PATS Sandown, the UK's Spring pet industry exhibition, got off to a successful start today (Sunday) as visitors flocked to the Sandown Park exhibition centre in Surrey to meet up with more than 130 exhibiting companies and brands. The show is again open tomorrow with doors opening at 9.30am...

Pet product retailers and buyers can still register for free entry to PATS Sandown at www.patshow.co.uk where a full list of exhibitors can also be found.

Opening times

Monday 28^th March: 9.30am-4.00pm

Get a flavour the show from our gallery of pictures below

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.”

WHM Pet Group is celebrating the first PATS Sandown exhibition in over two years by inviting buyers to a Country Fair at the ‘WHM Pet Group Lounge’ in the Surrey Hall.

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

Country Fair Highlights

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

Wild bird care brands RSPB, Berry Ingredients and Honeyfield’s will also be 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 are 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.

Games & Refreshments

The challenge awaits at the ‘Fat Ball Shy’ where the quality of these fat balls can be 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. Here visitors can see which fat balls in the market are unfortunately capable of knocking down the coconuts due to their hardness!

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

All the fun and games will make for thirsty work, but rest assured, there is a resting place for refreshments. The ‘Haystack’ bar will be conveniently situated in the fair grounds. Exhibitors who receive a free coffee/tea voucher from PATS can also redeem this free drink at the bar at any time of the show. 

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

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."

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.

Pets at Home has opened the doors to a number of revamped pet care centres, including the introduction of a new grooming salon.

The new-look stores have opened on Anchor Retail Park (Burnley), Belgrave Retail Park (Wisbech), White Lion Retail Park (Dunstable) and Northside Retail Park (Meanwood).

The new grooming salon at each store – The Groom Room – offers a wide range of grooming services for dogs, including full grooms, spa treatments, puppy grooming, bath, brush and blow-dry, and nail clipping. 

The rest of the stores has also been refurbished, including a pet village, which has been designed with small animals in mind to ensure there is plenty of room for them

to play, hide, eat and sleep, as well as an aquatic centre, with a range of fish and accessories.  

Sarah Garcia, manager at the Burnley store, said: “We really do offer everything you need to keep pets happy, healthy and safe, all under one roof. Whether it’s help with fitting a harness, accessing our grooming services, our team are always on hand to offer expert pet care advice, support and guidance.” 

For a gallery of pictures from the new-look stores see below.

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.” 

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...

The Future for International Trade Conference, organised jointly by Gardenex, PetQuip and BHETA, has been hailed as a huge success by more than 80 delegates from the gardening, pet and home improvement industries.

The conference, which took place at Stratford Manor Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon on Thursday, 17 March, featured a wide range of speakers covering topics such as export law and procedures post-Brexit, a worldwide economic forecast, and global retail trends and international market forecasts.

The delegates also heard from a number of successful companies on their export strategies and how they had achieved success in international markets and grown overseas sales.

The superlatives flowed thick and fast after the event as delegates left with a wealth of information.

The mood was summed up by Graham Robinson, head of operations and procurement at Wildlife World, who said: “I thought the presenters, key speakers and case studies were invigorating, knowledgeable and engaging. We certainly learned some valuable lessons and it was nice to know that the message we’ve been telling our employees, is what the current landscape looks like.”

Nina Best, international sales manager for Burgon & Ball, commented: “I found the conference incredibly helpful and interesting. It was great to hear from all the expert speakers in the various sectors and I found the case studies to be particularly insightful. The event also provided an ideal opportunity to network with delegates from other companies and speak with members of the trade associations.”

And Jonathan Stobart, managing director of Smart Garden Products, added: “I thought the conference was a great platform for people to get an overview of the challenges facing companies and the many opportunities available to them. It was also fascinating to hear the different views of how businesses are approaching international markets.”

The case studies from companies operating in the gardening, pets and home improvement markets – Spear & Jackson, Grow Sow Simple, ChickenGuard, Croydex and Monument Tools – proved to be particularly popular and were described as insightful and entertaining.

