1,000 promotional postcards. They also were presented with a print for themselves.

All of the winners were given red carpet treatment on the day of their shoot, including make-up artists, hairdressers and champagne.

Each of the shoots had a theme, advertising a Betty & Butch own brand product.

The award winning store was inundated with applications, and choosing the final four for the shoot proved very difficult.

Bettyt & Butch turned to Manchester's leading photographer Justin Gardner to bring the ideas to life. 

"When I was approached by the store and heard their ideas for the shoots, I was on board from the start," said Justin.

Angel Moore, creative director at the store, added: "Working with Justin was amazing. His patience with our exacting style paid off and we are left with timeless images."

Betty & Butch customer Rachel Wright is pictured above with her French Bulldog Mable, promoting the store's new range of luxury dog beds.

Over the next few months the store will release the remainder of the images, allowing for maximum exposure for each of the winners. 

Image courtsey of www.jags-photography.co.uk

Dog grooming product manufacturer HOWND has become the latest company to be certified by Cruelty Free International’s Leaping Bunny, which is the only international guarantee against animal testing.

Created by Mark Hirschel and Jo Amit, HOWND is set to release a total of 10 dog grooming products across two distinct ranges on Monday 16 March. Each is scented with essential oils and intended for use on either puppies, adults, or senior dogs.

In order to become certified by the Cruelty Free International Leaping Bunny programme, companies are required to open their supply chain to monitoring and meet external audit requirements.

HOWND’s new product offering joins over 600 companies - from which six are pet brands - to have obtained Leaping Bunny status across the world.

Jo Amit, co-founder of HOWND, explains: “We’re incredibly excited to launch our new range of dog grooming products, which make pooches of all ages smell a little more fetching! 

“Having the Leaping Bunny seal of approval is a huge milestone for us too, as we know that customers care passionately about how products are manufactured, and the affect they have on their pets’ happiness and wellbeing.”

HOWND’s new range of 250ml conditioning shampoos consists of five products, all of which retail at £9: Playful Pup Conditioning Shampoo, Keep Calm Conditioning Shampoo, Got An Itch? Conditioning Shampoo, Yup You Stink! Conditioning Shampoo, and Golden Oldies Conditioning Shampoo. 

In addition, the company’s range of 250ml body mists consists of five products, each retailing at £9: Playful Pup Body Mist, Keep Calm Body Mist, Got An Itch? Body Mist, Yup You Stink! Body Mist, and Golden Oldies Body Mist. 

While these products will not be ready for showcase at this year’s PATS Sandown, HOWND is offering a 10% discount on all retail orders before Tuesday 31 March. Customers can order by emailing trade@dogslovehownd.com - quoting the voucher code PATS10. 

For further information about HOWND’s new range of products and to place initial orders, visit www.dogslovehownd.com or call a member of the team on 020 3004 5255. 

Wagg Foods has reported record sales and competition entries on its stand at Crufts.

Marketing manager Dan Reeves said: "We had a fantastic four days and everyone was kept busy throughout each day. It was great to talk to so many people about our products and to hear such positive feedback.

"Our Wagg treats were certainly well liked by many dogs. The hoopla was loved by kids – young and old – and it was safe to say that more women can throw a quoit better than men!

 "Harringtons proved to be continuing its strong growth with much greater awareness of the brand and its qualities as well as a growing amount who professed their dog couldn’t eat anything else.

"Our new product launches of Grain Free and Small Dog were a huge hit too so our hopes are even higher as these go into stores."

 For information of Wagg products visit www.waggfoods.com

Celebrity Clare Balding took time out from her busy schedule presenting TV coverage of Crufts to spend time on the Lily's Kitchen stand on each day of the show.

Henrietta Morrison, founder and CEO of Lily's Kitchen, said: "It was great to see Clare on our stand and she created a real buzz in the area, bringing lots of attention and new customers to the brand.

"Attending Crufts is important to us as it's our chance to connect with pet owners and talk about the benefits of feeding a natural and nutritious diet.  

