The Tailchaser Times (Issue 5)

r e s a h c l i a T

The

Times The official

magazine

Issue 5

Meet our first ever human customer!

Win a bundle of amazing pet goodies Discover the power of John Burns Find out why we give 25% of profits to charity

Watch this space, pups!

Spring/Summer 2019 www.burnspet.co.uk

Two years ago, we were trying to find the solution to a nice problem. We had lots of stories but nowhere suitable to tell them. After all, social media posts are gone in the blink of an eye and the digital world moves at breakneck speed.

We put our heads together and came up with a publication that would celebrate the special bond between people and pets, educate readers and showcase our growing community.

Inside this issue: Page 6 Humanising Pets

Page 8 Lifting the Lid on Dog Poo

Page 10 Meet our First Human Customer

Page 24 Match the Welsh Breed

Page 28 John’s Marvellous Breakfast Medicine

Fast forward to 2019 and Issue 5 of The Tailchaser Times. We have a new look, a new website on the horizon and plenty of bright ideas up our sleeve. Our humble magazine is growing, and so are our stories.

In this issue, find out why I’ve decided that 25% of company profits will be donated to charity (page 12), meet our very first human customer (page 10) and learn about our nationwide dog walking scheme (page 20).

We may be located in a tiny corner of West Wales, but we are making a difference to pets and people nationwide. In these challenging times, I think that’s something to be proud of.

Distribution Find our publication at independent pet shops and dog events up and down the country.

Alternatively, all of our issues are available digitally and if you ask nicely, we are happy to pop a copy in the post.

Submissions If you have a story worth sharing, email pitches to: Rosella@burnspet.co.uk Follow Us @BurnsPet @BurnsPet @BurnsPetFood www.burnspet.co.uk

BVMS MRCVS

Editor Rosella Pollard Art Director Alistair Corbett Illustrator Lucy Littler Contributors Pembrokeshire Tourism, Nick Pearson, Marcus Thomas, Blue Cross Animal Rescue, Yorkshire Cat Rescue, Galway SPCA, John Burns and the Burns Nutrition Team.

#PoweredByBurns

The very best thing about running a pet food company is being introduced to your superstar pets and learning about their unique qualities.

Whether you have a busy Border Collie or a lazy British Shorthair, it warms the cockles of our heart to receive your pet pictures and tales of companionship.

That’s why, in each issue, we hand the floor over to your beloved pets, without whom, we wouldn’t have a paw to stand on.

Tia the Border Terrier 11-year-old Tia was bred as a working terrier and loves to hunt rats. However, her bark is worse than her bite as when she does find the rodents she is terrified of them and runs away.

At home, Tia rules the roost, occasionally emerging from duties as head honcho to play frisbee and take leisurely naps.

Belladonna the French Bulldog At the ripe old age of 13, you’d be forgiven for thinking Belladonna would be slowing down on the exercise front. Not so, this prized pooch still enjoys walking up to 4 miles a day and swimming whenever she gets the chance. Belladonna does enjoy a lengthy snooze though and has been known to sleep for up to 14 hours a time. She used to reside in Spain with owner Kathryn but is much happier living back in cool blighty.

4 • burnspet.co.uk

Callum the

Golden Retriever

Callum is 14 years young and has always been a big fan of Burns. Despite his age, Callum enjoys going out for lots of hikes and on an average weekend can walk between 7 to 10 miles. He looks amazing and is a picture of health.

Daisy the Cockapoo It’s fitting that Daisy features in the Tailchaser Times, as her favourite hobby is chasing her tail until she falls over. This fluffy, mischievous and playful pooch enjoys keeping watch over her kingdom of 23 toys, watching the cars go past and chasing them across the living room window. Intelligence is Daisy’s strong point- she has sussed out where the reversing beep on the car is situated and likes to assist human, Sherelle with parking manoeuvres.

RIP, Sylvester It wouldn’t be right to finish off this section without giving a nod to our late office moggie, Sylvester. Regular readers will remember that we featured Sylvester in Issue 4 of the Tailchaser, describing his history as a stray cat before he chanced upon our office and moved in 8 years ago. Sylvester was a strong-willed, firecracker of a cat. Independent, sassy and cute as can be. We built him a house, fed him and loved him. His little quirks and personality habits brought fun and laughter to every working day.

He was a big part of the family and we miss him dearly.

Our community is growing. Over 4,000 pet owners used our official hashtag last year. Want to be featured? Use #PoweredByBurns on our and channels when you post.

Humanising pets Has our obsession with dogs gone too far?

Tailchaser Editor Rosella investigates the peculiar pet anthropomorphism trend sweeping the globe...

A fascinating report into the Future of Pet Ownership (2018) conducted

by Joe Inglis has revealed that 60% of dog owners believe that a pet is more beneficial to their lifestyle than a human. If this is true, then why are we so hell-bent on humanising our pets?

Looking around Crufts last March, I was struck by the level of decadence exhibited by owners towards their dogs.

6 • burnspet.co.uk

From celebratory cakes and cards for competing canines to luxurious prams for them to be chauffeured around in, the lines between dog and human seemed well and truly blurred.

Most people are in agreement that dogs are sentient beings that deserve to be cherished and cared for. They are non-judgemental best friends and loyal loving companions.

A dog will wag its tail and greet you like a VIP so long as you give them food, water and affection.

Strip this all back though, and what you are left with is a wild animal which has been domesticated over thousands of years. My pet Yorkshire Terrier was originally bred to hunt rats in the 19th century but today dislikes stepping in puddles.

In terms of indulgence, a Maltese doesn’t require hair straighteners through its mane, a Labrador doesn’t fancy a glass of pawsecco on a Friday night and in all likelihood, a Corgi will not blow out the candles on its celebratory birthday cake. Even if he or she does co-operate, they definitely won’t understand why they are doing it.

Common sense tells us that dressing our dogs up in

pumpkin outfits is daft, yet American pet owners spent an estimated £360M on pet Halloween costumes last year. We don’t have figures on how much the UK spent, but the number is likely to be high. The bestselling dog toy on Amazon is a Furbo dog camera which allows you to ‘speak’ to your pet remotely via live video link and dispense treats if he or she has been good. Walking through the supermarket aisles, we are presented with dog beer and pyjamas. Have we gone too far?

Take the subject of food for example. As a healthy pet food company, we are all for providing the best nutrition possible for our dogs. However, in some cases humanising dogs can actually cause more harm than good.

Over Christmas, we surveyed 1,000 dog owners. 10% admitted to feeding their overweight dog titbits, 1 in 6 gave their dog a full Christmas dinner and despite it being potentially fatal, 5% admitted to feeding their dogs chocolate.