Adam Marsden, head of sales and marketing at Ancol Pet Products, said: “I found the case studies of particular interest – there was lots of good advice. It has been a very good day.”

These comments were echoed by Victoria Lowe, UK and international sales manager at pet company HOWND. She said: “Working for a small company aiming to grow its export business, I found the information from this conference to be invaluable. And I loved hearing how other companies had approached international markets. It has been brilliant.”

Speakers at the conference included government lobbyist John Arnold on the current UK political situation, and Tim Hiscock, from Strong & Herd, who gave a clear and digestible outline of current export procedures and compliances.

Delegates also heard an insightful and comprehensive presentation on global and retail trends in the gardening and home improvement markets from Euromonitor International’s Nick Stene, while government advisor Andrew Hood explained the legalities of international trade for businesses and the implications of current sanctions for business.

Following the round of expert presentations and the round of case studies, delegates and speakers took part in two lively question and answer sessions. There was also time allocated for networking with fellow delegates and to direct personal export queries to the wide selection of export and business experts who were on hand throughout the event.

Rounding up the conference was keynote retail speaker Shelley Boyle from ManoMano, an expanding European online retailer specialising in home improvement and gardening.

Amanda Sizer Barrett, director general of Gardenex and PetQuip, said: “The conference was an overwhelming success, and Gardenex and PetQuip are very pleased to have hosted the event alongside BHETA and sponsor Glee. Delegate feedback on the quality and content from all the speakers and export experts has been overwhelmingly positive and we are pleased to have delivered such a useful and enjoyable event.”

For more information about future events visit www.gardenex.com and www.petquip.com

Lily's Kitchen is launching Protein Bites and nutritionally complete On the Go Bars for dogs with the aim of refuelling four-legged friends anytime and anywhere. 

Developed for dogs and people who lead busy lives, Lily’s Kitchen’s pocket-sized On the Go Bars provide a nutritionally balanced meal in a portable pack, perfect for road trips, long walks, or even playing in the park.

Lily’s Kitchen has managed to cram flavour, freshly prepared meat and natural ingredients into these handy mealtime bars, along with all the vitamins and minerals dogs need as part of a balanced diet.

On the Go Bars are available in two  recipes. The first of these tasty, grain-free recipes is made with chicken, coconut and turmeric, and is available in single pack or multipack. The bars can be broken into the perfect bitesize portion and include a sprinkle of flaxseeds and banana to make a delicious and healthy snack to keep dogs’ tails wagging.

In addition to the chicken On the Go Bar, Lily’s Kitchen has introduced a second grain-free recipe made with beef, spinach and cinnamon. Both bars are vet and nutritionist approved, ensuring pets’ nutritional requirements are being met.

Sam Crossley, marketing director at Lily’s Kitchen, said: “Just like other pet parents, our dogs often come with us when we get out and about, but it can be a bit tricky keeping to regular feeding routines. We’re so excited to share our new On the Go Bars which take the pain out of ‘mobile mealtimes’. With these new additions to our menu, pet parents can be confident their dogs are enjoying a nutritionally complete, balanced meal even when not at home.”

Also new to the dog menu are Protein Bites. Lily’s Kitchen has expanded its treats range to include these little bags of bites that pack a real protein punch, made with lean proteins and healthy ingredients – perfect for busy dogs.

The range is available to purchase in two recipes – Chicken or Turkey & Whitefish – which both contain tasty peanut butter, an excellent source of protein and healthy fats, vitamins B and E, and niacin.

“These handy dome-shaped snacks are the perfect pick-me-up for your dog, giving a protein boost throughout the day,” said Sam. “From long walks to road trips, or just supporting you during your busy schedule, our new On-The-Go Bars and Protein Bites are a great way to refuel and energise your dogs.”   

Kent-based All About Pet Health has set out ambitious plans to further conquer the UK private label health supplement and pet aids market by introducing new products to own label customers.

Currently distributors of the successful Naturvet (Overby Farm in the UK) range of supplements and pet aids manufactured by the Garmon Corporation USA, the distributor is looking to offer more clients their own white label range targeting pet food manufacturers, large pet shop chains, smaller multiple independent shops, online pet retailers and veterinary practices with their products.