"When customers come into your shop, we want them to be ready to invest in a premium natural pet food. This year at Crufts was particularly special for the whole team at Lily's Kitchen. Not only did we unveil a new stand, we also launched our new Senior Recipes. 

"With our new stand, we wanted to create an enchanting experience for visitors to the show, driving brand awareness and engagement. Our bespoke hand made design drew lots of attention and the feedback we got from customers and fellow exhibitors was truly wonderful.

"Our Senior Recipe got an enthusiastic welcome too!  We sold out of both our wet and dry Wise & Wonderful Senior Recipes by the Saturday. Customers were particular pleased with the highest level of joint care supplements and nutritious natural ingredients in both recipes."

For more information visit www.lilyskitchen.co.uk

Interest in raw and natural feeding continues to increase, according to specialists Natures Menu, whose stand at Crufts was consistently busy through the four days of the show.

"It was, by far, our best year yet at Crufts," said marketing manager Emily Cannon.

"The interest in, and enthusiasm for, raw and natural feeding continues to (very pleasantly) overwhelm us and from opening day to close of show our stand was busy with new and existing customers wanting to meet and talk to us.

"What we found this year was the increased number of visitors to our stand that had researched raw feeding and wanted to discuss specific requirements with us before making the switch to a raw diet. 

"We had a significant number of visitors to our stand who had come to Crufts specifically to get advice from us on raw feeding and get to know our products better. They were already very warm to the idea of feeding a raw diet, and therefore the overall reaction to our foods was nothing but positive.

"Whilst our treats and ambient range always sell well at Crufts, our frozen complete and balanced meals were the most popular products by far – we left with very little stock and empty freezers.

"Exhibiting at Crufts is, of course, a very big investment but, based on the response to our stand and products this year, an incredibly worthwhile one."

For more information visit www.naturesmenu.co.uk

Being official sponsors of Crufts for the first time this year exceeded all expectations for family-owned Bern Pet Foods, exclusive importers and distributors of biologically appropriate ORIJEN and ACANA dog and cat foods.

The team of staff on the ORIJEN stand were completely rushed off their feet. Breeders, exhibitors and dog lovers alike were keen to find out more about the ORIJEN and ACANA product ranges. They had all heard good things by word of mouth and were keen to find out more and change their dog’s diet to what is considered the best dry dog food available in the world.

The purpose-built stand in the main hall was impactful with an outdoors rustic look, which reflected the authentic, biologically appropriate, back-to-nature essence of the brands. 

On the stand there were daily competitions, which included a goody bag giveaway, a children’s colouring competition and an opportunity to win a year’s supply of ORIJEN Adult Dog Food.

Visitors to the stand included an impressive selection of all dog breeds and in all sizes. There was not a single canine visitor that didn’t absolutely devour the ORIJEN freeze-dried treats that were handed out, and with the fantastic show offers, the treats were literally flying off the shelves.

There was not much time to take a deep breath and relax before the team were off to host a stand at PATS Sandown next week.

Visit www.bernpetfoods.co.uk for more information

After successfully re-launching the Australian brand DOOG on to the UK market at Crufts, AmPet Products is hoping for a similar positive response from visiting retailers at PATS Sandown next week.

"At Crufts DOOG generated much interest as it had not been promoted heavily at the event for a long while and we had people very excited about the walkie belts and shoulder bags," said Alex Wilson, sales and marketing director for AmPet Products.

"The safety sticks also proved very popular and people loved the fact that each stick has its own personalty from Uncle Chuck for the big dogs to Barkley for the small dogs and other sticks in between.

"Chris Mancini, chair of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers was doing a demo at Crufts and picked up a couple of DOOG sticks to use in her demo."

"We were also chatting to people about dogs' safety when travelling in cars, and many visitors were thrilled to be able to buy the Canine Friendly crash tested car harness from RC Pet Products, one of the only car harnesses sold in the UK that is fully crash tested." 

All of the AmPet Products sold at Crufts are available to the trade at www.ampetproducts.com. Visitors to PATS Sandown will be able to see the DOOG and Dexas products on stand A3a.

