UK Pet Owner Statistics
March 28, 2011
Another day, another survey on pet ownership data and pet owner trends.
Not many months ago we revealed the results of a pet owner study conducted by the Blue Cross which revealed Wales was the dog ownership capital of the UK and the East Midlands were the most miserly spenders on their pets.
Today a new study suggests Wales has the least pet owners per head and the East Midlands has the most.
Research from National Pet Month shows how our nation’s love for pets is stronger than ever due to companionship needs, security or just simply for more family fun. There are 27 million pets in the country and 43% of households contain at least one furry, feathery or scaly family friend, making pets well and truly part of the UK’s landscape.
Leading industry expert, the Pet Food Manufacturers Association (PFMA) carried out the research on behalf of National Pet Month, which celebrates Great British Pets and runs from 5th April to 5th May. It has provided an insight into the pet purchasing trends in the UK outlined as follows;
* There are 27 million pets in the UK with dogs and cats being the animal of choice for pet lovers with over 7.3 and 7.2 million across the UK respectively. (The UK’s Top Ten Pets can be found in the notes below)
* 39% of London’s pet owners purchase their pet for companionship, despite living in the UK’s highest populated city.
* 60% of single people in the UK buy a pet for companionship – 39% of whom have replaced their partner with a pet
* 21% of pet owners have wanted a pet since childhood, and almost of half of people living in the North East have wanted a pet since their early years
* The East Midlands has the most pet lovers, with 14% of the pet population living in the heart of the UK, compared to only 4% of the population residing in Wales.
* 39% of London pet owners feel the need for companionship despite having over 7.5 million neighbours across the city
* 21% of owners bought their pet for companionship, compared to only 5% who have their pet for security
* Over a quarter (27%) of the UK’s pets were bought or acquired from an animal welfare or rescue centre compared to 20% from a pet shop
Phil Sketchley, Chairman of National Pet Month, commented, “Pet ownership has grown over the years to this national high and it’s no surprise that so many pet lovers see their pet as a companion.”
Top 10 pets as per the Pet Food Manufacturers Association (PFMA) Pet Research
Dogs
Cats
Rabbits
Birds
Hamsters
Horses/Ponies
Snakes
Gerbils
Tortoises/Turtles
Rats
Top 10 dogs as per the Pet Food Manufacturers Association (PFMA) Pet Research
Labrador
Border Collie
Jack Russell Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier
German Shepard
Rottweiler/ Dalmation
Bischon Frise
Cocker Spaniel/ Shitzu
Labradoodle/ Golden Retriever
Geryhound (incorporating Whippets)/ Chihuahua
Article source: http://www.dognews.co/uk-pet-owner-statistics/
Dog Bite Statistics Revealed
March 28, 2011
As we learn of another tragic dog attack related fatality in the UK, it is time for us to consider why and how we can make a positive impact on the dog bite statistics. But before we do that, we need to actually establish a safe, reliable way of collating dog attack statistics in the UK, because as it stands there is a great division of opinion as to whether the data we are working with is worth the paper/pixels it’s written on.On the 4th of March 2008, K9 Magazine contributor Alison Green asked:
Are We Being Lied to About Dog Attacks
Her article contends:
What the media and Norman Lamb fail to mention in any article I have read, is that the figures do not separate dog bites from dog strikes. I know of quite a few people who have been admitted to hospital because their dogs greeted them a little too enthusiastically or accidentally knocked into them.
They will all be logged under the same code meaning “bitten or struck by a dog” yet the two meanings are often very different and certainly don’t scream “dog attack”. Many people have been struck by dogs, many have been bitten by dogs however few have been attacked by dogs. While even one true dog attack is unacceptable the medias use of these figures to “show” an overwhelming increase in dog attacks is misleading and nothing more than scaremongering.
The media have also focused on the “rise” in certain areas but do not seem to be aware of the fact that the strategic health authority for treatment restructured at the start of 2006 which, according to Ben Bradshaw when he supplied the figures to Norman lamb as a written answer, means a direct comparison is not possible before and after 2006.
