Trade Organisations

Jan- 2018 -

15 January

WWII dog gets posthumous award

A US Army dog who protected the lives of his platoon during the invasion of Sicily in 1943, has been posthumously awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal – widely known as the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross. Chips, a German Shepherd-Husky-cross, has been recognised for his key role during the…

Dec- 2017 -

20 December

Brits invest up to £25k over their dog’s lifetime

New research has uncovered the true cost of owning a dog, with some of the UK’s most popular breeds coming in at an eye watering £3,907.60 a year, or £25,849.33 across a dog’s lifetime. The findings also reveal how the nation is significantly underestimating these costs, with prospective dog owners…

20 December

A third of UK businesses adopt pet-friendly policies despite mixed opinions

An estimated 1.7 million British businesses have adopted a pet-friendly policy, however, new data has revealed that two thirds of employees claim office dogs are bad for business. More than half of staff think that furry friends are a distraction, making for poor productivity. And having canines in the office…

19 December

RCVS president announces charities receiving Christmas Box

The president of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has chosen two charities focused on working animals in the UK, The Horse Trust and Medical Detection Dogs, as the recipients of this year’s RCVS Christmas Box. The Box includes a £3,000 annual donation to the charity. The Horse Trust…

19 December

Paul O’Grady and Battersea friends bring festive cheer to GOSH patients

Young patients at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) were treated to some furry, four-legged festivities when ITV presenter Paul O’Grady paid a Christmas visit with some of his friends from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home on Friday 1 December. Paul, an ambassador for the Home, joined staff from the animal…

19 December

Battersea’s homeless hounds send Santa their Christmas lists

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home has been helping some of the centre’s loneliest dogs pen Christmas letters to Santa. Unsurprisingly, finding a home is top of the list for Darcy, Sally and their four-legged friends. These dogs are all hoping they won’t have to spend too much longer in Battersea’s…

14 December

PFMA highlights Brexit priorities in Sky News interview

The Pet Food Manufacturer’s Association (PFMA) laid out the pet industry’s needs following the Brexit vote in a Sky News interview. On a recent visit to Brussels, on 8 December, the body’s chief executive, Michael Bellingham, told Sky News that the 60 million pets in the UK “did not vote…

Oct- 2017 -

23 October

OATA honours former chief executive with lifetime achievement award

OATA, the Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association, has recognised its retired chief executive Keith Davenport for his extensive work within the aquatics industry. Keith, who spent 25 years at the helm of OATA, was presented the OATA’s Lifetime Achievement Award, at the AQUA 2017 show dinner by Dr David Pool. Keith…

23 October

Independent High Street retailers boom while national chains fall

Data released recently by The Local Data Company (LDC) and British Independent Retailers Association (bira) shows that traditional independent shops opened significantly more shops than in the same period last year. National chains continued to see a fall. Independents account for 65 percent of all retail and leisure units in Great Britain.…

17 October

PFMA learns how ‘no deal’ Brexit will impact on pet sector

The Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA) has been investigating the implications of failing to agree our future trade relations with the EU. The PFMA undertook a trade mission in Geneva, 9-11 October, to hold meetings with the WTO, as well as several major national missions including Ireland, USA, Canada, Argentina, Brazil,…