The Kennel Club has revealed there is currently no evidence to suggest that any dog has been poisoned at Crufts following the sudden death of Irish setter Jagger last Friday.

Kennel Club secretary Caroline Kisko said: "Allegations about dogs being poisoned at Crufts are understandably distressing to dog owners and lovers, so we must make it absolutely clear that there is currently no evidence that any dog has been poisoned at Crufts.

"The facts surrounding Jagger's tragic death some 26 hours after leaving Crufts are still being established, and whilst there are suspicions about poisoning, the veterinary surgeon who carried out the post mortem has told the Kennel Club that she cannot comment on where, when and indeed if poisoning has taken place until the results of the toxicology report are available.  The Kennel Club is talking to and supporting the owner at this difficult time.

"Whilst reports surrounding the welfare of dogs at Crufts are taken with the utmost of seriousness a number of the reports in the news about dogs becoming sick after leaving the show have been from anonymous sources, who have not reported the allegations to us or the police, and we cannot look into claims about which we have no direct information. We urge these people and anybody else who may have similar concerns to come forward and report them to the Kennel Club at press.office@thekennelclub.org.uk

"There have been  reports about a few dogs who were unwell whilst at the show who were taken to one of the show vets and we can confirm that the vets at Crufts established no connection between sickness and poisoning.

"Whilst there is a great deal of rumour and speculation and currently no evidence of any poisoning taking place at Crufts we are very clear that anyone caught attempting to deliberately sabotage another competitor's performance, particularly if a dog's welfare is put at risk, will face severe disciplinary action, which could include a ban on competing at all Kennel Club licensed events. Furthermore anyone who puts a dog's welfare at risk could face prosecution under the Animal Welfare Act."

A second dog is reported to have died after appearing at Crufts, amid fears that at least six of the animals were deliberately poisoned at the world famous show.

The shih tzu is believed to have died over the weekend, just hours after the 'murder' of Irish setter Jagger. The three-year-old died on Friday after eating meat which his owners say was laced with poison.

Organiser Annie Foord said a lot of time and effort had gone in to making sure the visitor experience is better than ever this year.

 “We’re always striving to make PATS even better so we seek the view of exhibitors, retailers and buyers to find out how the show can be improved. Visitors will certainly notice a few changes to the show this year.

“For instance, we have extended the amount of seating areas to include the Beco Buyers’ Lounge and the Exhibitors’ Lounge so that people can relax in comfort or have a meeting.

“There will also be a wider range of food available from all the various outlets and all our visitors will receive a free cup of tea or coffee voucher, which will be redeemable all day. Those arriving before 10am will also get a free breakfast voucher. Afternoon will also be available in the Beco Buyers’ Lounge.

 “These subtle changes have been made so that visitors can concentrate fully on the main business of the day – seeing top-class products from the biggest range of suppliers and manufacturers…all under one roof.”

As well as meeting up with a long list of PATS regulars, visitors will be greeted by a host of new faces and new products. A growing number of companies are choosing to exhibit for the first time as they see PATS as the perfect opportunity to announce their plans for the year ahead.

The New Products Showcase is a great way for visitors to see and touch the new products they will be stocking. In previous years more than 200 new items have been entered into the Showcase so it is the best place to view potential bestsellers. All items entered by manufacturers will be put forward for the New Products Awards judged by a panel of pet retailers.

And a free-to-attend series of seminars will cover topics including: retailing RAW pet foods; using social media to build a loyal customer base; 20 business tips in 20 minutes; getting more online visitors to your website; and what customers are saying about your pet business online. There is also a chance to earn Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points for those people attending a special seminar by animal healthcare specialists Merial.

Other PATS features aimed include free entry, free catalogue and free parking, and visitors are now being urged to register online at a new and improved PATS website www.patshow.co.uk.

A full and up-to-date list of exhibitors is available on the website together with information on how to reach both venues, hotels in each area and regularly updated show news. 