Hospital workers are also “ a bit bemused” by the figures. It has recently been reported in one online newspaper that hospital bosses in west mids where surprised at the “findings” of an 80% increase in under 18’s being admitted due to “dog attacks”.
What is not in debate is this;
5 children will not grow up in to adults because of dogs.
That’s domestic, pet dogs.
How have we arrived at this point?
More importantly, how do we do something about it?
I have been outspoken for long enough about what I think of the current dangerous dog legislation in the UK. It is my position that our laws do not protect the public and have failed, tragically.
Unless we are prepared to accept that we need to do something different, why should we expect anything other than a procession of tragedies, rising dog attacks and more conflict between humans and dogs?
We must realise that the need for greater, wider and properly administered dog owner education is the only way we’re going to see any kind of radical change.
If we didn’t compel people to learn to drive, we’d have a nation of seriously under qualified drivers.
If we didn’t compel children to go to school, we’d have a less educated population.
Why then do we assume things will be different with dogs and dog owners?
Focusing on dog breeds has failed. In fact, it’s failed wherever it’s been attempted.
We do not yet know the circumstances that lead up to today’s fatality – but it will be a genuine surprise if we do eventually learn that the dog in question was NOT a family dog rather than a so-called ‘weapon’ dog owned by so-called ‘hoodies’ or street gangs.
I say it will be a surprise because the four previous dog attack fatalities have not fitted that pattern at all. Four children died as a result of incidents involving family dogs whilst in the care of family members in a family home. We must wait and see what the circumstances were in today’s fatality, but if the patterns of previous dog attacks are anything to go by, we shouldn’t be too surprised if it did transpire that a child has lost a life as a result of an incident with a family dog.
We simply have to get a grip of this.
Far too many people are running around focusing on the WRONG elements of canine legislation. While they do, youngsters are dying. And, make no mistake, they will continue to. We must make a change, a radical one, if we want radically different results. How many more lives need to be lost for us to realise this?
Article source: http://www.dognews.co/dog-bite-statistics/
Today’s Thought: Old Dogs and New Tricks
March 28, 2011
Animal Health Experts Call for Balanced Regulation on Vet Meds
March 25, 2011
Animal Health Experts Call for Balanced Regulation to Ensure Availability of Veterinary Medicines
(Distributed by prbuzz) – At the 2nd Global Animal Health Conference, which concluded yesterday, international experts highlighted the urgent need for a balanced regulatory environment which allows for innovation in the development of veterinary medicines. Over 100 animal health experts from around the world participated in the two day conference organised by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the International Federation for Animal Health (IFAH) and the Drug Information Association (DIA).
Following the conclusion of the conference, IFAH Executive Director Barbara Freischem stated: “We are very pleased with the turnout as well as the content of the conference, which we hope has highlighted a vital and growing concern for the development of animal medicines. The demands of a growing population make it vital that we work even more cooperatively to ensure innovation and availability of medicines and treatments. Partnering with the European Medicines Agency and DIA to address these highly relevant issues, as well as some of the leading minds in our industry, we have been able to share valuable insights.
Though the Animal Health industry comprises only a fraction of the global pharmaceutical market, almost two-thirds of the diseases we know about can pass between animals and people. Consistent, effective regulation allows for additional research and innovation as increasing widespread medicine availability provides the whole world with the capacity to respond quickly to disease outbreaks, which is vital to protect both animal health and public health.”
At the conference it was recognised that there is a mutual benefit to industry and regulatory authorities sharing their knowledge and expertise as new technologies emerge.
IFAH President Eric Marée said: “Through conferences such as this, we hope to help promote an environment that facilitates the supply of innovative, quality products in a safe, consistently regulated and competitive market place. However, the regulatory hurdles currently faced by the industry can sometimes exceed even those of human health products.
