Pets Business World - OPINION Editor's Blog

Hands up those of you who have seen dogs travelling in front seats unrestrained, with their heads out of the window. It is not an uncommon sight. Which is why I was not that surprised to read how former EastEnder’s actor Todd Carty had a close shave when one of his pugs jumped out of his car and was nearly killed after it ran under a 4x4.

Todd later admitted that if his pug had been restrained, this would not have happened. He is now campaigning for a law forcing dogs to wear seatbelts, and has since signed up with TV vet Charles Bagnall and the RAC to demand Government action. The Noah’s Bark pet safety campaign hopes 100,000 Brits will sign up – before the election, David Cameron is reported to have said that the number would qualify a petition for a Commons debate.

At about the same time that this was going on, a survey by the American Automobile Association and manufacturer of pet travel products Kurgo revealed an amazing account of misdemeanours while on the road. For instance, more than half of those surveyed admitted petting their dog while driving; nearly a quarter used their arms to hold their dog in place while braking; and close to one in five admitted to having to drive with one hand because they had to stop their dog climbing into the front seat.

When taken into the context of how looking away from the road for only two seconds doubles the risk of being in a crash, this is a serious situation. Then when you consider how a 10-pound dog in a crash at 30mph exerts roughly 300 pounds of pressure and an unrestrained 80-pound dog at 30mph exerts about 2,400 pounds of pressure, you start to see how imperative it is that pets are restrained while travelling.

Yes, this was a survey conducted in America, but I bet a survey conducted here would throw up roughly the same attitudes and results. And now that the holiday season is upon us, and with more Brits this year holidaying within the UK, it is a good time to remind your customers about pet safety in the car.

It is a good habit to encourage, and we should not have to wait for legislation before thinking about car safety. Not that I think Todd’s campaign has any chance of becoming legislation any time soon.

There has been a flurry of on-line activitiy this week on twitter and forums in response to an article about separation anxiety suffered by dogs left Home Alone.

As to be expected, comments were broadly in two opposing camps: the “Dogs should never be left alone as it’s cruel” and the “Once they’re used to it, they’re fine” contingents.  On the whole, though, the anti camp was the more vociferous, which makes me wonder if dog owners are so used to this topic that they have become immune to the barbs that are hurled their way?

In any case, the article – carried in the Telegraph and Daily Mail – claimed that for many dogs, being left alone was more traumatic than owners might have considered.  John Bradshaw, director of the Anthrozoology Institute at Bristol University, who has studied pet behaviour for 25 years, said the situation represented a “real and on-going crisis” for dogs.

His proof?  He put video cameras in the homes of 20 dog owners, all of whom said their pet was happy being left at home when they were at work.  Instead, video footage showed some animals treading in circles around the doormat, breathing heavily and whining.

Separation anxiety in dogs is not a new topic, and dog trainers and behaviourists have been addressing this very question for years and years.  What is interesting in this case is that the owners concerned believed that their dogs were perfectly happy to be left alone…yet some obviously weren’t.  Which makes me wonder how many other “perfectly happy” dogs are out there?  A sobering thought indeed.

If a dog is engaging in destructive behaviour when left alone and a customer comes in looking for advice, your best bet is to suggest they ask their vet, who should be abe to recommend an animal behaviourist.  Some behaviour is suggestive of deep-rooted problems, and best addressed by someone who deals with these cases on a regular basis.

However, if your customer is simply looking for products that can ease their pet’s boredom factor, well, this is where the retailer is in his/her element!

There are a number of products that fit this need perfectly.  Products such as toys that can be filled with treats, which dogs have to push and pull around on the floor to release one at a time, will keep dogs occupied for hours – look at the Kong for example.

Food is a great incentive for dogs, so interactive games such as those by Nina Ottosson where which dogs have to work out puzzles before uncovering a treat will also be attractive to owners concerned about providing their pet with mentally challenging activities during the day.

Ultimately, there are many, many products that retailers can make into an interesting display to attract attention in store, and which can be converted into ready sales.  Certainly an area to explore.
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The problems of an aging population are widely discussed in the media.  In the UK, there is much concern about how the NHS will cope with our greying population, and the sorry state of care homes has been in the spotlight lately in the shape of the beleaguered Southern Cross care homes.  I remember reading somewhere that one in five of us could potentially live to be 105.

Yet how much attention has the pet trade been paying to our elderly companions?  With better nutrition and veterinary care, we, too, are seeing a much older, greying population of pets.

I just look at my cat and see evidence of this.  I found Minxie in a drain in Singapore nearly 19 years ago, when she was probably just four weeks old.  At six years of age, she was diagnosed with hypothyroidism.  Today, the grand dame gets daily medication for that condition, and is dosed with tablets, powders and liquids for arthritis and early onset kidney disease.  Not to mention a special diet for her kidney condition.

Without veterinary treatment, she would have died years ago.  Yet here she is today, not going quite as strong as she used to, but able to give a hefty swipe and draw blood when she is not happy with being prodded, and she still chases the odd leaf.

In Japan, the rise in numbers of greying pets has sparked a boom in elderly care with everything for elderly pets, from animal diapers and walking aids to 24-hour emergency care and research into pet tissue-engineering

According to data from the Japan Pet Food Association, there are 22 million cats and dogs in the country.  Its pet industry, including retail sales of the animals, is worth about 1.37 trillion yen (£10.5 billion) a year, according to the Yano Research Institute.  Many owners say they want to take care of their pets until the very end rather than opt for euthanasia.