All About Pet Health was founded by Daniel McKenzie. His career started in the pet industry when he became the UK importer for a ball launching device called ‘iFetch’ back in 2010. Deciding to move away from the pet accessory side of the market, Daniel then began to seek out new product ideas and started working for Garmon Corp. in the USA and became the European Managing Director of the new business All About Pet Health.

Talking about his ambitious plans Daniel said: “Being part of a larger group, Garmon Corp USA. who is the largest privately owned manufacturer of pet health products in North America enables us to be competitive on pricing, product range, innovation and customer service. 

“We are building our range all the time and our product range is very comprehensive and many items are what we call ‘problem solvers’ so are niche but very highly rated to solve problems like ‘carpet scooting’, chewing carpets, lawn burn, etc. All of our products are formulated by our own veterinarians and materials/ingredients are natural and sustainably sourced. Private/white labelling is currently highly popular with our growing client list. We want to become the ‘go to’ manufacturer for private label customers within the UK.  

“The market for pet supplements and problem solvers has expanded greatly largely due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The United Kingdom is host to over 50 million pets and according to a 2020/21 survey from the Office for National Statistics, the share of households reporting dog ownership stood at 33 percent. The second most common house pet among UK households was cats, with around 27 percent of respondentsstating their ownership. In total, 59 percent of UK households reported owning at least one type of pet.

“With pet ownership comes the cost of care and the total consumer spending on veterinary and other services for pets in the United Kingdom in 2020 totalled nearly 4 billion British pounds, compared to 1.4 billion British pounds in 2005. This is £1 million less from the previous year largely due to the Coronavirus pandemic which shows that people were using alternative ways of treating their pets during this period hence the growth of the pet supplement and home grooming product markets.  The global pet supplements market size was estimated at USD 1.47 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach USD 1.55 billion in 2021. In the UK the market for pet supplements is worth around £100 million and growing at 7% per year.

“The rising cost of petcare and access to vets during the lockdown period has shown that there is a demand for the types of products we distribute and this is a fantastic business opportunity open to anyone looking to set up a pet business or add income to their existing business,” concludes Dan.

For further information visit: www.allaboutpethealth.co.uk Tel: (0)1892 839989 or email: dan@allaboutpethealth.co.uk

Tick Bite Prevention Week takes place in March each year. Ticks are small bloodsucking parasites that can carry a whole host of dangerous diseases that can be transmitted to pets and humans. Prevention is the best way to protect your pets and yourself against tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme disease and to combat the threat, The Dog Doctors has brought out a  Natural Flea, Ticks & Mites Repellant Treatment Spray for Dogs.

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Ticks are active and looking for something to feed on (you and your pet) as soon as the temperature hits 4C. As well as Lyme disease, ticks also carry many other serious and deadly illnesses and are often so small that they are difficult to spot. They live in wooded areas, tall grass, bushes, or leaves just waiting to attach onto your pet.

You can protect your pets with The Dog Doctors’ Repellant Spray which is completely natural giving protection against fleas and ticks whilst having the additional benefit of being a great smelling cruelty free and vegan coat conditioner. It uses the highest quality natural essential oil blends with active ingredients that include:Deionised Water, Isopropyl Alcohol, Glycerin Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (2.7%), Lemongrass Oil (0.25%), Rosemary Oil (0.25%), Cedarwood Oil (0.25%), and Thyme Oil (0.1%)

The treatment provides protection from threatening diseases contracted by insect bites and is completely safe for use on puppies. No harmful chemicals are ever used in any of The Dog Doctors’ products.

For further information on any of The Dog Doctor’s range visit: www.thedogdoctors.co.uk for trade enquiries Email:daniel@thedogdoctors.co.uk

Specialising in natural pet foods, treats and quality pet accessories, Natural Cornish Pet based in St Erth has a tasty range of fish-based toppers which are a simple and effective way to improve the taste of a dog's dinner whilst nourishing.