Governments and regulators need to take the lead in ensuring a science-based, balanced environment that is equitably enforced. This is particularly important for developing countries, where part of the challenge is getting enough quality products on the markets to treat the relevant diseases. In emerging economies, with often significant agricultural exports, the challenge is to satisfy the requirements of the developed markets they supply while ensuring availability of locally needed products. Harmonisation of regulation for animal medicines would allow treatments to quickly become available across the world.”
David Mackay, Head of the Veterinary Medicines and Inspections Unit of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) concluded: “Availability is a complex issue. It involves creating the right environment for new products to reach as wide a market as possible and for existing products to stay on the market provided their benefits continue to outweigh any risks. This conference provided a unique opportunity for regulators to explore in depth how to strike the right balance between protecting public and animal health while not introducing unnecessary requirements or excessive delays that would impact negatively on availability.”
Article source: http://www.dognews.co/animal-health-experts-call-for-balanced-regulation-on-vet-meds/
What Is Proper Dog Nutrition?
March 25, 2011
Dog nutrition is so important to the health, behaviour and all round vitality of our dogs. So here is a fine article explaining and defining what proper dog nutrition actually entails.
Extract:
There is only a limited amount of fat that is used for protection against cold, cushion, covering, and extra energy. But when the maximum amount of stored fat is reached and applied for these purposes, the dog still continues to stock up fat and does so to the same degree that is equivalent to the excess energy that it consumes. For instance, every 3,500 calories that a dog eats in excess to what his body requires will be turned into 1 pound of body fat.
Animal Health Experts Call for Balanced Regulation on Vet Meds
March 25, 2011
Money Saving Dog Ownership Tips
March 23, 2011
The credit crunch has the unpleasant effect of causing more dog owners to give up their pets in the face of increasing financial pressures. Here we provide a short set of tips that can help reduce the costs of dog ownership.
Dogs do and always will cost money and yes, they do need a place to sleep, a bed, food and water. But ultimately there are measures owners can take to ensure this period of economic belt tightening does not cost dogs their homes.
Pet insurance, for instance, enables owners to have their veterinary expenses covered in the event of accident or illness. Some pet insurance policies start from as little as £10 per month which is just 32p per day.
Dog food bills can be reduced, dogs do not need to have the most expensive supermarket own brand pet food to be happy and healthy, they can actually be happier and even healthier if owners do a deal with their local butcher to get the day's unsold raw meat at reduced cost.
For those people for whom the real threat of eviction could cause them to make a decision about rehoming some weeks or months down the line, they should plan, plan and plan some more. If there is even the merest hint of losing a home, start talking with prospective landlords who will be happy to allow pets on their property.
Very often a compromise deal can be had, provided it is planned for. For instance, some dog owners offer their landlords what is known as a dog-bond, a simple contract drawn up that tells the landlord that the dog's owner is happy to pay for absolutely any damage or inconvenience caused by their pet. This peace of mind can persuade many landlords to be lenient on their no pets policy.
Resources:
Adopt a dog
Insure a dog for life
Free dog advice
Professional dog trainer
Britain’s Dog Owners Wish Dogs Stop Pulling on Leads
March 22, 2011
A recent observation by leading dog publication K9 Magazine has shown that dogs who pull on the lead are one of the main causes of dog owner stress. The magazine’s website experienced a large volume of enquiries from owners desperate to cure this specific behavioural problem.
More than 53% of users of the site who accessed the dog training articles were interested in how to cure their dog pulling on the lead.
Charles Vincent, who is associate publisher of K9 Magazine comments:
“For a lot of owners, having a dog that pulls on the lead is actually quite a miserable experience. This is particularly true of older people or owners of very strong dogs. In fact, we’ve had people contact us who have explained that they get genuinely depressed at the idea of having to take their dog for a walk if they think it’s going to be spent being pulled all over the place.”
In some cases, dog owners have turned to professional dog training services such as Diamond Dog behaviour (a Durham dog trainer in the UK) in an effort to cure this upsetting behavioural trait.
Facts:
- 53% of K9Magazine.com users who accessed dog training material wanted information on curing pulling
- 29% of visitors to pet business directory, PetFriendlyWorld.com, wanted information on hiring a professional dog trainer.
