Current Affairs

Mar- 2013 -

6 March

UK retail sales grow at fastest rate for years in February

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has reported that retail sales in the UK grew at their fastest rate for more than three years in February. According to the BRC’s figures, like-for-like retail sales during February were up 2.7 per cent on the previous year – the fastest rate of like-for-like…

4 March

EU legislation puts aquatic industry in the firing line

The Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association (OATA) has called on all aquatic retailers to spread the ‘Be Plant Wise’ message as it awaits draft invasives legislation from the European Union (EU). The draft regulation, which comes out for consultation in the coming months, could have an enormous impact on what can…

1 March

Number of Britons abandoning pets proliferating

Increasing numbers of people are abandoning pets bought on impulse after discovering the amount of time, money and effort needed to care for them, Pets4Homes has revealed. According to RSPCA figures, at least 100 pets are dumped by their owners every day. Pets4Homes found that increasingly popular exotic pets, such…

Feb- 2013 -

27 February

Retail sales growth continues but momentum slows

Retailers reported a year-on-year growth in sales volumes in the first half of February, the CBI has revealed. In its latest Distributive Trades Survey, which covers the first two weeks of February, the CBI revealed that 37 per cent of retailers saw an increase in sales volume in the year…

22 February

BVA supports Northern Ireland dog breeding initiatives

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has welcomed the recently agreed legislation to regulate all commercial dog breeders in Northern Ireland. “We fully support initiatives to clamp down on unscrupulous breeders and allow good breeders to demonstrate their own value to the puppy-buying public, so we are particularly pleased to learn…

22 February

Experts warn of increased spread of lungworm across UK

Last year’s damp summer and mild winter have allowed slug and snail populations to flourish, leading experts to warn of a continued spread of Angiostrongylus vasorum in the UK. Biodiversity and conservation officer for the National History Museum, Professor Fred Naggs said: “An increase in the number of slug and…

21 February

Families with pets have happier children, research suggests

Research has indicated that households with pets produce happier, healthier children with greater responsibility. Some experts have shown the benefits pets can have on a child’s development, such as learning how to care for an animal and understanding the responsibility involved. It is also said that pets can help children…

19 February

Retail business running costs up £20bn since 2006

A British Retail Consortium (BRC) commissioned study by Oxford Economics has revealed that retailers’ operating costs have increased by a fifth since 2006. BRC’s new pre-budget research has seen the association call on the Chancellor, George Osborne, to maintain retailers’ contribution to the country by reducing business costs and re-building…

18 February

MPs brand dog attack plans “woefully inadequate”

Government plans to protect the public from dog attacks have been labelled as “woefully inadequate” by a group of MPs. Despite the introduction of compulsory microchipping for all dogs in England, some MPs remarked in a report that the government wasn’t giving “sufficient priority” to dog control. It is estimated…

14 February

Pet Theft Awareness Week launched

The proliferation of pet thefts has resulted in an internet-based pet retailer launching the first ever ‘Pet Theft Awareness Week’. From 14 to 20 March, the inaugural Pet Theft Awareness Week will aim to help owners increase their vigilance when it comes to the security of their animals. VioVet, the…