One company that has diversified into aging pet care has introduced a cart, a sling, diapers and a mattress with handles to turn a dog’s body and prevent bed sores, as well as hip supports that help a dog stand up and walk.

Obviously, there has also been a sharp increase in state-of-the-art veterinary facilities, including X-rays, CT and MRI scans and ultrasound technology.  Apparently at the Jikei University School of Medicine, researchers are trying to grow new cat kidneys in pig embryos in a bid to battle kidney failure in elderly cats.

At the moment, I suspect that the UK pet trade is very much obsessed with kittens and puppies, and there is also strong evidence of a growing interest in feeding high quality foods to their pets.  Those pets will be tomorrow’s seniors.

At some point, we, too, are going to wake up to the nation’s elderly pets.  And, whereas this market is currently very small, I’d suggest it’s one to watch as it is on the brink of opening up and taking off.
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I’m looking to China this week, Shanghai in particular, which is now enforcing its ‘one dog per household’ rule in a bid to gain control over the soaring pet population and to curb the related problems of noise, dog fouling and rabies outbreaks.

When you think about it, it was not that long ago that pet-keeping in China was deemed an anti-communist, bourgeoise luxury. But with the fall of communism and increasing affluence, pet-keeping has become more accepted – as well as being a status symbol. Think back two months when a Red Tibetan Mastiff became the world’s most expensive dog after it was bought by a Chinese coal baron for £1,000,000.

A friend who lives in China was telling me the other day how dogs were the latest must-have item, and how many were never walked outdoors but kept inside so they would not get dirty. Not so much a dog’s life then, is it?

The new pet ownership rules, which came into effect on Sunday, require all dogs to be kept on a leash when outdoors. And in a bid to encourage more people to register their pets, registration fees have now been slashed from 2000 yuan (£190) to 500 yuan (£47) for central residents and 300 yuan (£28) for the suburbs. Shanghai alone has an estimated 800,000 dogs, of which only 140,000 are registered.

A problem has arisen as many first-time pet owners don't bother to spay or neuter their animals and eventually abandon them when they grow weary of looking after the animal. Bands of strays roam the city’s suburbs. Occasional mass outbreaks of rabies, mainly in the provinces, have prompted culls of tens of thousands of dogs. Rabies shots cost 40 yuan (£3.80) for domestic vaccines or 60 yuan for imported ones.

Under the law, owners must find new homes for their dogs if they have more than one. However, if the dogs are already registered, they can be kept. Owners must also give their pets’ puppies to eligible no-dog households or to government-approved adoption agencies before the pups reach three months.

Unregistered dogs face being rounded up by the authorities.

Against this backdrop, a Guangzhou resident has threatened to kill a dog a day unless animal rights activitists give the money they use to rescue dogs to starving children in under-developed areas instead.

Zhu Guangbing used to be human resources manager with a jewellery company in the capital city of South China's Guangdong province. He made the threat on his micro blog on May 4, and said he would start his killing spree on June 1. Angry dog lovers initiated a cyber hunt, tracked him down and released his personal information on line. He was later forced to quit his job when he began receiving threatening calls at work.

Who is right and who is wrong here?

I remember in 1988 watching Sigourney Weaver (who played naturalist Dian Fossey) in the very moving Gorillas in the Mist, which portrayed Fossey’s work to save the Rwandan mountain gorillas from extinction as a result of illegal poaching. In one scene, she staged a fake execution of one of the poachers; I had absolutely no trouble or moral dilemma with that action, and to be honest, was rooting for her throughout. However, a friend I was watching the film with was horrified and thought Fossey had totally over-stepped the mark.

All this just goes to show how divisive issues such as human and animal rights are – and how heated debate can get.

Just think of the feathers that flew with the first issue of the Journal of Animal Ethics, when its editorial suggested that “pets” be referred to as “companion animals”. That editorial was picked up by bloggers and papers around the world, and a huge issue was made about how animal rights was hitting ludicrous levels, how the notion was “barking mad” (guess which papers made that comment!) and how it was going to threaten the very fabric of our owner-pet relationship (slight exaggeration on my part here).

What most conveniently left out was that the journal is an academic journal, with the aim of putting animals on the intellectual agenda and to stimulate discussion within academic and professional institutions. It intends to cover theoretical and applied aspects of animal ethics, which crucially are of interest to academics from the humanities and the sciences, as well as professionals working in the field of animal protection.

I wonder if the Journal of Entomology and Nematology ever gets even a passing glance from anyone outside of its intended audience? Or what about the Journal of Stored Products and Postharvest Research? Unless, of course, if someone were to talk about the rights of insects and how using bug spray deprives insects (oops, sorry, sentient beings) of their right to life.

In the meantime, however, I am going to be glad that in the UK, there is no quota on the number of dogs one can own. But I will be equally very happy when we see the last of the irresponsible dog owners who stubbornly refuse to scoop that poop.
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It will make for sobering viewing. Tonight (Tuesday, May 3) on Sky channel 201 at 7.30pm, the TV series Pets for Life looks at the record number of abandoned pets and questions whether Britain is really a nation of animal lovers. It will cite Blue Cross numbers that report a 19 per cent rise in stray and abandoned animals in the past year.