Natural Cornish Pet’s Boost and Nourish range consists of meal toppers in Scottish Salmon, Cornish Whitefish and Cornish Redfish varieties. These are ideal for adding that fishy goodness to any meal. 

Available in easy to shake spice jars with a flip-up lid, Boost and Nourish toppers are  100% natural and grain free. The fatty acids found in fish are perfect for providing moisture to skin & coats, helping to reduce itchy skin and boost overall coat health, with less shedding and more shine! 

They are rich in Omega 3 & 6, which aren't naturally found in canine digestive systems – adding these oils to your pooches diet can have amazing benefits, including: aiding in brain development, helping focus, memory and behaviour and even boosting your dog's immune system!

Boost and Nourish is made with sustainably caught 100% Cornish Redfish, Whitefish or Scottish Salmon.

For further information please visit our website at: www.naturalcornishpet.co.uk. For trade visit: www.naturalpetwholesale.co.uk

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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

The British Independent Retailers Association has said it is underwhelmed with the offerings for independent businesses following yesterday's Spring Statement.

In the announcement by Chancellor Riski Sunak in the House of Commons this afternoon, he revealed the basic rate of income tax will be cut from 20p in the pound to 19p, and fuel duty will also be cut by 5pm. 

In response to this news, Bira's CEO Andrew Goodacre said: "The Spring Statement is underwhelming for indie retailers with limited help on rising costs to business. Whilst we support cuts in fuel duty and an increase in NI allowance, this not nowhere near enough to offset 300% increases in energy, 100% increase in rates and double digit increases in the cost of employment. The 1p cut in income tax is a classic diversionary tactic designed to hide a statement which is short on support for business.

"Increases in product costs are easier to pass on to consumer, but these rising overhead costs are not which ultimately means a very difficult year for small retailers."

Leading pet food and accessories wholesaler Bestpets has announced the launch of 20 brand new products to its Bestpets own-label product line. 

Following a breakout year that saw record growth for the division, the team at Bestpets have designed a new line of toys for cats and dogs that is guaranteed to get tails wagging. 

Ranging from fluffy hedgehogs with added catnip, plush squeaky foxes and new knot rope toys for dogs, the new 20 SKU product line includes 16 products for dogs and 4 for cats, with 11 of the dog toys being PMP.

Adam Moore, Bestway Category Controller for Pets said: “We have been looking to add to our already great toy selection and are excited to share this new range with our customers. 

“We know that quality is critical for pet owners, but with inflationary pressures facing all of us, so is affordability. We are pleased to be offering our retailers with the best of both worlds and know that our new range will be a big hit with customers. 

“Our PMP range in particular will be a popular choice for pet owners and retailers alike. PMPs are essentially self-executing, meaning retailers don’t have to worry too much about promotional activity, and PMP products play an important role in getting repeat business and building consumer confidence." 

CSJ has welcomed news that Matt Hodson achieved Silver in the 2 dog 2 category on snow at the World Sleddog Association/IFSS World Championships in Sweden.

Matt said: “I wanted to thank you for your support, the dogs did me proud and we achieved Silver in the 2 dog 2 category – the highest placed GB adult ever on snow at a WSA World Championships!”

The event was held on 10^th to 12^th March and started and finished in Östersund’s famous ski arena, which also was the venue for the 2019 the Biathlon World Championship and the 2021 Biathlon World Cup Finals.

For logistical reasons the races had been moved from Ramundberget the city of Östersund where their world-class arena was able to showcase to the world the very best the sled dog sport has to offer.

Entrants were racing on excellent trails and competitors came from many countries, with Matt racing against mushers from countries including Belgium, Sweden and Italy.

CSJ said: “We are so proud of Matt’s and his dogs’ achievement. The energy expended by these fabulous Nordic breeds in these competitions is huge and the humans also need to be extremely fit and focussed – well done Matt!”

For more on CSJ products visit www.csjk9.com or call 01745710470

Fashion retailer PrettyLittleThing has launched its global search for one dog to be the face of its new PLT Pet Collection.

