Government plans are unveiled for the introduction of compulsory dog insurance and microchipping. A major speech today to be made by the Home Secretary, Alan Johnson on crime and anti-social behaviour, will launch a consultation on new measures to 'protect the public' from dangerous dogs.
Tuesday 09 March 2010  Reader comments: 1

It's time for pet owners to start boning up on animal welfare. From Tuesday 6 April new codes come into force which support the Animal Welfare Act 2006, and set out the legal duties of many pet owners. Following their introduction, the new codes will be used in courts as evidence relating to poor animal welfare.
Monday 08 March 2010  Log in to comment on this article

On Monday, the animal rights foundation, (PETA) began running a bus-stop advert in Birmingham calling on people to boycott dog breeders. This is a complaint aimed at Crufts and pedigree blood lines. Crufts opens at Birmingham NEC in 7 days time, and is sponsored by furniture-maker dfs. Dfs is currently running the slogan: "We love leather..". You have to wonder if this is a mistake.
Thursday 04 March 2010  Log in to comment on this article

On Friday a Private Member's Bill which wants to increase the number of residential care and sheltered housing providers which allow pets, receives its Second Reading in the House of Commons. The Care Homes and Sheltered Accommodation (Domestic Pets) Bill 2009-10 was first presented to Parliament by Shadow Minister for Older People Nigel Waterson MP in December.
Wednesday 03 March 2010  Log in to comment on this article

PET PRODUCT NEWS:
Puddle Pet Care has announced a partnership with German pet food manufacturer Defu to distribute its range of 100% certified organic pet foods in the UK. The company's raw ingredient suppliers are members of the association Demeter who practice not only organic, but bio-dynamic farming. Such carefully produced ingredients guarantee quality well above the minimum requirements for an organic product.

The Defu pet food range is not only free from chemical fertilizers and pesticides, it is also ecologically-friendly, free from factory farmed meat, free of wheat and has exceptionally good palatability. The food is enhanced with natural herbs and vegetables and is correctly balanced for a pet's life stage.

A range of complete premium dry dog food and a snack product are the first Defu products to be made available in the UK.
Saturday 27 February 2010  Log in to comment on this article

The Welsh Assembly has been asked to approve an electric shock collar ban. This is the final hurdle for the Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) (Wales) Regulation [.doc] that Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones first introduced back in 2008.
Friday 26 February 2010  Reader comments: 1

It is five years to the day since Sainsbury's Pet Insurance first warned pet owners that vets fees were rising well above inflation. At the time this was estimated at 10% per year. Then in 2008 the company increased its estimate to, and today reiterated a figure of, a 12% annual rise in the cost of treatment.
Wednesday 24 February 2010  Log in to comment on this article