In the UK, there are more than 5m dogs. With more and more dog owners using online services to help them cure specific behavioural problems, Total Pet Publishing (publisher of K9 Magazine) monitors ongoing search trends and answer solutions from pet owners. Dog owners are increasingly the focus of media attention resulting from bad or dangerous behaviour. The UK Government recently announced it would not be following up plans to implement compulsory insurance for everyone who owns a dog.
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Distributed by Almer Johanson on behalf of petbuzz :: social media for pet brands.
Article source: http://www.dognews.co/britains-dog-owners-wish-dogs-stop-pulling-on-leads/
Dogs Seeking Solution In Form of Dog Shampoo for Itchy Skin
March 22, 2011
Pet’s need no longer suffer with the perils of unncomfortable scratching as a dog shampoo for itchy skin aims to soothe the coats of Britain’s scratching pets. As recently covered in the UK’s largest pet business directory, the dog shampoo for itchy skin from Perfect Pet Skin is a product that many dog owners will benefit from.
K9 Magazine recently discovered via an online test sample, that thousands of their readers were searching for information on how to stop dogs shedding.
More than 4,000 people have accessed K9 Magazine’s tip sheet on dog shedding and vet nurses have claimed that more of their customers are seeking advice and information on products that help dogs with coat conditions.
Vets are keen to stress that an itching dog should first be examined for parasites and other skin conditions, but access to a specialist product designed to ease the skin from itching and irritation can help pets in the short term and over a longer period.
K9 Magazine’s associate publisher, Charles Vincent:
“We’re always keen to hear and observe what pet problems are troubling our readers. When we noticed just how many people were accessing our articles on dog skin care, particularly topics on dog shedding, we felt it would be important that all pet owners get access to quality information on various products and treatments for dog skin care. Obviously we always recommend dog owners speak with their vet who can access first hand information, but it’s very important for our readers to get up to date information on what’s out there in terms of products specially designed to assist with a wide variety of pet health problems.”
K9 Magazine conducts regular reader surveys and monitors pet industry trends via one of the most popular dog related websites online.
Useful Link: To find out about any dog skin conditions
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Distributed by Frances O’Haram on behalf of petbuzz :: social media for pet brands.
Article source: http://www.dognews.co/dogs-seeking-solution-in-form-of-dog-shampoo-for-itchy-skin/
Market Growth Leaves Pet Owners To Investigate Pet Insurance
March 22, 2011
Over the past 15 years there has been a rocket-like surge in the depth and availabilty of pet insurance policies in the UK. As pet owners are faced with more and more choices, so the pet insurance companies are faced with the challenge of making their policy stand out.
As a result, according to a new survey by K9 Magazine – a lifestyle magazine for dog owners – pet owners are often left confused and furstrated when it comes to understanding the fine print of each individual pet insurance policy.
One of the most common causes of frustration according to the survey, which spoke to 200 pet owners in the UK, is being unsure of whether a pet is covered for illness and injury for the duration of their life.
Lifetime pet insurance cover is where the policy protects the animal for all of its life. However, not all policies offer this and as those policies often have lower premiums, they can be attractive to pet owners who base their decisions on price first.
AJ Douglas, a PR rep for a Taxi software firm and someone who has recently researched pet insurance, commented:
“I found the sheer volume of policies on offer to be quite incredible. At first I felt this was a positive sign, but then I realised just how much attention had to be paid to what I can only describe as discreet clauses. Often, two policies would look almost identical and it was only when you really dig down that you see there are some massive differences in what is covered and how long it is covered.”
K9 Magazine’s survey showed that modern pet owners are more comitted to insuring their dogs than ever before, but they are calling for more transparency from insurers when it comes to up front information on the main / most important aspects of each policy.
Useful Link: BBC Watchdog show covering the topic of pet insurance
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Distributed by Mickel Anderz on behalf of petbuzz :: social media for pet brands.
Article source: http://www.dognews.co/market-growth-leaves-pet-owners-to-investigate-pet-insurance/