Opening times

• Tuesday 17th March: 9.00am-5.00pm
• Wednesday 18th March: 9.00am-4.00pm

The Pet Industry Federation (PIF) is looking forward to meeting members and the wider pet industry at PATS Sandown.

PIF will have a stand in the Surrey Hall – the PIF Seating Area - and will be hosting a number of activities from there, as well as providing information on its products, services and events:

Member ‘Benefits Surgeries’

Find out how PIF benefits its members by dropping in on the ‘benefits surgeries’ taking place throughout the show:

1. PIF Protect – Tuesday 17 March – 10.30am – 12.30pm. Visit the stand for a free CCTV consultation, where experts can advise visitors on how they can best protect their business property through high quality CCTV.
2. PIF Telecom - Tuesday 17 March – 2.00pm – 4.00pm. Drop by to speak to our telecoms expert, who will tell visitors how PIF members can save money on their landline and mobile bills. There will also be product demonstrations taking place.

Education and online courses
The PIF team will be on hand to talk to visitors about the level 3 City & Guilds Pet Store Management course, which is now available as an online course; as well as the new range of Pet Handling & Welfare courses, developed to help those working with pets to improve and refresh their knowledge on a variety of different taxa.

Win tickets to the Pet Industry Federation Forum & Awards 2015
PIF’s annual Forum & Awards event will take place in Liverpool this year from 17-18 November at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Liverpool. This business-focussed event brings together the whole pet industry and provides unrivalled networking opportunities. PIF will be offering visitors to the stand the chance to win a pair of tickets during PATS. Simply take the light-hearted ‘test your taxa’ quiz to be in a chance of success.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gloucestershire-based Animaware will be showcasing both its innovative Animalarm and Animat at PATS Sandown.

Designed to counter the life-threatening effects of pets over-heating, both products offer simple and practical solutions to keep your pet cool this summer.

The Animalarm designed and manufactured in the UK is a unique wireless temperature gauge for any environment, which automatically sends texts to your mobile phone when temperature limits are reached.

Extremely simple to use Animalarm operates on GSM networks and is compatible with any SIM card. It can be assigned to more than one mobile number with its easy coding system. There are no limits to the range for receiving messages, which accurately inform you on the status of the temperature. And alert every one degree beyond your programmed trigger temperature.

Perfect when travelling with your dog, Animalarm offers peace of mind to owners in transit. Surprisingly, the rear of a vehicle can be over 10 degrees hotter than the front as standard air-con systems are limited in their circulation.

Equally for those camping or motorhoming, Animalarm offers a versatile tool to ensure dogs do not overheat, and gives owners peace of mind that the temperature is monitored for optimum comfort for dogs wherever they go.

With applications ranging beyond travel to in the home, in boarding kennels and vet practices, the Animalarm is embraces modern technology to reduce an age-old issue of dogs over-heating in any environment.

The first of its kind in the UK, the AniMat uses an innovative and unique patented gel to cool down an animal on contact by absorbing body heat for up to an hour. It’s the exact same technology currently being used in cooling bedding and pads for humans. It’s non-toxic, non-leaking and so simple to use as it requires no battery or electrical activation.

It’s ideal for cats in the home or in transit as generally they won’t tolerate being dampened or enjoy being placed in front of a fan.  Made from easy to clean natural rubber dogs and cats are drawn to lie on its cooling surface. Complete with the option of a handy lightweight 100% cotton cover, the Animat is cool for both dogs and cats this Summer.

Available in three sizes retailing from £14.99, Animat is ideal for crates, car seats, and as a must-have cooling accessory for any dog bed or sofa.

Animaware’s Founder, Victoria Davidson commented:“ We’re very excited about showcasing our ‘heat sensitive’ products to the trade. We will be encouraging retailers and distributors alike with competitive margins, and point of sale material. Our aim is to reduce or even stop the often life threatening incidents of dogs suffering from heat exhaustion."

Animaware’s luxurious lightweight faux fur Dog Duvets will also be on display. Inspired to ensure a cosy night’s sleep for dogs and cats,10.5 tog duvets are ideal for a cat-nap anywhere.