John says, “As humans, we often overindulge in eating and drinking.

Sadly, we extend this excess to our pets and their digestive systems are simply not designed to cope with the increased levels of food. We treat our dogs because we love them, but by rewarding them with unsuitable items like meat, cheese, beef and chocolate, we could be causing them serious harm and irreversible damage.”

Nutritionist Laura believes that treats such as pawsecco and birthday cakes are unlikely to provide added value in the way of nutrition. “A dog doesn’t need extras such as flavoured drinks and cupcakes. If they are on a complete diet, it will provide them with all the nutrients they need.”

Having said this, Laura does admit she is guilty of spending on dog accessories but thinks exercise and socialisation are the most important aspects to focus on.

“I am the owner of a very spoilt rescue

dog and sometimes I can’t resist buying her a sparkly collar or funny toy.

We need to remember what is best for the dog, my dog won’t love me any more for giving her treats all the time or for buying her a snazzy collar, she would much rather us to play together or do some scent work and this will lead to a much happier, healthier dog.”

When it comes to birthdays, Karen Parker who owns Crufts legend, Ollie the Jack Russell believes that milestones such as these deserve to be celebrated.

“I celebrate my dog’s birthday and their ‘welcome home’ or ‘gotcha’ day. I think this is a great way of remembering the first day you saw your best friend and to look back on the amazing journey you have been on with them.”

Looking around Crufts last March, I was struck by the level of decadence exhibited by owners towards their dogs.

Karen has a point here. Dogs benefit our mental health, improve stress levels and provide huge amounts of comfort and joy, so celebrating their time on earth makes sense.

Now, if we could just leave the frosted cupcakes, prams and Star Wars outfits on the shelf.

7

Lifting the lid on

oo is an everyday bodily function but unlike every other aspect of life, it’s rarely talked about openly. Unless you’re the type who likes to discuss toilet humour at the dinner table, it’s likely that you don’t discuss your own bowel movements, let alone those of your dog.

However, when it comes to your prized pooch, we think this is a topic that should be discussed more.

Poo can often signal the difference between a healthy diet and an unhealthy diet and the more we talk about it, the better the outcome can be for both dog and owner.

Many owners assume that stinky waste is part and parcel a Dog Pooof owning Chart dog, but to use a well-known phrase, you are what you eat. If picking up Buster’s waste resembles a scene from a gory horror film, you may want to look at what your pet is eating. Our nutritionists are something of experts on the subject, receiving all sorts of enquiries about poo on a daily basis.

We asked them to impart their wisdom and get to the ahem, bottom of the problem.

Firm and well-formed

When cooking rice for your dog, please note that dogs have different digestive systems to humans and will require their rice to be cooked for a lot longer to enable them to digest it easily. For this reason, we recommend cooking white rice for 40 minutes and brown rice for 60-90 minutes before serving.

What is an example ofshaped a healthy poo?

Log and soggy

On day 2, add a lightly boiled egg and continue on this rice and egg diet until the stools are well-formed.

Alternatively, our Penlan Farm freerange egg & brown rice variety is a good alternative to home cooking.

How often should

Checker a healthy dog need to poo?

An adult dog eating two meals per day should need the loo on average once or twice per day. It’s normal Hard pellets for a puppy to go up to four times depending on how many meals they eat per day.

Log shaped and moist

What causes a dog’s stools to be loose and smelly?

A healthy stool should be small, well-formed, easy to pick up with no offensive odour or colour.

Present in piles and distinctive shape

Low quality ingredients, food intolerances, inappropriate diets or overfeeding are all likely culprits. Even if you are feeding your dog a healthy, balanced diet you need to be wary of feeding table scraps or treats which can contribute to their waste matter.

What should you do if Piles or spots you think your dog has diarrhoea?

Watery puddle

Dog Poo Chart Checker

We suggest starving the dog for 12-24 hours until everything is out of their system. After this time period, feed some well-cooked rice.

Firm the anddog well-formed

8 • burnspet.co.uk

Hard pellets

Have you ever experienced any poo horror stories in your time as a nutritionist?

One of our nutritionists recently asked for a sample of the pet food to send off to the laboratory and received not one, but three ‘special’ packages instead.

Dog Poo Chart Checker To help you understand whether your dog’s waste is healthy or horrific, our in-house illustrator has designed a handy poo chart...

burnspet.co.uk • 9

It’s great to know that our food is a hit with humans, as well as dogs - John Burns

Nick Pearson enjoying a bowl of Original Chicken & Brown Rice

10 • burnspet.co.uk

Meet Nick Pearson

Our first ever human customer...

ere at the pooch palace, we are lucky enough to receive regular positive feedback on our food from customers.

Usually though, the lovely comments are based on their pet’s empty dog bowl, excitable waggy-tail at dinner time and healthy, shiny coat. So, imagine our surprise when we loaded up our Twitter feed recently to find that we had a human customer.

Were we being pranked? Had we got the wrong end of the stick? Either way, we had to know.

After some emailing back and forth it came to light that we did indeed have our first ever human customer.

At least, the first that we know about.

Nick Pearson, a retired debt advisor turned professional dog walker was kind enough to indulge our curiosity and agreed to be interviewed and photographed for this feature.

After launching his own dog-walking business in 2018, one day Nick found himself out on a particularly long job without lunch. Realising he had left the sandwich he’d made at home, he found himself reaching for our Original Chicken & Brown Rice biscuits. After a closer look at the ingredients which contain brown rice, chicken meal, oats, peas, seaweed and sunflower oil, he decided to have a handful of them instead of his usual sarnie.

Commenting on his unusual habit and newly launched dog walking venture Peak Wags and Woof, Nick said, “It’s amazing to be able to do something that combines two of my greatest loves; dogs and walking, and it’s been great that my own two dogs, Basil and Echo get to meet and walk with so many lovely and playful dogs.

I’m able to go walking in some of the most beautiful spots of the Peak District, meet a host of great dogs and their respective owners and even sample some of the dog’s treats, which were surprisingly tasty! I feed my own 2 dogs Burns and have fed it to all my dogs.

I use it as a treat for dogs I walk too so always have some on me. I have tried it before to see what it’s like and it tastes fine to me. If I was hungry and out on a walk, I’d certainly be happy to snack on a few of the dog’s biscuits again!”

All of this got us wondering what the wee boss man John Burns would have to say about humans eating Burns food. We were surprised to learn that he too, has tried the food preferring the taste of our wet food variety, Penlan Farm over the Original range.