Of direct relevance to the trade is a survey commissioned by Pets for Life which goes on to reveal how 500,000 of Britain’s 24 million pet owners now say they are forced to feed their pets leftovers as they have no money to buy pet food. A further one in five say they have dropped visits to the vet in a bid to reduce costs.

When the recession started, there was talk about how the pet trade was resilient and how pet is the one industry that can weather recessions better than any other.

However, those who have been through recessions before speak of a “pet lag recession”. In short, when a recession bites, pets are usually the last to be affected as cuts elsewhere are made first. Then when all other alternatives are exhausted, for some, that means giving the pet up. For others, it could mean that when a pet dies, whereas in the past a new pet would be brought home, this is now not happening. Which means the pet population is shrinking. Hence a recession affecting the pet industry somewhat later.

If this report is correct and people are resorting to feeding their pets scraps, well, it stands to reason that the retailer is going to get hit at some point or other.

All this is going on against the backdrop of some high-profile closures – Essex-based wholesaler Harlings went into liquidation in February; and last month both wholesaler Welsh Pet Supplies and the Scottish pet store chain Acorn Pet went into administration.

Although the UK is officially out of a recession, consumer confidence does not reflect this optimism. The bottom line is that people are finding things tough – though the latest supermarket price wars are helping the bottom line somewhat. However, this is certainly not a time to sit back and wait for customers to walk through the doors with wallet at the ready. As a retailer recently told me: “I have to work twice as hard to earn the same amount I used to.”

So yes, times are hard. Yes, it would certainly appear that a “pet lag recession” is now hitting the pet trade. Rising rents and rates do not help.

But if the figures cited in today’s programmes are anywhere near the truth, that means that 23,500,000 owners are still buying their pet food. I also suspect that the majority of those 500,000 pet owners who are now feeding scraps probably bought their pet food from supermarkets.

A number of retailers I’ve spoken to say that premium brands are taking a hit, and sales of lower-cost and budget ranges are growing. There is also growth in the natural range, including frozen food.

Successful retailers listen to their customers and react to changing times. And if ever there was evidence of changing times, this is it. If you haven’t, now’s the time to review your stocking decisions. If you are still stocking based on purchasing patterns of even up to a year ago, you need to have a serious re-think.

For the savy, there is absolutely no reason why the end of this financial year should see a profit rather than loss. But it does mean jumping out of the rut and realising the world has changed.
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A passing comment the other day about theft in store made me think. This person, who has years of experience in the retail sector, said he believed the majority of in-store theft was carried out by staff.

Then, within days came a report about a Delaware woman who was charged with embezzling more than $272,000 from an American chain of eight pet stores. Apparently the woman had over the course of a year made more than 430 deposits of cash and cheques, pocketing the money herself. And last year, pbwnews reported how a Pets at Home staff member had in 2009 stolen more than £12,000 from an outlet in Copnor, Hampshire, and tried to cover up the fact it was an inside job.

Immediately there is a striking similarity between the two cases – both are chain stores, and obviously with larger numbers of staff than the average independent pet retailer.

However, I don’t think one can say that the smaller independent is immune from the occasional proverbial “bad penny”. But I do wonder whether pilfering and theft is more common in chain stores rather than the smaller independent.

According to the latest Global Retail Theft Barometer, 36.8 per cent of theft in UK stores is down to staff, higher than the European average of 29.8 per cent. The report puts the value of theft by staff at £1.6bn in 2010.

Is in-store theft an issue in the pet sector, or is it on a smaller scale than the national average? We’d like to hear your views – perhaps this is an issue that needs airing in a later issue of pbwnews, along with strategies to reduce such occurrences.
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I must admit I was mesmerised to see a picture of Cassie, a very podgy pooch, being taken for a walk – with two walkers on either side using a sheet as a sling under her belly. The poor dog is so obese she is unable to walk unaided.

The mongrel weighs in at an unheard of 9st 2lbs, which is three times her healthy size. Why? Because her elderly owner had NEVER fed Cassie dog food, either dry or wet, and had chosen to feed her sweets, chocolates and crisps every day, with fry-ups, fish and chips on Saturday and roasts on Sunday.

Cassie’s plight came to light when her owner fell ill and had to go into hospital, and she was brought into the Dog's Trust re-homing Centre in Kenilworth, Warwickshire. Apparently it took three people to get her out of the car. She can’t stand on her own, and has painful bed sores.

There is no way a retailer would have been able to help her or give advice as it is obvious the owner never went to a pet shop. Which is a shame, as many pet retailers today run nutrition workshops and are fully able to advise on the healthy diet for pets – and how to put a pet on a diet.

Well, the good news is that Cassie is now in good hands, and hopefully will be able to lose all that excess weight and eventually be rehomed happily. Nothing has been said in newspaper reports about whether the RSPCA intends to prosecute under the Animal Welfare Act.

On a more upbeat note, did you watch the first episode of Sky1’s A Different Breed last week? It’s being touted as the doggy version of the OTT Pineapple Dance Studios. Post-show comments have been generally positive, with reviewers acknowledging that this is a light-hearted view of the “weird and wonderful dog owners of Britain”.