For more information visit: www.animalarm.com

The Pet Industry Federation – the trade association for pet businesses – has put in place measures to ensure the highest standards are reached by pet shops when selling puppies.

"With defined and measureable criteria, the PIF Quality Assurance Standard for the Sale of Puppies in Pet Shops is an enormous step forward in the debate about puppy sales," said Nigel Baker, chief executive of the Pet Industry Federation.

"It means the industry now has a unique tool to support retailers and the wellbeing of puppies."

Constructed on the basis of PIF’s Pet Ethics Group puppy sales policy and in consultation with a respected veterinarian, the audit tackles the complex issues involved in protecting the welfare of the puppies.

The strict audit requirements include the systematic checking and cross-checking of paperwork, premises and puppies in order to ensure puppies are:

• at least eight weeks old or over
• are only sourced from licensed UK-only breeders
• are microchipped, vaccinated, flea-ed and wormed.

Other welfare requirements include:

• guarding against impulse buying by including an enforced three-day wait between viewing a puppy and its purchase
• interviewing the new owner regarding their knowledge, resources and responsibilities
• adherence a puppy sale contract
• the retailer will have to have achieved the Level 3 City & Guilds Pet Store Management qualification.

"This audit is now a pre-requisite of membership for retailers selling puppies, and enables us to have confidence that they are maintaining the highest standards in their businesses," explained Nigel.

"Businesses who have not wanted to take part in the audit process have had to leave membership, which is unfortunate, but it was a decision the Board felt necessary in order to set the standard over this high profile issue.

"We believe other stakeholder groups will be encouraged by this initiative, and we appeal to them to work with the Federation to tackle the problems that sadly continue to exist in the marketplace, such as the illegal importing of puppies, the increased rabies risk and the resources needed for satisfactory enforcement."

OATA has written to MEP Catherine Bearder to challenge remarks she made about the ornamental fish industry at a European Union press conference.

She was launching a cross-party MEPs for Wildlife Group which aims to put the fight against wildlife crime at the top of the EU's agenda.

But during the press conference she singled out the ornamental fish industry for opprobrium because it catches fish from the wild, inferring that criminal activity was involved. 

“A huge industry in the pet trade is fish – just taken from the wild. Very many of those are endangered and protected species. So there is criminal activity there,” said the Liberal Democrat MEP for South East, who was sharing a platform with other MEPs and the Born Free Foundation.

As soon as he had viewed the press conference on YouTube, OATA Chief Executive Keith Davenport wrote to the MEP, asking for evidence to back up her remarks and inviting her to visit traders in her constituency to see the real picture.

“Catherine Bearder is an experienced politician so it’s extremely concerning and disappointing to hear these kinds of remarks – which are just plain wrong. It’s a real shame that such shocking throwaway remarks should mar such an important issue but we couldn’t stand by and let those untruthful aspersions to our industry pass unchallenged.

“We welcome what Catherine was launching – it’s a very important initiative which we look forward to engaging with fully. We stand against the trafficker and resent any phrase or set of words that insinuates our legal activities are in any way comparable to the criminal activity of wildlife trafficking.

“There are 79.7 million tonnes of wild fish caught globally every year of which 6.38 million tonnes are thrown back as discards. Just 150 tonnes of ornamental fish are caught a year - to be kept alive for the home aquarium industry. That's not a huge industry.  Our industry is covered by CITES with shipments coming into this country through UK airports where border inspection posts check paperwork. To smear honest importers like this is very concerning.

“And let’s not forget the people who catch those fish. Catching live fish for home tanks - rather than dead fish for the plate - earns them substantially more, which means they have to catch less. And if that source of income is taken away - what are the alternative industries for feeding their family? There are people behind this honest trade and they need our help as much as the wildlife.

“Unfortunately, it’s these kinds of remarks which again highlight why we launched the Hands Off My Hobby campaign. Politicians need to understand it’s not a ‘bad’ thing to keep exotic species like fish despite what animal campaign groups like Born Free Foundation may say.”