He said, “I was wonderfully surprised to hear that Nick had sampled our Original Chicken & Brown Rice recipe and that he had enjoyed it. I’ve sampled a number of our recipes over the years,

particularly our Penlan Farm range which is basically a human risotto using organic brown rice, organic chicken and vegetables.

It’s great to know that our food is a hit with humans, as well as dogs.

All of our recipes use real, high quality human grade ingredients without any pharmacologically active supplements, designed to let the body get on with what it does best. I’d be interested to hear Nick’s feedback if he get’s round to trying the rest of our range!”

Nick retired from his role as a senior manager at a commercial debt solutions company in October last year and immediately began to secure the relevant training and credentials to launch his own dog walking business, Peak Wags and Woofs.

The service, which operates across Buxton, Bakewell and surrounding villages, now provides walks to 30 dogs throughout the week while Nick also spends his days making house visits to puppies, cats, chickens and guinea pigs.

Nick’s tweets about our food...

Charity of the Year 2019

Blue Cross, Yorkshire Cat Rescue and Galway SPCA

In addition to donating our natural pet food to over 40 rescue centres across the UK, we are proud to announce our Charity of the Year partnership for 2019...

Blue Cross, Yorkshire Cat Rescue and Galway SPCA have all been selected to receive a year’s worth of financial assistance and food amounting to more than £100k in value.

The charities were chosen following an application and interview process which saw over 25 animal welfare organisations apply in total. This collaboration marks the fourth consecutive year that we have run our Charity of the Year Programme as part of an ongoing initiative to use our profits to help the greater good.

John hit the headlines last year after donating £1M to charity to mark our 25th anniversary and commented: “I have decided that Burns should be a force for good. I want the company to not only be known for our natural pet food, but also for establishing and maintaining a legacy of good causes in the community.”

In addition to financial support, animal rescue charity Blue Cross, which has been running since 1897, is receiving food at five of its rescue centres: Bromsgrove, Lewknor, Southampton, Burford and Tiverton.

Commenting on the partnership, Joanna Bronziet, Corporate Partnerships Manager at Blue Cross, said: “There is a very natural fit between 12 • burnspet.co.uk

the ethos and objectives of Blue Cross and Burns which gives us lots of opportunities to work together in a very meaningful and impactful way.

Burns is providing its high-quality dog food to dedicated Blue Cross rehoming centres throughout the year and will also be raising funds towards our work across all of our services with pets.”

Yorkshire Cat Rescue finds homes for unwanted cats in the region and cares for around 90 animals per night. Our support will help to provide around 2,000 meals for cats and dogs in January alone.

Olly the Jack Russell is #PoweredByBurns and was originally rescued from Kimpton Blue Cross.

Did you know?

25% of our profits are donated to charity Soon, when you pick up your bag of Burns you’ll notice a little heart at the top of the bag explaining that 25% of our profits are donated to charity. Last year, this figure amounted to well over £1M, so we thought it was high time we publicised it.

Corporate social responsibility is more than a marketing buzzword at Burns, we take a proactive approach to giving back and have 9 members of staff working within our growing community team.

We want to use the success of the business as a vehicle for positive change, whether that be through grassroots projects such as our Burns By Your Side reading to dog scheme or a substantial rescue centre donation.

John presenting Galway SPCA with a commemorative Charity of the Year plaque

Find out how we’re making a difference at www.burnspet.co.uk

I want the company [Burns] to not only be known for our natural pet food, but also for establishing and maintaining a legacy of good causes in the community. - John Burns Yorkshire Cat Rescue founder Sara Atkinson said, “We are pleased and proud to have been chosen to work alongside Burns in 2019. It’s refreshing to see a pet food company recognising the work that regional charities do and offering its support by sponsoring our adoption and resident cats.”

The third organisation to receive our support is Galway SPCA, which rehabilitates and rehomes rescue cats and dogs in Galway with the view for them to find a second chance at happiness. As well as offering food and financial support to the organisation, we are helping Galway SPCA to promote its services in Ireland through

www.bluecross.org.uk

Yorkshire Cat Rescue

Burns’ own charity, The Burns Pet Nutrition Foundation.

Anita Broadmor of Galway SPCA said, “We are really looking forward to working with Burns as a company whose passion for animal welfare

https://yorkshirecatrescue.org

is evident in their continuous development of high-quality nutritional diets and leaders in educating the importance and benefits of diets in companion animals. We share a mutual respect for the animals and the environment around us.”

www.gspca.ie

13

A day in the life of a...

Production Manager and a Copywriter

Ever wanted to know what it’s like to be a Production Manager or Copywriter?

Well, read on to find out...

14 • burnspet.co.uk

Chris Morris Production Manager Years with Burns : 17

My favourite dog breed is a...

Basset Hound. Our family dog Daisy is a 12-year-old Basset and she is an extremely loving, playful yet stubborn part of the family. We couldn’t ask for a better animal companion around our two young boys.

If I had to choose one song to listen to on repeat for the rest of my life, I’d choose…

I Remember by DeadMau5 & Kaskade If I had to move to a desert island, my last meal would be…

Christmas dinner with all the trimmings followed by Christmas pudding with brandy sauce. For someone that eats to live as opposed to lives to eat, this is the one meal that I get super excited about each year.

If I could have dinner with anyone alive or dead, I’d invite…

The King of Manchester- Eric Cantona, Tiger Woods and Mike Tyson.

If I wasn’t a Production Manager, I’d love to be a…

Professional golfer travelling the world while getting paid to tee off. Just need the ball and chain (my wife Teri ) to let me out on the course more frequently so I can lower my handicap.

Describe the best 3 places you’ve visited and what made them great…

All 3 places would be in Thailand. I got married there and we loved it so much that we went back the following year for our first-year anniversary. We can’t wait to take our two boys one day.

My three favourite spots would have to be Mai Khao Beach, Krabi and Phi Phi Island. Beautiful people, delicious food and unspoilt beaches, need I say more?

I’ve been working at Burns for a grand total of 17 years.

I started as a Warehouse Assistant and dabbled in a few different roles until in 2007, an opportunity arose to set up our Burry Port Factory where the Penlan Farm moist food range is produced.

Although my official job title is Production Manager, I wear many hats. It’s not unusual for me to start the day at a product development meeting and end it fixing a piece of machinery that’s gone awry.

Today, the factory boasts a team of 13, compared to just 4 when we set it up and it’s great to see the progression.

As Burns is based in Kidwelly, it’s fantastic to be able to say that some of our products are created just a stone’s throw from head office right here in Carmarthenshire.