The first episode, for instance, introduces us to Louise Harris and her mum Janet who run Diva Dogs, a pet boutique and grooming business. Between customers we see them role-playing, with Janet playing a customer looking for a bikini for her dog.

There is a whole array of amusing characters including Barking at the Moon radio DJs Jo and Anna; Lucy Kennedy, dog walker to the rich and famous; Jacob & Julian, owners of doggy parlour The Purple Bone; and Crufts winner Richard Curtis and Whizzy. An eccentric mixture, to say the least! But then again, you could not expect anything less from the makers of the wildly flamboyant Pineapple Dance Studios, and it has “Fun” written all over it.

Watch the second episode this Wednesday, Sky One, at 8pm.
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So, latest figures suggest that the dog population is around the eight million mark, which is an ever-so-slight rise on last year. But the release of figures, which showed dogs ever so slightly ahead of cats, quickly led the nationals and not-so-nationals to get all excited with headlines like “Dogs beat cats in pet popularity”, “It’s raining more dog than cat” and “Dogs overtaking cats as Britain’s favourite pet”.

You’d think dogs were striding ahead with such headlines, wouldn’t you? Yet when you look at the figures, the dog population is put at 8.3 million, and the cat population is 8.6 million (down from its 9.6 million peak in 2004).

Headline writers. They do so love to put a spin on things, don’t they?

I was more interested to read earlier this year that a study of British dog owners revealed that the average person walks over 23,000 miles in their pet’s lifetime. This is the result of walking a pet for close to nine hours each week, which translates to close to 1,900 miles each year.

The research, carried out by pet insurance at esure, found that the average dog is taken for three strolls: two long walks of 47 minutes and a short walk for 13 minutes, per day. On average, dogs are taken out for five days a week.

Perhaps apart from collars, leads, harnesses, poop bags and scoops, retailers should think about selling walking boots!

I was also interested to learn about a new pet diet trend that is spreading throughout Florida, America. The trendy diet, called “prey model”, is based upon owners trying to feed their pets as close to their diet in the wild as possible. This has resulted in a large rise in illegal sales of raw wild game on-line, say Florida wildlife investigators.

People caught selling raw meat without a permit face up to five years in jail and a $5,000 fine. Those buying the illegally obtained game face up to six months in jail and a $500 fine.

Last year, the Florida Fish and Wildlife's Internet Crimes Unit logged 177 arrests and 92 warnings for cases involving illegally buying or selling wildlife or raw game meat online, some of it for pets.

Among the wildlife offered for sale are squirrel, pheasant, rabbit, goose, duck and chicken. The raw food push is thought to have risen in popularity following the toxic melamine scare in 2007, when pet food imported from China killed cats and dogs nationwide.

Thankfull, here in the UK we do not have to resort to such illegal activities, as the number of manufacturers supplying BARF diets is growing – and all report rising sales. There is definitely a move towards raw, natural food, whether frozen or freeze-dried.
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I remember about eight months ago talking to a retailer who absolutely refused to get himself or any of his staff qualified as an SQP. He saw no justification for the expense, not when he could sell other products to treat fleas and worms that did not require an SQP.

An SQP is, in a nutshell, a Suitably Qualified Person who is legally allowed to sell flea and worm medications in-store.

When pet retailers were first allowed to sell these formerly vet-only medications via an SQP, everyone was saying how retailers had to get on board as retailers could not afford to let these sales go to their local pharmacies and such like.

However, over the months, I am finding that more and more small independents have chosen to ignore this route, and the SQP avenue seems to be the reserve of larger independents and chain stores.

Cost is a big issue. Pursuing an SQP is not cheap, and it also requires a fair amount of study on the part of the applicant. And in order to retain this qualification, the SQP has to keep up with an on-going course of study over the course of two years, which at the end requires another fee.

For the small independent, they cannot justify this extra cost and time. Especially not now, when margins are being squeezed, and rents and rates are continuing to increase. And they point out a large selection of treatments that they can sell to battle fleas and worms that do not require an SQP.

And when you consider the increasing concern about the widespread use of chemical anthelmintics, along with the growing resistance to these medications, there is a growing argument for a concerted move towards herbal preparations to destroy or expel these parasitic intestinal worms.

It is also entirely possible that just as there is growing concern about what people are feeding their pets (the growing popularity of BARF diets is a case in point), I suspect it won’t be long before the same thought process applies to worm and flea treatments.

Following on from this train of thought, new company NPVS (www.npvs.co.uk) is looking to set up partnerships with pet retailers to sell non-prescription veterinary products such as clinical diets, joint supplements, neutraceuticals, digestive health probiotics, dermatological shampoos, ear cleaners, dental therapies and behavioural modifiers.

At the moment, however, it does not list flea or worm treatments.

Interestingly enough, among the items listed are veterinary diets to help with urinary conditions, renal disease and gastro-intestinal disease. Some of these products used to be released purely to the veterinary channel, much to the annoyance of retailers big and small across the country. Which led to some manufactures offering their own version of these so-called “prescription diets”.

Has the proverbial barn door been flung open? I’ll be watching developments with interest.
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For those of you unaware, an 11-month-old red Tibetan mastiff pup has been sold for a million pounds (10 million yuan) in China, making it the world’s most expensive dog.