The press conference can be viewed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJmN0fO7ycQ&feature=youtu.be (remarks of interest around 14.25)

Keith’s reply can be found here. http://www.ornamentalfish.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/letter-to-catherine-bearder.pdf 

Watch the moment a man walks into a Swansea aquatic store and appears to take a fish from a tank before pocketing it.

Thomas Dodd, director at Aquatic Supplies Wales, said he was horrified when he discovered CCTV footage of the thief taking two fish straight from their tanks at the Fforestfach store.

“We noticed one of the tanks was messed up and when we reviewed the CCTV footage we saw the man stealing the fish,” said Thomas.

“You can see him over five minutes trying to catch the fish with his hand, he then catches one and drops it on the floor before picking it up and putting it in his pocket.

“Then he just casually walks out the store, stopping to chat to someone on the way. It was horrifying to see someone treat a living animal this way.”

Thomas added two fish were stolen – a six-inch long Japanese koi worth about £50 and a smaller koi.

He posted the CCTV footage on the store’s Facebook page and it has now been viewed almost 8,000 times.

He said: “There’s no way those fish were going to survive in a pocket like that. They can’t be out of water for more than a couple of minutes.

“We’ve had thefts before but nothing like this. It was unbelievable.”

A South Wales Police spokesman said: "Police have received a report of theft from the Aquatic Supplies store in Fforestfach, Swansea which happened at around midday on Friday 27 February.

"The theft is being investigated and anyone who has any information is asked to call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously 0800 555 111 quoting occurrence number 1500076456."

Watch the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1pNZpQDfhM

A former mayor and her daughter have been banned from owning animals after they kept almost 70 pets in squalid conditions at their home.

Pamela Ann Crisp-Beard, 63, and her daughter Maria, 24, kept a menagerie at their cramped semi-detached property in Horncastle, Lincolnshire.

Their pets included 15 rabbits, a golden pheasant, two guinea pigs, five mice, two rats, a cat, two dogs, four domestic ducks, a goose and 22 chickens, a parrot and two ferrets.

Neighbours contacted the RSPCA in January last year over concerns about the animals and officers discovered they were living in appalling conditions.

Their home was in such a state that welfare officers said it was ‘knee-deep’ in faeces. The duo were found guilty of six animal welfare charges at Skegness Magistrates' Court in December last year.

On Tuesday they were banned from keeping animals for life and given an 18-month conditional discharge at the same court.

Pamela Crisp-Beard - who was Mayor of Horncastle between May 1997 and May 1998 - was also ordered to pay £10,000 towards the costs of the RSPCA prosecution.

Magistrates said they took into account that the offences were caused by ‘neglect rather than downright cruelty’ after the pair told the court they loved their pets.

Pamela Crisp-Beard, who also served as a councillor between 2003 and 2011, told the court: "We love our animals. We always have done. All we have tried to do is look after them."

The court heard the pair kept some of their animals indoors, including in a bedroom, at their home, while others were left in the back garden.

RSPCA inspector Deborah Scotcher told the court when she visited the house her feet squelched on the hall carpets because they were sodden with urine.

A woman who ran an illegal pet shop from her London flat, selling smuggled designer puppies, has been ordered to pay out thousands of pounds.

Sonata Sakalauskaite sold French bulldog puppies for £650 each on online sites such as Gumtree after they were illegally brought into Britain from her native Lithuania by couriers.

She was prosecuted for breaking animal welfare laws after officials raided her home in Southfields.

During the first raid, officers found five French bulldogs aged between eight and 10 weeks’ old in a pen in her front room. On another occasion they found more puppies hidden behind a piano. Neighbours said there had been an almost constant stream of puppies arriving and leaving the property.

The Dogs Trust has previously warned that the illegal pet trade is out of control, with breeders making £100,000 from the sale of smuggled puppies. It said dealers were taking advantage of a trend for “fashionable” dogs, importing French bulldogs, chihuahuas, poodle crosses, pugs and toy terriers. The breeders are exploiting legislation designed for the transportation of family pets to bring puppies into Britain on a commercial scale.