Morning 6.30am First alarm goes off to be snoozed for another 9 minutes. Immediately after pressing snooze, my youngest son Chester comes bounding across the landing for his morning cwtch. Cooper (Chester’s older brother) isn’t far behind asking “Can we go downstairs yet?”

So I make my way down to the kettle and get the first coffee of the morning on the go.

7.00am Cereals and juice are laid out on the kitchen table and we all have breakfast together before I have to wrestle the pair of them to wash, brush their teeth, get dressed and out of the door in time for school.

8.30am We all bundle into the car and make our way on the school run. Firstly, I need to drop Cooper off at Ysgol Gwenllian, followed by a trip up the mountain to the next village, to drop Chester off at pre-school.

Chris, with Cooper, Chester and Teri

9.00am Pop in to see Helen in Accounts to sign some invoices and collect mail from my pigeon hole. Next, visit Alistair and Emma in marketing to discuss new packaging designs and templates.

Eco-friendly packaging is high on the agenda.

10.00am Meeting with HR, Health & Safety and the General Manager’s to review job descriptions for factory personnel.

Joint GM’s Debbie and Becky always have good coffee and occasionally you get offered a biscuit or two. None this morning though. burnspet.co.uk • 15

Although, to be honest sometimes I think he just phones to hear my voice. We used to work together, and I know he still pines after me, even after a decade of working in separate departments.

Afternoon 11.30am Arrive at our Penlan Farm production facility in Burry Port where I am met by my management team of Wayne and Ian. Over yet another coffee we discuss topics such as the morning’s production, planning, raw materials, staff etc. which leads me to develop the planned production for the next 2 - 3 weeks. I can then communicate with our suppliers to ensure that there are sufficient resources to fulfil the plan.

This plan can often change day by day dependant on raw material deliveries.

11.45am Daily phone call from our Warehouse Manager, Dean checking what stock we have available. It’s at this point where we plan any adjustments to what the computer system suggests and ensure that we have the appropriate stock available to fulfil sales orders.

Although my official job title is Production Manager, I wear many hats. It’s not unusual for me to start the day at a product development meeting and end it fixing a piece of machinery that’s gone awry.

16 • burnspet.co.uk

1.00pm A trip to the local CK’s to grab a turkey salad roll, two flapjacks, fruit and maybe a packet of salt and vinegar crisps for lunch. I’m a creature of habit when it comes to lunch and eat the same pretty much every day.

2.00pm A few issues arise on the production line so that takes priority. Top seals seem to be the issue of the day.

Working alongside our maintenance trainee Lee, we get the packaging machine back up and running and are on course to fulfil the days production target. Phew, disaster avoided!

3.30pm Time for a late afternoon cuppa while I catch up on an avalanche of emails. Next, it’s time to update the stock control system with the latest production figures.

5.00pm Wayne comes to lock up and kick me out. Production is over and it’s time to go home.

Evening 5.30pm Collect the boys from Grandma’s house and we’re off down to Pembrey Country Park for a spin on the bikes.

We are joined by Burns in the Community team member and longterm family friend Chris Cray and his family. When we reach the play area, bikes are parked and Cooper is off on the monkey bars while Chester has me pushing him “higher, higher” on the swing.

7.00pm Teri prepares a picnic of fruit and snacks while I get the boys dressed into their pyjamas, then we sit on a rug in the living room watching their favourite Harry Potter film.

8.00pm It’s bedtime for the boys after stori y dydd / story of the day so I grab a cuppa with bourbon biscuits while Teri watches some programme with Trevor McDonald about serial killers.

Should I be worried?..

Rosella Pollard

Copywriter & Tailchaser Editor Years with Burns: 3 My favourite dog breed is…

Our cover breed - the Shiba Inu. They look like foxes and are super loyal.

They also originate from Japan which is, in my humble opinion, probably the coolest place ever.

If I was moving to a desert island, my last meal would be...

Vietnamese Bao. Fluffy, squidgy buns of deliciousness loaded with flavour and crunchy toppings. Make mine king prawns with chilli, ginger, coriander and spring onions.

If I could have dinner with anyone alive or dead, I’d invite… Louis

Theroux, Haruki Murakami, Ryan Gosling and Jameela Jamil.

If I wasn’t a Copywriter I’d love to be a… DJ or launch my own popcorn

business. I’d call it Popty Ping and use local ingredients.

If I had to listen to one song on repeat for the rest of my life, I’d choose… I Would Die For You by

Prague – beer is cheaper than water, there’s lots going on and the architecture is amazing. I was lucky enough to live there in 2012 and loved every second.

Prince

Describe the 3 best places you’ve ever visited and what made them so great…

Amsterdam – it’s the perfect size, there’s a real buzz about the city and the culture is amazing.

Croatia – the water is crystal clear, the scenery is unbelievably beautiful and the people are lovely.

Rosella’s record collection

Continues overleaf...

burnspet.co.uk • 17

Morning: 7.00am Lie in bed until the last possible second (I’m not a morning person) and get ready to leave the house at cheetah speed. I commute an hour each way to the office but honestly enjoy having the time to listen to a podcast or audiobook. Today I’m not in the mood for either, so my drive to work is sound tracked by the new Robyn album.

9.00am The day doesn’t start until caffeine starts, so strong coffee is first on the agenda before a PR meeting. I’ve been contacted by a man who eats our pet food for a snack when he’s out for a walk with the dogs and forgets his sandwich. This would make an interesting story, so we work out how best to interview him and take photographs when logistically he lives on the other side of the country.

10.00am Reply to social media messages from a bunch of customers pretending to be their pet dog. I also pretend to be a dog in my reply. It’s a little strange, sure. I manage our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram channels and it’s so important to maintain good relationships with our growing community. It never ceases to make me smile seeing the variety of pets that eat Burns.

11.00am A last minute request to write 300 words of copy on our Weight Control range. Whenever people ask me what I do, I’m often tempted to answer with “arrange words around a page until they sound cohesive” That certainly feels like what I’m doing today.

12.00pm Proofread a mountain of packaging.

This particular task always makes me feel like a schoolteacher. Luckily, I get to wear my own clothes to work.

Afternoon 1.00pm Lunchtime. I’m doing Veganuary which has so far involved some pretty odd food combinations. Today’s lunch takes the crown: roast potatoes, vegan gravy, roast carrots, and salad. Note to self: be more organised.

2.00pm Spend a couple of hours working on copy for an About Us page. We’re launching a new website in the spring and each page needs fresh, up-to-date content. This involves a lot of writing, re-writing and editing. Some days, words flow like Niagra Falls and other times it feels like I’m trying to pull adjectives out of brain fog. Thankfully today is the former.