Its owner is said to be a multi-millionaire coal baron, who has named it Hong Dong, or Big Splash in English.

Yet don’t for one minute think the amount was paid purely out of a love for the animal. The Chinese tend to be very superstitious about signs and symbols. For instance, licence plates with “8” in them are heavily bid on as “8” represents wealth and prosperity. Red is perceived to be a lucky colour, as it represents happiness and good luck – which is why traditional gifts of money are always placed in red envelopes called “hong bau”.

Hong Dong is, pure and simple, a status symbol. And chances are his future will see many a breeding session.

Just in case you’re wondering, the world’s previous most expensive dog was also a Tibetan mastiff, this time a black dog named Yangtze River Number 2. He, too, was bought by a Chinese millionaire, who paid four million yuan for it in 2009. It was chauffeured home by a motorcade of 30 black limousines.

I just don’t get it. Think what that kind of money could do for animal charities (just think of all the homeless animals and strays) in China alone, a country which does not exactly have the best animal welfare standards in the world. It’s obscene, plain and simple.

Moving closer to home, the latest issue of Grooming News has run an article about a groomer who was gutted when a thief made off with a collection tin that was standing in the reception of Mucky Pups in Bletchley, Milton Keynes. She had planned to give the tin to their local charity, HULA, within days as it was almost full. HULA finds homes for lost and unwanted animals, and has a no-destruction policy.

Following publicity in the local press, a few businesses and local residents came forward to make donations. The groomer concerned, Tanya Stephens, has also pledged to climb Snowdon in Wales on a sponsored charity climb in August – “I do not want the charity to lose out”, she told me. This despite the fact that she is not a walker, and does not own a pair of walking boots. Well, hopefully she does now – August is not that far away!

While some may say Tanya is a bit mad for attempting such a walk, she is a true animal lover who also has her eye on the wider picture, and wants to do her bit to help her local animal charity.

Now I am not suggesting that we all take on challenges of the lengths as seen by some celebrities in the recent Red Nose Day, but even simple things like having a collection tin on your reception desk or organising a yearly find-raising event for your local animal rescue can make a difference.

Sometimes it is all too easy to forget that there are many worthwhile charities that could do with more help. If we all looked after those closest to us, the world would be a better place.
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It’s coming…

Let me quote direct from Sky One’s website: “The brains behind the cult TV hit Pineapple Dance Studios have turned their attentions from prima donnas to prima pooches in an out-there observational ‘dogumentary’ that explores the madcap world of man’s best friend.

“Britain is a nation of dog lovers and, in A Different Breed, we meet a cast of colourful characters whose lives are dedicated to hounds of all shapes and sizes, from grooming salon workers who preen their clients from head to paw to owners who are prepared to break the bank to ensure their pet is the most flamboyant doggy diva in the land. If you thought couture clothing, poetry or even weddings were for humans alone, think again…

“A Different Breed is not your bog standard documentary, and from the makers of Pineapple Dance Studios you would expect nothing less. Keep your eyes peeled for surreal, break-out moments that will let viewers into the psyche of our four legged friends to find out what they are really thinking.”

At this moment, I am trying desperately to get rid of the horrifying image of Louie Spence wearing black leotard, writhing about pretending to be a dog. (Did anyone see him doing his Interpretive Dance of the Chilean miners’ ordeal on Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2010? Get thee away! I say.)

So what can we expect to see?

Among the series regulars, we are promised Louise Harris and her pampered Yorkshire terrier Lola – Louise has a high couture pet boutique Diva Dogs, which sells everything from designer dog clothes to jewelled collars.

Then there are Louise and Roger Wilshire, owners of CDPOM – a crèche for dogs who require ‘peace of mind’. Sky says: “Louise loves her Labrador Otto more than her husband, and dogs at CDPOM’s crèche can expect to be exercised on a treadmill and even serenaded by Louise on her piano.”

Many of us will recognise Anna Webb, who handles publicity for a number of pet trade companies. She, too, appears in the series with her good friend Joanne Good and their dogs Molly and Matilda. Anna and Joanne have been attracting much favourable press with their own dog-dedicated radio show Barking at the Moon.

If the response to Pineapple Dance Studios is anything to go by, A Different Breed will develop its own cult following. It will be fun and entertaining, with a healthy dollop of tongue-in-cheek humour. After all, laughing at oneself requires strong self-esteem and maturity of spirit.

Will it have a direct spin-off to the trade? Of course not. But it will give a different insight into the world of our pets, and at the every least provide ample fodder for conversations with your customers instore. And who knows, a couple of product mentions might even cause a brief flutter!

One to watch, methinks.
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On Sunday, Sainsbury’s reported a 27 per cent rise in sales of its Fairtrade products to £276 million.

The grocery giant now only sells Fairtrade bananas – a move it took in 2007 – and has committed to selling only Fairtrade chocolate for its own-brand ranges.

But Sainsbury’s is not the only recent headline as far as ethical shopping is concerned.  There is now a new app for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad that allows shoppers to know the ethical status of the goods and services they want to buy. The app lists more than 700 well-known brands, ranked in 72 product-specific league tables.

In a similar vein, last year, Barcoo was launched, enabling customers to scan barcodes to ascertain how environmentally friendly a company is.

All this against the background of research conducted by the Co-operative Bank towards the end of last year that showed that consumer spending on ethical goods and services grew by almost 20 per cent over two years – this despite the recession.

