Industry News

Feb- 2021 -

10 February

RSPCA warns of dog ear cropping rise

The RSPCA has warned about a surge in the illegal practice of dog ear cropping over the past year. The latest figures released this week by the charity has shown a 621% increase in the number of reports of ear cropping in the last six years. From 2015 to 2020,…

10 February

One in ten new puppy owners worried about dog care post-lockdown

One in ten new puppy owners are worried about caring for their dog post-lockdown, according to new data released by the Kennel Club. The survey revealed that 10% of owners who purchased a dog during the pandemic are concerned about whether they can sufficiently care for their pets after restrictions…

9 February

Nominations ongoing for International Canine Health Awards 2021

This year’s event marks the ninth year of the awards, which aims to celebrate some of the world’s finest researchers and scientists whose work has had a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of dogs. With a prize fund totalling £70,000, The Kennel Club Charitable Trust invites scientists and…

9 February

Petplan donates £19,000 to Dogs Trust

Dogs Trust Cardiff has announced it has received a donation worth £19,000 from the PetPlan Charitable Trust. The money will go towards funding a kennel at the charity’s new state-of-the-art rehoming centre in South Wales. The expected completion date for the centre is April 2021. The booked kennels block will…

9 February

SSPCA issues update on ‘bogus inspectors’ stealing animals

The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) has issued an update about “bogus inspectors” after receiving intelligence from a member of the public. The charity revealed that on 4 February 2021 it had learnt of people posing as inspectors to dupe people into handing over their…

9 February

January retail sales slump to lowest level since May 2020

January saw retail sales growth decline to its lowest level since May of last year, figures by the BRC and KPMG show. According to the pair’s sales monitor, total retail sales dropped by 1.3% in January compared to 0.4% in January 2020 as national lockdown measures continue to disrupt trading. …

8 February

29% of small retail businesses fear collapse in next three months, study finds

29% of small businesses in the retail sector fear contraction or collapse in the next three months as the coronavirus continues to disrupt business, a study by Hitachi Capital Business Finance reveals. The company which has been tracking small business outlooks across the UK for 26 consecutive quarters found only…

8 February

Usdaw calls for ‘level playing field’ between shops and online retailers

Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) has urged the government to create a “level playing field” between high streets and online retail. To support shops, and the communities they serve, the union has suggested the government should implement “fundamental business rates reform”. The organisation revealed that from analysis…

8 February

BBC defends dog grooming show

The BBC has come out in defence of Pooch Perfect, its new dog competition reality show hosted by actress Sheridan Smith. The broadcaster’s latest output has come under fire from viewers for setting a “bad example” for dog owners. In a statement, the BBC said: “Grooming is a healthy and…

8 February

Mackle Petfoods and Naturo welcomes rising sales

For nearly 50 years, Mackle Petfoods have been creating high quality pet food at their family-owned farm and factories in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The secret to their longevity in the industry? As well as sticking to their main principles of creating food to promote overall health and maintain a…