4.00pm Catch-up with Alistair on the page order for this magazine. I write the content and Alistair designs the pages.

It’s fun having creative reign over a project and seeing it transition from a bunch of post-it notes to the end result.

6.00pm Head to the swimming pool. I’m sure I was a mermaid in a former life because I love being in the water. I find swimming so relaxing after a busy day.

It’s fun having creative reign over a project and seeing it transition from a bunch of post-it notes to the end result.

8.00pm Make a halloumi wrap before sitting down to write. I’m 30 this year and it’s my dream to publish a novel. I’m working on a story about big cat sightings - watch this space.

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...

Recently we wer e designing a ne w stand to display Perhaps, as is oft our food in shop en the case, our s and needed to come choice is determined by w up with 3 straplin hat the pet likes. es to complement th H er e, w e are at the ne e products. We had already decided Sensor y. In the m xt Level which is on, “Developed ain, this is the hi by a ghest Veterinary Surg Level of Judgem eon” (that’s me) en t an animal can an d m “Natural: Whole ake. A parent who some: Complete” feeds a child on chocolate and ic (that’s the food) e-cream because but we needed a that third is what the child strapline to com likes is exercisin plete the display. g that Level of Judgem ent.

The phrase “We are what we eat” Th w e next Level is In as an early favourite tellectual, which as it is a well-kno animals don’t ha wn expression, althou ve. Is the food go gh it is, if anythi od for our pet’s heal ng, too hackneyed an th? Does it contai d overused. n ingredients we pr efer to avoid?

Other suggestions The next Level is were, “They are Social. What im what we feed.” O pact do our choices ha r “It’s what’s insi ve on society? Bu de that counts.” ying local, organic, fa ir trade and conc er n fo r an imal welfare stan Most of the week dards all come went by as I in to th is. considered our op tions. I was look ing for something a Th e higher the Level bit less conventio of Judgement, nal, more highbrow. the more ethical I wanted to say an d ho listic our lives something abou become. With th t how, we, the pe at in mind, we ca t owners decide w me up with several su hat food to give ggestions: our pets.

“What we feed de fines who we are” “What we feed de My Veterinary G uide to Health an fines what (or w ho) d they are.”

Nutrition bookle t has a section on Levels of Judgem ent (q.v. p. 30).

The most basic Le In the end we op vel of Judgemen ted for; t is Mechanical. H ere, any pet food “W h a t we feed says wh will do; it may be cheap, on offer or o WE are.” convenient.

Let’s hope our cu stomers agree.

burnspet.co.uk • 19

A host explains it all 9 months ago, we launched a nationwide dog walking scheme called Lead the Way. The scheme encourages dog enthusiasts to connect with pet owners in their local area, enjoy more of the great outdoors and keep fit in the process.

As a healthy pet food company, we want to help dogs and owners to get the best out of life. Walking your dog a few times a week can have an incredible impact on your mental and physical wellbeing. It’s also a fantastic bonding experience.

The scheme is still in its fledgling days, but we’ve already had a number of hosts organise their very own walks.

We asked Star Host, Marcus Thomas to explain how it all works.

Why do you think dogs and humans share such a special bond?

For me, it’s the unconditional love you get from a dog. Whether you haven’t seen them for 6 minutes or 6 months, you are always greeted by a friendly face and a wagging tail. It is a form of companionship like no other. Over the last few years I have been on a journey with my mental health and spending 20 • burnspet.co.uk

Marcus (right) with dog Tommy and partner Carlton.

time with my own dog, Tommy, has been a massive help. He made sure I never felt alone.

If you could be any dog breed, which would you choose and why?

LABRADOR! I love to swim, and I love to play. I also love to play in the water.

Like myself, Labradors are gentle giants with hearts of gold. They are always ready to help in any way they can.

Why did you decide to become a Lead the Way Host?

In today’s modern world it’s often hard to meet people and it’s easy to feel lonely. But when you’re out walking a dog, people always seem to gravitate towards you, especially other dog owners.

It’s like being part of your own community of dog loving people

I was expecting around 10-15 people come to the walk, but I was blown away when over 40 people came!

On a personal level, I just really love dogs so meeting lots and lot of new dogs at once is my dream. Lead the Way provides the foundation to help communities come together and helps people with similar interests to make friends who otherwise may not meet.

What did you have to do to sign up?

I emailed Burns Pet Nutrition and was sent a handy Lead the Way pack in the post which had everything I needed to get started.

How did you go about organising your first Lead the Way walk?

Although most people organise their Lead the Way walks through Burns Pet Nutrition’s own dedicated Facebook community pages, I organised my first walk through my business, Paws Patrol Wales. I did this because through the business I know a lot of dog owners and dog loving people, so it was a perfect fit.

I used social media to promote the event as well as the posters provided by Lead the Way positioned in prominent positions in the community i.e. vets and dog groomers.

I have great relationships with lots of local vets and dog groomers, so I also met with many of them to explain what I was organising. Everyone was very supportive and even promoted the event to their customers.

Burns also provided a lot of support in terms of promotional material and hints and tips.

Where did you host your first walk and how did it go?

I held my first walk in Loughor Estuary, I go here daily during work and it is beautiful. It’s also very popular with dog walkers, has a large car park, lots of waste bins and is accessible for everyone.

I was expecting around 10-15 people come to the walk, but I was blown away when over 40 people came!

It was brilliant, we had dogs (and owners) of all different ages, shapes and sizes. It was lovely to see the dogs playing together and making new friends. Socialising your dog is very important for your dog’s happiness and development and the Lead the Way dog walking group can provide this.

What advice and tips would you give to others who are considering becoming Lead the Way hosts?

It will be very popular so be prepared for a lot of people to turn up. Wear something distinctive so people know who to follow. Take the time when placing posters in your community to talk to people, you’ll be surprised how enthusiastic they are. Many of the people I spoke to became ambassadors for the event and helped encourage more people to attend.

Use social media, I used Facebook mostly, I advertised the event in local dog groups, buy and sell group as well as Burns’ own Lead the Way Wales

group. Think of where to hold your event very carefully, walk it a few times yourself and choose somewhere you are familiar with.

Were there any incentives from Burns to host a walk.

Do participants receive anything?

My dog, Tommy received a free bag of Burns Pet Food! Tommy loves the Burns food, he thinks it a treat as it tastes so good. Lead the Way participants also get a free goodie bag provided by Burns with lots of great dog walking bits in. I especially like the waste bag holders and torch! Brilliant.

Who would you recommend Lead the Way to?

Everyone! We have people come who don’t have dogs but love dogs! Its a great social event for everyone.

Would you like to host a Lead the Way walk or attend one in your local area?