A similar situation is unfolding in the pet industry, with many companies that offer “green” products reporting growing sales.  I would suggest that this is “real” growth versus what I tongue-in-cheek call “faddy” growth.

Let me enlighten you.  “Faddy” growth, as its name implies, is a boom in sales as a result of a craze or fad.  Think of the dot.com craze and its eventual meltdown.  Or do you remember the Beanie Babies soft-toy fad of the late 1990s?

Not that “faddy growth” is bad.  If there is profit to be made, and you are astute enough not to over-extend yourself, it can be good.  Very, very good. I remember a neighbour who did a roaring trade in Beanies, even managing to buy himself a plot of land in America based on his profits!

“Real” growth, however, is exactly what it’s name implies.  It is sustained, prolonged growth based on sound foundation, with incredible long-term potential.

The world is changing. Environmental issues are growing in importance and will continue to feature prominently on the international agenda.  Eventually, green issues will dominate.  And along with this, “green” products will grow in prominence, popularity and profits.

The intriguing thing is how wide the green banner can extend: from products produced in a factory with green credentials; those made from sustainable all-natural materials; whether wrapped in recyclable materials to those that have a percentage of profits donated to a green charity or cause.

Certainly one to keep an eye on.
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I don’t get it. Have you ever seen a baby food manufacturer eat baby food to prove that it is nutritious? No. Although I did have a colleague once, a very long time ago, who in a desperate attempt to lose weight ate nothing but jars of baby food for two weeks. She did, but put it all back on once she started eating normally again.

So why is it that every now and then some pet food manufacturer somewhere decides to eat its food to prove it is (delete as appropriate) tasty/made from human-grade ingredients/good for pets?

However, two American dog food makers have now gone the extra mile, pledging to eat nothing but their dog food for a month to prove its worth. Yes, a month. Well, 31 days to be exact, because their culinary odyssey begins on March 1.

Dubbing their campaign Evermore Me (a tongue-in-cheek reference to the 2004 hit Super Size Me), the founders of Brooklyn-based Evermore Pet Food, Hanna Mandelbaum and Alison Wiener, will enjoy the delights of their “human-grade, gently-cooked dog formulas and recipes made only from the whole-food ingredients in their food”, according to their press release. They will document the process and its results on their company website.

As a back-up, the two have roped in nutritionist Ashley Koff to ensure they eat a balanced diet. In true PR-speak, the nutritionist has said: “While they don’t need as much meat as our furry friends, Evermore uses such a great array of healthy ingredients like yams, carrots, kale, dandelion greens, parsley, blueberries, apples, oats, barley, eggs, pumpkin seeds, and kelp, that frankly, this makes a great ‘qualitarian’ diet for anyone!”

‘Qualitarian’? Oh puh-lease. It’s dog food.

I am not for one minute saying Evermore’s dog food is without quality. But just as you would not feed a dog food to a cat, why feed a dog food to a human?

What I am doing is questioning the validity of such a publicity stunt. And I suspect that at the end of the month, both women, who incidentally are in their 30s, will report no side effects and will be in the pink of health.

To my mind, it establishes a dangerous precedent. Firstly, it suggests that it is OK for humans to eat dog food – and we have all heard reports of pensioners who have resorted to eating pet food when faced with economic hardship.

Secondly, in a weird roundabout way, it actually suggests there is no point in feeding a pet a dedicated pet food. For if humans can eat dog food and show no ill effects, by the same thought process, dogs can eat human food with no ill effect. So why not simply revert to the ways of old when dogs were fed from the table?

Interesting, no?
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Did you hear it last week? I did. I’m referring to the collective sigh of glee from tabloid journos across the globe when the study “Zoonoses in the Bedroom” landed in their in-tray.

For a decidedly unsexy title, the report went on to occupy column inches in more than 100 newspapers and on-line sites with a variety of headlines, from the more deadpan “Study claims sleeping with pets may be dangerous” to the sensationalist “Don’t sleep with your pet, you may catch something (possibly bubonic plague)”, the latter courtesy of the Daily Mail, of course.

All went on to list the possible diseases pet owners could catch from their pets, by which time Mrs Jane Doe had probably decided that Rover is off to the Dog’s Trust this weekend, and Felix to the Cats Protection.

Yet if you read the article carefully, you’ll see that the lead researcher, Prof Bruno Chomel at the University of California-Davis school of veterinary medicine, also said: “The risk is rare, but when it occurs it can be very nasty, and especially in immuno-compromised people and the very young.”

The professor and Ben Sun, chief veterinarian with the California Department of Public Health, conducted extensive research on risks of pathogens passed by animals on to humans.

To support their argument, they cited the following cases:
•A man caught meningitis after his dog licked his hip replacement wound (Why anyone would let any animal lick a wound, I don’t know)
•A nine-year-old boy got the bubonic plague in 1974 (note the year!) in New Mexico from his flea-infested cat
•A newborn caught meningitis as the pet cat stole the baby's pacifier and played with it (words fail me here – whatever happened to basic hygiene?)
•A 44-year-old woman developed meningitis because she regularly kissed the dog's face and fed it by transferring food mouth to mouth (mouth-to-mouth – need I say more?)