The winning dog will be invited to PrettyLittleThing’s Manchester HQ as the brand’s ecommerce dog model to launch the collection, as well as receiving a Pets at Home voucher to cash in on doggy pampering and goodies. What’s more, the winning dog’s owner will also receive a £500 PLT voucher to treat themselves with. 

Whether it's a Cockapoo, a Great Dane or a Dalmatian, PLT is on the hunt for the next dog model.

The news has hit Instagram with entries already rolling in.

A much-loved family cat from South East London has overcome the odds to make a full recovery following a traumatic traffic incident which left her with a fractured pelvis.

Cherished puss Rosie required emergency treatment from vet charity PDSA after her owner, Laura (35), returned home to discover her struggling to walk and unable to bear weight on her hind legs.

Upon finding her, a concerned Laura took Rosie to a local emergency out-of-hours vet, who confirmed Rosie had been hit by a car. It became clear she would need expensive, specialist treatment, which as a nursing student with limited income, Laura knew would be a challenge to afford.

Laura said: “After learning of Rosie’s severe injuries, I had to prepare myself and my seven-year-old daughter, Sophia, for the worst – that we might have to say goodbye to our beloved cat. It was heartbreaking, but I explained that we had to do what was best for her.”

She turned to PDSA, who provide emergency veterinary care for pets in need, and they immediately admitted Rosie to their Thamesmead Pet Hospital. She was provided with urgent pain relief, provided thanks to vital support from players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, while vets examined her injuries.

Several x-rays revealed the full extent of Rosie’s injuries, but there was also good news – Rosie had escaped any damage to her internal organs, so if her pelvis could heal, she had a chance at surviving.  

PDSA Vet, Jo Milne, said: “Complex pelvic fractures, such as Rosie’s, often require a surgical repair with a vet who specialises in such cases, but some will heal given enough time and strict rest. In Rosie’s case, her owner couldn’t afford a costly referral, so the next 48 hours were crucial. We needed to manage Rosie’s pain and ensure her injuries would heal without an operation; it was also important to ensure she did not have serious nerve damage that could cause her long-term problems.” 

Proving cats really do have nine lives, when Rosie was examined again, PDSA confirmed there was a good chance she would recover.

Laura added: “I was concerned that Rosie may need a major operation, but there was no way I could afford thousands of pounds for specialist vet care. So, I was over the moon when the vets said there was a chance she could recover without surgery and that we could take her home under strict cage rest.”

Gradually Rosie regained strength in her back legs, and within a few weeks she was eager to start walking around again.

Laura said: “I cannot believe Rosie’s recovery. She was in such a bad way, but she’s come on leaps and bounds. It was a huge relief to see her gradually returning to her usual self, as she started to enjoy wandering around the house, while still having plenty of naps on our beds. My daughter, Sophia, was over the moon to have her best friend back and made sure she had plenty of love while she was recovering.”

It was six weeks until Rosie’s pelvis was healed enough to allow her to start increasing her levels of activity, but she’s now made a full recovery and loves exploring her garden again.

Laura concludes: “Thanks to support from PDSA and players of People’s Postcode Lottery, the cost of Rosie’s pain relief was covered – without it she would have been in substantial pain.

“I have signed up to a monthly donation to PDSA and encourage others to do the same because you never know when a pet might need help in future. I never imagined I would be in that position, but thankfully, PDSA was there to help us.” 

No one wants to see their four-legged friend in pain. Thanks to support from players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, over 100,000 pets received lifesaving pain relief in 2021, helping furry family members across the UK that needed it most.

To support the lifesaving work that PDSA provides for pets like Rosie, visit www.pdsa.org.uk/donate to donate.

Perthshire-based Republic of Munchery, suppliers of Wilsons pet food, is recalling several products because of the presence of salmonella in one of the ingredients used to manufacture them.