Visit www.burnspet.co.uk to sign up.

21

Behaviour training initiative gives rescue dogs a second chance of happiness Katie and Natasha during a training session at Greenacres

n addition to donating our specialist line of natural pet food to over 40 rescue centres across the UK, we’ve decided to go the extra mile and train rescue dogs, too.

Katie and Natasha who work for our BBYS dog training team piloted an obedience training course at Greenacres Rescue Centre in Pembrokeshire. The course was designed to give long-term rescue dogs the best possible chance of being re-homed.

Over 5 intensive weeks we helped Greenacres’ long-term dog residents to learn basic skills such as recall, sitting and standing. Rescue dogs even practised getting used to the car environment ready for the journey to their new home.

22 • burnspet.co.uk

Both Katie and Natasha are completing a number of dog training courses including IMDT which champions force-free, positive training methods.

Working within our Kennel Club accredited training team, they are helping to run a range of dog behaviour courses across Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire for our reading-todogs scheme.

Sarah Ellis, who heads up dog training at Burns said, “The rescue dog project provided the basic skills needed to adapt to family life, thus improving their chances of being rehomed. It was so rewarding to see the dogs progress week on week and engage with the training. Hopefully with this extra boost they will get a second chance at happiness in a loving, family home.”

Mikey Lawlor manages Greenacres Rescue Centre which has been running since 2008 and has rehomed over 10,000 animals. Commenting on the difference Burns’ training and ongoing food donations has made, he said, “The help and support is immeasurable!

Having the food sponsor has meant that all of our animals are fed an excellent quality food constantly, which has been obvious in their condition and behaviour. We cannot imagine going back to the old way of feeding.

More recently, Burns has helped our rescue dogs by conducting staff and dog training with the trainers from the Burns by Your Side reading to dogs scheme, its all been simply amazing we are eternally grateful and hope to continue to work together in the future.”

Burns By Your Side continues to flourish 2019 marks a major milestone for Burns By Your Side. The dawn of a new year means we are celebrating 3 years of volunteering in schools to help children to improve their confidence and literacy skills.

The idea behind Burns By Your Side is that if a child is a reluctant reader, a dog is a compassionate listener who doesn’t judge. Reading to a dog creates an aura of calm, allowing children to feel at ease and communicate more effectively.

The scheme has had an overwhelmingly positive impact on the well-being, self esteem and confidence of pupils and continues to flourish at many schools, colleges and libraries.

We have 43 active volunteers based in educational settings across Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, Swansea, Carmarthenshire and Co. Wicklow, Ireland. At the time of writing, we will deliver 18,480 reading sessions this year.

In addition, 37 new volunteers and their dogs are preparing to graduate and put their hard work into action following a 3-month training process.

Our scheme is in high demand and a waiting list of 20 are preparing for assessments in the spring. This means that if all goes to plan, by 2020 we will have 100 trained humans and dogs modelling BBYS uniforms and empowering tomorrow’s generation.

A dog creates an aura of calm, allowing children to feel at ease and communicate more effectively.

Would your school be interested in finding a Burns By Your Side volunteer team?

Visit www.burnsbyyourside.org for more information.

Match the Welsh breed to the description To celebrate St David’s Day, we asked our in-house illustrator to draw 5 Welsh dog breeds which are officially recognised by The Kennel Club.

Match the breed to the description for the chance to win a dog toy.

1

3

2

24 • burnspet.co.uk

4 5

Sealyham Terrier

Welsh Terrier

• Possesses a loud, deep bark

• Has a rugged, wiry coat

• One of the rarest dog breeds in existence

• Originated in North Wales in the 1760s

• Originally bred to hunt otters, foxes

• Enjoys digging holes

• Brave, bossy, loyal

• Cheerful, stubborn, excitable

• Life expectancy: 12-14 years

• Life expectancy: 12-14 years

Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Cardigan Welsh Corgi

• Often looks as though it is smiling

• Fox-like appearance

• Breed of choice for Queen Elizabeth II - she’s owned more than 30 in her lifetime!

• Originally bred to herd cattle by

A

nipping the heels of hooves

Think you’ve matched the right breed to the right description?

• Corgi means “dwarf dog” in Welsh • Highly intelligent, outgoing, playful • Life expectancy: 12-14 years

• Enjoys chasing and playing fetch • Devoted, intelligent, active • Life expectancy: 12-15 years

Welsh Springer Spaniel • Usually has a thick, silky, glossy coat • Loves going for a swim • Responds well to obedience training • Energetic, affectionate, loyal • Life expectancy: 12-15 years

Pet Hates toy

Email marketing@burnspet.co.uk with the subject line: Welsh Breed Comp and submit your answers for the chance to win a satirical dog toy from www.pethatestoys.com

burnspet.co.uk • 25

The Shiba Inu is an Internet legend.

This native Japanese breed rose to fame in 2013 when a series of popular dog memes depicting the Shiba in funny situations spread like wildfire through search engines. The range of situations included a Shiba stuck in a hedge, a Shiba on a stepping stone and a Shiba on a swing.

Whatever the precarious situation, the Shiba seems to wear a giant happy grin.

Perhaps it is this cheeky expression coupled with the fact that they look like fluffy foxes which has granted the Shiba cult status as pretty much the coolest mutt around.

instagram.com/ marutaro

instagram.com/ mensweardog

An Instagram account called MenswearDog featuring Shiba Inu, Bodhi in super imposed high fashion outfits has a staggering 375k followers.

Another, Maru Taro has just shy of 3million.

Devilish good looks and popularity aside, we wanted to know how the Shiba fared as a pet beyond all the viral attention. After all, how suitable a dog is to your lifestyle and vice versa are the most important factors when it comes to pet ownership.

26 • burnspet.co.uk

History: Originally bred to hunt birds, game and wild boar. The Shiba is one of six native Japanese breeds.

Life expectancy: 12-15 years Characteristics: Bold, sassy, energetic, high-spirited, independent and highly intelligent.

Known for: Being particularly challenging to train, very agile and quick on their feet.

The Shiba is an escape artist and many owners report constructing large fences to stop theirs running away.

The Shiba can be aggressive towards other animals due to innate hunting instincts and potential owners should be prepared to always stay one step ahead to keep up with this mischievous and clever pooch.

Suitable for: Firm, confident people with lots of patience who can take charge.

Those looking for a high-energy, intelligent dog.

Exercise: The more the better. The Shiba is not a dog to be tired out easily.

If you are looking for a pet, we are firm believers in the adopt don’t shop philosophy.

It’s worth checking out Blue Cross, Yorkshire Cat Rescue and Galway SPCA to see if they can help you on your journey to pet ownership.