Have I missed something here? In all the cases mentioned here, basic, basic health and hygiene has been totally ignored by the human owners. Even the bubonic plague case could have probably been averted if the boy’s parents had treated the cat for fleas in the first place!

The report goes on to state that more than 60 per cent of American households have a pet, while 53 per cent of dog owners considered their pet a member of the family, and 56 per cent of them let their pet sleep next to them.

Are we about to see a mass outbreak of bubonic plague, meningitis and other deadly diseases? Somehow, I think not.

To draw an analogy, a boy falls over while kicking a football and breaks his arm. Headline the next day: “Footballs cause arm fractures.” No, they do not.

Common sense has to prevail, along with simple things like washing hands after playing with pets, regular veterinary visits and most certainly no mouth-to-mouth contact. It would, of course, be better if pets slept off your bed, though I have had cats on my bed for well over 30 years, and I am still alive and kicking.

I just hope that the reports in the press do not cause more pets to be abandoned – animals get dumped for the stupidest reason. Just last week, newspapers reported how a woman handed in a Jack Russell to the Jasmil Kennels and Cattery Sittingbourne, in Kent, because the three-year-old dog did not match her curtains.

Barry Shuttleworth, who runs the kennels, said the woman had visited the centre a number of times and finally decided on the terrier. Two days later, she returned the dog.
Other ridiculous reasons dogs were handed in were a Labrador that wouldn’t bark and another that was not cuddly enough.

I, for one, could never work in a rescue shelter. I think I would be so annoyed and so angry at the stupid reasons being given, I would probably have a heart attack by my 50th birthday. And I am determined to live to be 105.
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According to the Chinese astrological calendar, 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit and, needless to say, this has prompted the expected warnings about people not buying rabbits on a whim.

Media reports from countries with large Chinese populations all report rising rabbit sales. In Singapore, the local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals launched a complaint against the organisers of a rabbit show for housing rabbits in cages that were too small, and for not protecting the animals sufficiently against the prodding fingers of excited children.

The organisers had displayed the cages in the atrium of a large shopping centre, and the public were allowed to wander freely among the cages, which were stacked very closely and on top of each other. No way could one consider this to be a stress-free experience for the creatures…

With the Year of the Rabbit around the corner (it starts on February 3), now is the perfect opportunity for retailers to run another rabbit awareness campaign. Yes, a lot has been done over the years, especially through Rabbit Awareness Week, but a lot more still needs to be done. I was horrified to see in a local cash and carry just last week a rabbit hutch that was barely three foot long – I wouldn’t put my guinea pigs in there, let alone a rabbit.

And were you aware that there’s been an outbreak of rabbit viral haermorrhagic disease (RVHD) across Scotland, which conservationists say could wipe out more than eight million wild and pet rabbits? This ominous prediction was made by Scottish Wildlife Trust’s reserve manager in the North East Robert Potter, who said many dead rabbits were being found.

Many rabbits die within 24 hours of catching the disease due to massive haemorrhaging and, although there is no cure, pet rabbits can be vaccinated against the disease.

Highly contagious, the virus moves rapidly within rabbit populations, and incubation is only 48 hours. To make matters even more depressing, the virus can remain active on surfaces for over a year-and-a-half, in temperatures ranging from 60 degrees to sub-zero. Warmer temperatures tend to reduce the viability of the virus.

If an owner suspects a rabbit is infected, the rabbit in question must be immediately quarantined.

Methods of transmission are many and varied, including via the excrement of infected rabbits; objects that have been in contact with infected rabbits, such as cages or feeders; and through moisture in the air. Other possible carriers include insects, rodents, birds, cats, and dogs and human skin or clothing.

So what can retailers do about this? In a nutshell, education, education, education. Ask your rabbit owners if their pets are vaccinated and advise them on the benefits of doing so. Perhaps your local vet has leaflets on the virus which you can distribute?

They are such wonderful pets, wouldn’t it be great if the Year of the Rabbit was to truly be the year for the rabbit?
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Much has been written about on this website and in pbwnews about the sale of livestock in pet shops, and the topic can get incredibly heated. A growing number of retailers refuse to sell any species of animal, including fish, while others are perfectly happy to sell small animals, reptiles and fish, but draw the line at puppies and kittens.

I’m not going to rehash all the arguments, because there is an alternative. For this, we have to travel to Canada, the city of Edmonton, in Alberta. There, pet shop Paradise Pet Centre has become the first family-run pet store in the city to stop the sale of cats and dogs in order to help rescue animals find new homes.

Store owner Lorne Terrault told the Edmonton Sun: “We want to be part of the solution. I think it's going to be a win-win for everybody. It's going to be a win for the cats and the dogs and it's a win for the local rescue groups we are working with."

What the store has done is to tie up with local rescue shelters and now displays cats instore in the hope of finding them homes. Though the initiative is only seven months old, 40 cats have been adopted, and dogs are due to arrive in the next few weeks.

The store also plans to host monthly adoption days where rescue groups come into the store to help raise awareness of their work and the animals in care.

Pets at Home has implemented a similar scheme in which stores have dedicated Adoption Centres for small animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils, rats and hamsters. Customers are vetted before they can adopt any of the animals currently being housed.

I do appreciate that housing rescue animals instore could prove to be a logistical nightmare for some, but surely establishing firm ties with a local rescue charity is a goer?