The affected products are:

• Wilsons Cold Pressed Haggis, pack size 2kg and 10kg, best before 07 January 2023
• Wilsons Cold Pressed Succulent Chicken, pack size 2kg and 10kg, all dates from 15 December 2022 up to and including 17 February 2023
• Wilsons Cold Pressed Grass Fed Lamb, pack size 2kg and 10kg, all dates from 13 December 2022 up to and including 10 February 2023
• Wilsons Cold Pressed Clear Water Salmon, pack size 2kg and 10kg, all dates from 15 December 2022 up to and including 23 February 2023
• Wilsons Cold Pressed Farmhouse Turkey and Duck, pack size 2kg and 10kg, all dates from 10 December 2022 up to and including 22 February 2023
• Wilsons Cold Pressed Highland Venison and Trout, pack size 2kg and 10kg, all dates from 16 December 2022 up to and including 14 February 2023
• Wilsons Cold Pressed Wild White Fish, pack size 2kg and 10kg, all dates from 14 December 2022 up to and including 2 February 2023
• Wilsons Cold Pressed Working Dog Beef, pack size 15kg, all dates from 13 December 2022 up to and including 23 February 2023
• Wilsons Cold Pressed Working Dog Chicken, pack size 15kg, all dates from 14 December 2022 up to and including 23 February 2023
• Wilsons Cold Pressed Working Dog Pork, pack size 15kg, all dates from 20 December 2022 up to and including 21 February 2023

In its risk statement, the Food Standards Agency said: “The presence of salmonella in the products listed above. Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause illness in humans and animals. The products could therefore carry a potential risk, because of the presence of salmonella, either through direct handling of the product, or indirectly, for example from pet feeding bowls, utensils or contact with the faeces of animals.”

Point of sale notices are being displayed in all retail stores selling the affected products. These notices explain to customers why the products are being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product.

The FSA’s advice to consumers is: “If you have bought any of the above products do not use them. Instead return them to the store from where they were bought for a full refund or contact Republic of Munchery Ltd for further advice by calling 01250798298 or emailing them at info@wilsonspetfood.co.uk.”

Doggy Doggy Yum Yum, launched in 2020 by Dorset- based artisanal ice cream maker Baboo Gelato, has acquired another distributor in the Midlands, allowing more grocery retailers and cafes, restaurants, garden centres, pubs and hotels across the region to stock the product.

First Service Frozen Foods Limited based in Worcestershire will be distributing Doggy Doggy Yum Yum to the Just for Pets stores as well as customers in the hospitality and grocery retail sectors.  

Sam and Annie Hanbury, the husband and wife team behind multi-award winning Baboo ice cream, found that lots of their customers were buying ice cream for their dogs. Realising that lactose is bad for dogs’ tummies, they saw a gap in the market for the first fully organic, dairy free premium frozen treat for dogs, and so Doggy Doggy Yum Yum was born.

Annie who trained as a professional gelatiere in Bologna, has brought the same care to the formulation of Doggy Doggy Yum Yum as she brings to her ice cream, so it uses the very best organic ingredients.

Made with peanut butter and bananas which dogs find hard to resist, this frozen treat uses coconut milk instead of dairy so it is kinder to dogs’ tummies. The ice cream is 100% organic, natural and contains probiotics which come from the live yoghurt, vitamins C and B, iron, magnesium, copper and potassium from the coconut and bananas.

If given as an occasional treat after a long walk in the countryside, the park or on the beach this tasty treat is perfect way to reward your dog.

The peanut butter is pure and so does not contain sugar, xylitol or palm oil.  Doggy Doggy contains no artificial flavourings, colours or refined sugars.

Wayne Sambidge, director at First Service Frozen Foods Limited, said: “We are extremely excited about adding Doggy Doggy Yum Yum to our range of products. The dog frozen treat market has grown massively in the past few years and we are delighted to be distributing such a quality, award-winning product such as Doggy Doggy Yum Yum.”

Doggy Doggy Yum Yum exhibited at Crufts for the first time this month introducing its delicious frozen treat to lots of new four-legged friends.

For further information visit www.doggydoggyyumyum.com

Leading Milton Keynes-based pet accessory company Barking Bags experienced sell-outs on a number of its ranges at Crufts where the company also launched its new point-of-sale material for the trade.