Sowing the seeds of social change for a

Better Tomorrow ocial isolation is a huge problem in the U.K, particularly in rural areas.

That’s why our community team have developed a number of grassroots projects under The Better Tomorrow Programme to tackle this issue head on.

One such project is The Butterfly Effect. Led by Community Project Officer, Chris Cray, the initiative brings together individuals who have suffered brain injuries and empowers them through recreational activities such as woodwork, crafts and social enterprise.

Together with a team of local Occupational Therapists, Chris runs weekly group sessions at head office committed to improving well-being.

Currently, participants are working on transforming an indoor warehouse from a blank canvas into a creative space which they can enjoy. From a collaborative mural depicting a caterpillar turning into a butterfly to colourful decoration, the team work collaboratively over 2-3 hour periods.

During each session, the group has a chance to socialise over a cuppa and cake-often baked by one of the participants. Some of the members meet up to socialise in-between and all participants are based in Carmarthenshire and West Wales.

Commenting on the project, Chris said “What we’re trying to do is create a safe space where individuals feel accepted and reclaim their independence. Many participants have had their entire world turned upside down and lost their sense of purpose. The Butterfly Effect reminds individuals that they’re not alone and helps them to make the best of their situation.”

The Butterfly Effect has been running for over a year and group sessions take place in Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire where our head office is based. As well as benefitting the individuals, activities are designed to benefit the community as a whole too.

A work in pr ogess for the team .

The Butterfly Effect group modelling their funky new mural.

For instance, last summer groups created raised beds and grew vegetables which local residents purchased at a Pay What You Can sale. Every penny goes back into the community, so we can continue to help those who need it most.

Garden and House Maintenance Business is a huge success You may remember that in Issue Above: Lenny en route to his first call 2 of the Tailchaser we interviewed of the day in the great outdoors. our new Community Handyman, Lenny Howells who was tasked with single handedly setting up a local maintenance business that would generate income and give back. Well, that business is now celebrating a very successful 9 months, having made a tremendous £17k, all of which is being reinvested into the community.

In fact, the enterprise has been so successful that Lenny has taken on a young apprentice and is mentoring him with the view for this individual to eventually start his own business. Pretty nifty result for less than a year’s work, even if we do say so ourselves.

27

John’s

Breakfast Medicine The interesting thing about John is that despite running Burns for over 25 years, he is still motivated to come to work every day and never seems short on energy.

Last year, John took part in a 5k and beat half of the staff on his time. He is always gallivanting and has a far more active social life than the copywriter writing this. It’s fair to say that the auld man is doing well and we want to know what his secret is.

They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so we asked John to share his morning medicine with us. Some of the ingredients are a little unusual, but hey, if we can accrue John-level superpowers we’ll give them a whirl.

Brown Rice Banquet “Brown rice isn’t the first thing that springs to mind when we think of breakfast, and this is a far cry from a Danish pastry or a fry-up in terms of taste.

However, wholegrains have a multitude of health benefits such as reducing cholesterol levels, lowering the risk of heart disease and improving digestion so I’m trying to incorporate as much brown rice into my diet as possible.

Eating brown rice in its pure form gives the body the best chance of reaping the benefits.

Although my favourite breakfast will always be porridge, I’m trying to choose this option instead because when grains are ground into flour or flakes, they are more likely to deteriorate and the fat starts to oxidise, i.e go rancid. Also, flour and flakes produce mucous in the body 28 • burnspet.co.uk

whereas wholegrains do not. I bulk cook the rice in advance to save time.

The down side is that I’m using a microwave to prepare the breakfast in the mornings for convenience reasons. Perhaps I’ll try heating the Rice Dream in a pan and adding it to the cold cooked rice.”

Ingredients: • 90g Organic wholegrain rice • Pinch of rock salt • 1 cup of Rice Dream - you will find this in health stores and the alternative milk section of supermarkets.

Optional: chopped banana, raisins or any fruit you choose.

Method: 1. Rinse the rice with water.

2. Bring a saucepan to the boil, adding the rice and rock salt.

3. Partially cover with a lid and simmer until all, or most of the water, is absorbed.

4. Leave to cool and it will continue to cook. Then transfer to a bowl and refrigerate.

This amount should last 3 days.

5. In the morning put some cooked rice in a bowl, add Rice Dream and pop it in the microwave for a minute.

6. Add toppings at your discretion. I usually add chopped banana and raisins.

How does it taste?

This isn’t rice pudding. For one thing, it isn’t pudding rice. Also, it isn’t made with milk - it’s made with water. At first, I found the taste and texture rather strange compared to porridge but now I really enjoy it. I feel it’s less stodgy too.

The cooked rice can also be used as part of another meal, for example I put some into soup or eat with vegetables in the evening.

Princely Overnight Oats “Porridge is a bit like poached eggs, everyone has their own preference on how they make it. In the spirit of being healthy I avoid using sugar or milk, but my grandchildren say it is “yummy” which goes to show that porridge doesn’t have to be stodgy and tasteless.

I don’t measure out the ingredients except by eye but I now have a good idea for how I want it to be. Change yours as you wish.

It’s not necessary, but I think it cooks better if allowed to soak overnight.”

Ingredients: • 1 mug of oat flakes • Pinch of sea salt • Rice Dream Optional: bananas, blueberries, and raspberries.

Method: 1. Prepare your oats the night before.

Put some water in a bowl, add a pinch of sea salt and half a mug of oat flakes. The water should sit well above the oat level.

Cover and leave to soak overnight.

2. In the morning, bring the mixture to the boil while stirring occasionally. Next, turn down the heat and allow to simmer for a few minutes. That’s it.

3. Add toppings as you wish. I usually chop half a banana but for the grandchildren I go to town with the fruit and add strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and bananas.

How does it taste?

This is a tasty, healthy dairy-free alternative to the sugar-laden breakfast cereals which adorn row upon row of supermarket shelves.

The Rice Dream alternative milk gives a hint of sweetness. From a health point of view, it would be even better to use whole oat groats but that is too much hard work - not just in preparation but in chewing. I use organic oats by a brand named Suma which is more expensive than nonorganic but even then, the daily cost is very

Porridge is a bit like poached eggs, everyone has their own preference on how they make it. little. A 750g box lasts me about 10 days.

Likewise, with the Rice Dream, a carton lasts a while.

By the way, if this looks like a plug for Rice Dream, it isn’t. There is an equivalent Spanish product which is much creamier.

burnspet.co.uk • 29

Subscribe to

The Tailchaser Times for the chance to

5 x pairs of tickets to

2019

DogFest has been hailed as the ultimate outing for pet lovers and is hosted by Channel 4’s Supervet, Noel Fitzpatrick.