Sakalauskaite’s business was discovered in a joint investigation by the City of London Corporation and Wandsworth Council. Officers found the puppies had entered the country with forged pet passports, which claimed the animals had been given rabies injections.

However, they were under the legal transportation age of 15 weeks, which meant they were too young to have been removed from their mothers and not old enough for the injections to be effective.

When interviewed, Sakalauskaite admitted selling two French bulldog puppies for about £650 and confirmed the pups were born in Lithuania.

She claimed she had given up the business, but officials found evidence she was still selling puppies while under investigation.

The 36-year-old did not attend a hearing at Lavender Hill magistrates’ court and was found guilty in her absence under the Pet Animals Act to selling puppies without a licence.

Sakalauskaite was fined £550 and ordered to pay £5,800 in costs. Wandsworth councillor Jonathan Cook said: “Our investigation showed that Miss Sakalauskaite was effectively running a commercial pet shop from her property without a licence and this is illegal.

“The scale of her business operation showed that the health and wellbeing of these young dogs was being put at risk, not to mention the wider public health implications of what she was doing.”

Deborah Bradfield, animal health inspector for the City of London Corporation, said: “She turned out to be more prolific than most people we deal with. We warned her in a strongly-worded letter but she continued to sell them.”

Pictured: One of the smuggled French Bulldogs that Sonata Sakalauskaite was trying to sell.

Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden will host new animal show Give a Pet a Home later this year.

She said: "I'm so delighted to be hosting this new series that will look into the amazing work the RSPCA do and hopefully we'll be able to find some much needed new homes for the pets featured on the show.

"I am just going to have to stop myself from taking them all home with me."

The six-part series, filmed at Newbrook Farm Animal Centre in Birmingham, will see Amanda joined by a range of famous animal-lovers as they try to find new homes and families for mistreated and abandoned pets.

Each episode will feature six animals needing to be re-homed, and viewers will have the option of applying for adoption on the ITV website - with successful applications appearing on the following week's show.

Peter Davey, commissioning editor for ITV Entertainment, added: "We are thrilled to be working so closely with the RSPCA on this special project, where we will see abandoned animals being re-homed into the right environment."

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the RSPCA said it was "fantastic to be joining forces with ITV" as they hope to find animals "their perfect, forever homes".

The British Veterinary Association has welcomed the decision by the Council of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to permit veterinary surgeons in the UK to use the courtesy title ‘Doctor’.

The RCVS decision follows a consultation that received over 11,000 responses, with 81% of respondents being in favour of the change. 50% of the respondents were veterinary surgeons, 22% were veterinary students and 21% animal-owning members of the public. Other respondents included veterinary nurses, veterinary nurse students, practice managers and non-animal-owning members of the public. 

The use of the title is optional and guidance has been produced to support the change, including emphasis on the importance of not misleading the public. This includes ensuring that a veterinary surgeon’s  use of ‘Doctor’ or ‘Dr’ does not imply or suggest they hold a medical qualification or a PhD. If the title is used, it should be used in conjunction with the veterinary surgeon’s name and either the descriptor ‘veterinary surgeon’ or the postnominal letters ‘MRCVS’.

BVA President John Blackwell (pictured) said: “The phenomenal response to the RCVS consultation on veterinary surgeons’ use of the courtesy title ‘Doctor’ shows how much this issue matters to our colleagues and our members. The move brings the UK in line with international usage of ‘Doctor’, most veterinary surgeons worldwide using the title.

“The RCVS has been extremely well-led in the consultation by its President, Professor Stuart Reid, who made a clear commitment to consider the use of the title when he took office last summer.

“It is particularly heartening that one in five of the respondents to the consultation were animal-owning members of the public. This is a testament to the high regard that clients hold their vets in. We know this respect has to be earned and that we cannot be complacent about this. Together with the RCVS, BVA will continue to work towards the highest standards in the veterinary profession for all of us, whether or not we choose to use the title ‘Doctor’”.