Barking Bags won the Best New Business 2021 at the Pet Industry Federation Awards and was recently offered investment from entrepreneur Sara Davies on the popular Dragons' Den TV show.

With the help of fashion design students who came up with creative ideas for Barking Bags, the company now produces high quality dog walking bags in a range of water resistant, unisex fabrics and also high-end luxury leather. In response to customer demand, it also produces a vegan-friendly range as well. 

Barking Bags’ ingenious designs have mesh pockets for water bottles and soggy toys, a poo bag dispenser, a safe place for keys and mobile and much more. Some models have reflective strips for added safety when walking in the dark and Barking Bags sells police approved panic alarms that can be clipped onto the bags.

The bags come with breathable side pockets with the option of a draw string side pocket – large enough to carry the dog waste once it is bagged up which means no more walking around carrying the unmentionable stuff.

They are great for professional dog walkers, breeders, show dog owners, groomers and ordinary dog owners. They are now available as Original, Luxury Leather and Diddy Bags, a smaller version which can be used as bum bags. 

As part of a major new re-branding exercise, Barking Bags has now introduced some new point-of-sale items including hangers to display the bags on. The new branding was reflected in the style of the stand at Crufts.

For more information visit: www.barkingbags.co.uk

An award-winning Berkshire-based pet accessory business owned by Sarah Jones, is raising awareness of anxious dogs by launching its own Dogs in Yellow Day (#dogsinyellow) awareness campaign on Sunday, March 20.

Sarah is an owner of her own ‘anxious dog’, Cocker Spaniel Bella, who became the inspiration for her yellow pet accessory business.

“Bella was attacked by another dog when she was a puppy and this is where her fear of dogs started, it left her terrified,” said Sarah. 

“She would react to other dogs if they came too close, either growling or lunging because she was scared. It prompted pitiful looks from people who passed by, as if you were stupid to own such a vicious or aggressive dog. 

“It felt so infuriating to watch people tut, and drag their dog away once they have managed to grab their collars. 

“People just don't realise what some of these anxious dogs have been through. So I wanted to find a way that dogs such as Bella could be understood and as result, My Anxious Dog was born. Through compassionate awareness-raising, we will reach more unknowing dog owners and spread the understanding far and wide.

“When you see a dog wearing yellow it means that they need some space, and then the world feels much less frightening.”

There are many reasons why a dog could become anxious. These include:

• Recovering from an illness or operation
• Female dogs in season
• Older dogs
• A nervous, unpredictable or unsociable dog
• Dogs in training
• They may have a new family who aren’t yet sure of the dogs character and behaviour with other dogs or people

It is hoped that dogs wearing yellow will become a recognised symbol and bring awareness for dogs that need some compassion and space while on walks. 

Sarah has developed a snazzy range of yellow pet accessories to alert people to anxious dogs and these include harnesses, leads, lead covers, dog jumpers, raincoats, collars, stickers, posters, information packs, poo bag holders and safety lights. She has also developed a range of fashionable clothing for humans including vests, T’ shirts and hoodies with the Anxious Dog message printed on them.

My Anxious Dog recently won Best Pet Related Business at the Animal Star Awards which was set up by Mary Burgess in 2016 to give recognition to animals and humans alike who do extraordinary things for one another. They take nominations from the public for the people or organisations that they think deserve recognition. Once the nominations close, they are sent to a panel of judges, each an industry expert in their field, to determine category winners.

The Best Pet Related Business category was judged by Anna Webb author, behaviour expert and broadcaster at BBC London's The Barking Hour and Podcast A Dog's Life. With almost 300 nominees in this category Sarah was absolutely thrilled to be a winner this year.

Each winner was given a beautiful star shaped trophy made by Gaudio Awards who design and manufacture the awards for BBC MasterChef.

For further information on My Anxious Pet visit: www.bellascollars.co.uk

Email: sarahbeckleyjones@gmail.com

Tel: 07740 723524