Industry News

Abandoned puppy dies in freezing conditions

A four-week-old puppy was abandoned in a box in Birmingham in freezing cold weather. The puppy was left by the canal and discovered by a passerby early on November 9. The man who discovered her was very concerned for her. He took her home and called the RSPCA. Inspector Mark Scargill,…

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Student wins BETA Equine Thesis of the Year

University of Limerick student Alison Brassil has won the BETA Equine Thesis of the Year award. Her dissertation was titled The Effect of Paternal Age on Progeny Performance in Thoroughbreds. She joined three other finalists, Lucy Morgan of Harper Adams University, Anna Williams of the Royal Agricultural University and Tegan…

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Skinner’s will release new range for pets in 2017

Suffolk based company Skinner’s Petfoods will be moving into the pet sector from early 2017. The new ‘Life’ range for companion animals will be available alongside Skinner’s well established food for working dogs. A premium range for all life stages, Life builds on Skinner’s extensive experience in developing the highest quality…

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Vacuum cleaner gave couple a ssssssurprise

A couple were given a fright when they discovered a snake poking out the end of their vacuum cleaner. The couple found the little snake in their airing cupboard in Boroughbridge, York. “They spotted the corn snake’s head under the door and were rather frightened about what kind of snake it…

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Pet shop owner cleared over python child deaths

A Canadian pet shop owner has been acquitted following the death of two young boys who were asphyxiated by a python. Two brothers, aged four and six were killed by the pet in 2013 after it escaped from a New Brunswick pet shop. The 4.3m (14ft) snake slithered through a…

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Women ‘effectively working for free until end of 2016′ due to gender pay gap

Women will in effect work for free for the rest of the year because of the gender pay gap, a leading campaign group has said. The Fawcett Society has dubbed today (10 November) as Equal Pay Day (EPD) and claimed that the 13.9% pay gap means women are effectively working…

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UK pets at risk as two-thirds of owners unaware of welfare needs

Only one in three pet owners (35 percent) are familiar with their pet’s legal welfare needs, reveals a coalition of veterinary organisations ahead of the tenth anniversary of the landmark Animal Welfare Acts (8 November). Despite over half of UK households owning a pet, findings from the veterinary charity PDSA…

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Annual inspection looms for licensed pet retailers

The annual inspection for those selling livestock within shops is imminent. Pet retailers are being advised by The Pet Industry Federation (PIF) about the importance of joining PIF’s Primary Authority scheme – the government-backed scheme which helps to standardise inspections, overcome problems encountered by retailers and raise animal welfare standards.…

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Delegates gather for this year’s BETA Conference

‘The Bottom Line’ was the theme of this year’s British Equestrian Trade Association Conference, held for the first time at the Woodland Grange Hotel, near Coventry, on Monday 7 November. Delegates from across the UK gathered to network with colleagues and listen to advice and handy tips from a panel…

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Pets at Home announces new partnership

Pets at Home and Petplan has announced their new partnership. In a move where Petplan adds Pets at Home retail outlets to its extensive pet-focused distribution network, the partnership will see Pets at Home recommending Petplan insurance to any new insurance customers from 10th November. Jonny Armstrong head of insurance…

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