You could have, for instance, an instore noticeboard with photographs and write-ups of animals looking for new homes, as well as run fund-raising days for the local rescue to both raise funds and awareness.

Apart from the obvious benefits to the local rescue and animals, there is also the goodwill that will come your way from customers who will appreciate your efforts towards helping these abandoned animals find a new home. And with appreciation will hopefully come enhanced customer loyalty…

Do you offer an adoption scheme, or have you close ties with your local rescue shelter? If so, get in touch and let us know what you do. Who knows, you may find yourself featured in a later issue of pbwnews!
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FKPMG has warned that retailers in the main are facing a difficult year ahead after Christmas shopping was hit by a combination of tough economic conditions and sub-zero temperatures. And, of course, January’s VAT price rise has also caused customers to tighten their belts amid a culture of fear over job security and their own personal finances, all set among rising prices.

But what about the pet sector? There has been much discussion about what this year could bring for the pet trade. In America, for instance, the pet industry is one of the few industries that is still growing. Here in the UK, certain sectors are showing definite growth – there is no evidence to suggest that interest in reptiles is waning, or that demand for specialist diets is going any other way but up.

Indeed, whereas it appears that the pet population as a whole has declined somewhat, the value of spend is actually on the rise as owners opt for higher quality products and more premium foods.

But for the retailer, 2011 will probably represent a watershed in which the successful pet retailer has to forge his own identity and point of difference. It is the only way the retailer is going to stand firm against the encroaches of the Big Four supermarkets and their price wars, and the growing might of Pets at Home.

There is absolutely no point in selling the exact same products that can be found in Pets at Home or Tesco – there is no way you can match the prices offered by these big names. Which means the independent has to offer a core range of products and service that are unique.

Healthcare is a good starting point. Healthcare manufacturers in the main are reporting good sales figures as owners seek to improve the health and well-being of their pets. And with rising vets’ bills, it is expected that owners will continue this proactive approach, especially with regards to skin, oral care and food. Healthcare is also an area in which innovation and research continues at a steady pace, so retailers will have plenty to offer their customers.

A related area that is showing growth are raw food diets, usually in frozen form. Each and every single manufacturer I have spoken to has said sales are doing well, and a number will either provide a freezer for free or offer a deal to help retailers get a freezer in-store. Raw food diets are obviously gaining in popularity among owners who want to ensure their pets are fed 100 per cent natural diets, in as close a shape to nature as possible.

Diversification will, therefore, be key, whether it is by offering on-site grooming services, workshops, talks, open days, boarding services for small animals or even something like a nail clipping service. ‘Added value’ will have to become the norm rather than the exception, all neatly served with excellent customer service.

There are more than enough reasons to be optimistic for 2011, but it will mean keeping an eye on what’s new and responding very quickly to customers’ demands. Trade shows will be the must-visit event of the year, giving you access to the latest product launches and ideas – and, of course, reading your monthly copy of pbwnews for all the latest news and advice.

Here’s to a super 2011!
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For many, cats and Christmas just don’t go. But look at it from a cat’s perspective – there’s a tree in the house! Not only that, but it’s got shiny things to pull and dangly things to swat. It’s the equivalent of Disneyland for cats!

I remember all too well as a young girl watching my cat climb resolutely to the top of our six-footer. At first we thought it was hilarious and my sister and I cheered our very determined moggy onwards and upwards. Then the tree started to wobble and, before we knew it, the whole thing keeled over like a toppled domino. A very big domino. 

I also remember another occasion when said cat came plunging through the ceiling tiles, bringing down half the ceiling with her, debris crashing and dust clouds swirling around my mum, who was very unfortunately trying on a new yellow blouse she had bought just that afternoon to wear the following day to work. But that’s another story.

As retailers, you are definitely going to hear at least one tale of cat-astrophe this Christmas season, and probably get asked for advice.

You could suggest that your customers attach a few orange peels to the lower branches, because apparently cats despise citrus scents. Plus the humans have the bonus of having a pleasant pine/citrus scent in the house without having to pay for expensive air fresheners or candles!

Another suggestion is a squirt bottle – when kitty gets too close for comfort to the tree, kitty gets squirted with water.

Have you heard of the SSSCAT cat training aid? This comprises a patented motion detector device and a can of harmless, non-toxic spray. Each time a cat approaches a taboo area, the detector senses this movement and releases a brisk spray. Startled cat leaps into air and rapidly vacates area. Job done.

With forecasters saying a white Christmas is a done deal, and bearing in mind the chaos the country saw with the recent snowfall, now is a good time to remind your customers to make sure they are fully stocked with their pets’ needs in mind, just in case the same happens again.

Apart from the obvious items such as food, remind customers with small animals about hay and straw, and for aquatics customers, water test kits and water conditioners, especially those that remove chlorine and chloramine. The Scout’s motto “Be Prepared” says it all.

Have you space in-store for a seasonal display of wet and cold weather dog coats and pet beds? Strike while the iron is cold (sorry… I just had to!).

If you are aware that any of your customers’ pets are on medication, a quick word about making sure they have sufficient stock demonstrates excellent customer service and proves you have the welfare of their pet at heart.

Above all, keep warm and safe yourself.
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How retailers can help spread the festive message
25 November 2010: by Sandra Pearce