Held in some of the UK’s most regal locations, this one-day event offers a dog-tastic line-up including a hound hangout, activity arena, yoga, obedience training and dancing.

WIN a pair of tickets (worth £40) to any of the below locations and dates: • Saturday 11th May - Knebworth House, Hertfordshire • Saturday 15th June – Tatton Park, Cheshire • Saturday 22nd June – Ashton Court, Bristol For further information on DogFest, visit www.dog-fest.co.uk

1 x Yup, You Stink! Bundle HOWND specialise in cruelty free, natural grooming products which are kind to the skin and coat, leaving dogs smelling wonderful and feeling happy. The entire grooming product range is vegan and avoids any harsh chemicals such as alcohol, parabens or dyes.

We have a bundle of their affectionately named, Yup, You Stink! variety to give away to one lucky reader. The bundle includes a conditioning shampoo, body mist and two packs of emergency dog wipes for those occasions where your little rascal decides to embark on a muddy adventure. HOWND are even throwing in a pampering skin, nose and paw balm- because dogs are worth it. www.dogslovehownd.com

30 • burnspet.co.uk

1 x PetWeighter Fed up of your pet sloshing their water everywhere?

Keen to make it easier for Buster to enjoy his daily bread?

The team at PetWeighter have come up with a nifty feeding bowl with a difference.

This cleverly-designed, high quality bowl avoids any unwanted spills as it is weighted to the ground by sand, ice or water. The PetWeighter’s elevated height also removes the need to stoop or put stress on joints, necks and shoulders so is suitable for arthritic dogs.

We have one PetWeighter (worth £24.99) in blue to giveaway.

Visit www.petweighter.com to browse the full collection.

1 x Pair of Cat & Dog Top Trump cards Even in the instant age of technology, there’s nothing quite like the tactile simplicity of a pack of cards.

This go-to game is compact enough to take on travels and is sure to be of interest for any pet lover.

Memorise educational facts about your favourite dog and cat breeds such as rarity, size, temperament and country of origin. Ideal for whippersnappers, adults and seniors alike, grab some good company, put the phone away and play the game.

We have one pair of Cat & Dog Top Trump cards to giveaway. www.winningmoves.co.uk

Every winner will receive a bumper Burns goodie bag filled with natural pet food!

Just some of the wonderful products you can expect to find in your Burns goodie bag

How to enter: Visit http://bit.ly/2T7pN9V and subscribe to The Tailchaser Times for the chance to win.

Competition entries end midnight on 30/4/2019 and winners will be selected and notified on 3/5/2019.

burnspet.co.uk • 31

Discover Dog Friendly Pembrokeshire Legends are definitely created in Wales.

Tucked away in the South West of the country is Pembrokeshire - the birthplace of legends such as the Patron Saint of Wales; Saint David and King Henry VII. In addition, Pembrokeshire is the source of the historic bluestones at Stonehenge.

Pembrokeshire is recognised as the only coastal National Park in the UK with a coastline voted second only to that of New Zealand by National Geographic Magazine. It’s included in a Conde Nast Traveller list of the five best National Parks on the planet and has been crowned Holiday Destination of the year 2018 by BBC Countryfile Magazine. The stunning 186-mile Pembrokeshire coastline is a haven for walkers and boasts a total of 56 Coast

Awards (11 Blue Flags, 14 Green Coast Awards and 31 Seaside Awards.)

Drive from Birmingham or London and reach Pembrokeshire in half a working day, or head to the coast from South Wales in the time it takes to watch the first half of a rugby match.

The natural beauty of the coast and countryside makes Pembs the destination of choice for millions of visitors each year, many of whom come for the spectacular walks and views.

Others visit for sporting and adventure, historic trails, a plethora of tourist attractions or a combination of all.

The stunning Pembrokeshire landscape is accessible to everyone and if that’s not enough, this corner of Wales is now also gaining momentum as a hotspot

BBYS teams and trainers pictured on Freshwater West, Pembrokeshire.

32 • burnspet.co.uk

for dog friendly tourism.

In 2017, Pembrokeshire Tourism held the first ever Dog Friendly Pembrokeshire Tourism Awards which were designed to support and promote dog friendly tourism in the county.

The aim of the awards is to inspire the industry to become a more dog friendly destination and warmly welcome those travelling with pets.

We teamed up with Pembrokeshire Tourism to sponsor the awards and involved our specially trained Burns By Your Side Reading Dogs throughout the whole process including the judging. After all, who better to judge the best dog friendly beach than a dog itself?

In 2017, Pembrokeshire Tourism held the first ever Dog Friendly Pembrokeshire Tourism Awards which were designed to support and promote dog friendly tourism in the county.

Now, two years on and two successful award campaigns behind us, we want to continue putting dog friendly Pembrokeshire on the map, setting a high standard for other dog friendly regions to follow.

major concern for pet owners when embarking on a holiday. As a Kidwellybased company, these awards allow us to celebrate the human-animal bond and praise Pembrokeshire for its dog friendly facilities.

Taking your dog on holiday with you eliminates the need to find care arrangements, which is often a

Pembrokeshire is serious about tourism provision as a whole and about protecting its appeal as a top

UK destination of choice for visitors.

The Dog Friendly Pembrokeshire Tourism initiative is supported by Visit Wales, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, and National Trust Pembrokeshire along with other stakeholders and everyone is keen to promote the message of responsible dog ownership to anyone who visits picturesque Pembrokeshire with a dog.

For further information, please visit www.dogfriendlytourismawards.co.uk burnspet.co.uk • 33

Behind the scenes with

Maggie the Labradoodle Maggie the Labradoodle was recently invited to model on a photoshoot for our new Puppy Club branding.

We couldn’t help but laugh at some of her expressions. If dogs could talk...

34 • burnspet.co.uk

Supported by

LEAD the WAY Dog Walking Group

Do you LOVE being ac tive with your dog?

Would you LOVE to meet LIKE - MINDED individuals?

Join a LEAD THE WAY walk or host one in your local area.

VISIT www.burnspet.co.uk/walkinggroup TO SIGN UP

Free From Developed by Veterinary Surgeon BVMS MRCVS

Suitable for adults

Suitable for puppies

GRAIN FREE

WHEAT/GLUTEN FREE

BEEF FREE

DAIRY FREE

SWEET POTATO FREE

BEET PULP FREE

Call our dedicated Nutrition Team on Freephone number 08082317039 or email info@burnspet.co.uk

www.burnspet.co.uk