Pet Owners Splurge on Premium, Fortified Food for Animal Companions
The premiumization trend in the global pet food market indicates that pet owning consumers are as willing to spend more on premium food infused with health fortifying ingredients such as glucosamine, omega fatty acids, antioxidants, and probiotics for their pets as they are for themselves.
Premium pet foods cover all bases — from natural/organic to functional/nutraceutical to special diet (segmented by lifestage, weight, health condition, breed, etc.) to gourmet — while also often reflecting trends in human foods.
Driven by premiumization the global pet food market reached an estimated $49 billion in 2008, according to market research publisher Packaged Facts in the all-new report, “Pet Food in the U.S.: Health, Humanization and High Quality Ingredients in an Increasingly Value-Driven Global Market, 8th Edition.” The 2008 global total marked a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of almost 5% for the preceding five-year period.
North America accounted for the largest share of global pet food sales in 2008 with 40%. “Particularly in the United States, the premiumization trend goes beyond the tendency Americans have to be better educated about health and nutrition issues. In addition, the pervasive humanization dynamic cannot be underestimated. Pet owners often view their pets as part of the family, or even as surrogate ‘children.’ Thus they are looking for the safest and healthiest products possible,” says Tatjana Meerman, Publisher of Packaged Facts.
“Pet Food in the U.S.: Health, Humanization and High Quality Ingredients in an Increasingly Value-Driven Global Market, 8th Edition” examines the global pet food market (sales overall and by world region, marketer shares, new product trends, U.S. export trends, etc.); strategic directions for current and prospective marketers; high-growth product segments; and trends in pet food purchaser demographics and lifestyle pursuits (media and marketing psychographics, Internet usage, “green” involvement, etc.). The report has separate chapters each discussing food for dogs, cats, and other companion animals. For further information visit: http://www.packagedfacts.com/Pet-Food-1653956/.
RSPCA: Supermarkets back pigs campaign
Major retailers are already pledging their support to the RSPCA’s new ‘Rooting for pigs’ campaign, which is asking for clearer, more transparent labelling on pork products.
Asda, The Co-operative (Co-op), Marks and Spencer (M&S) and Sainsbury’s are the first to commit to clearer pork labelling definitions.
As part of its ‘Rooting for pigs’ campaign, the RSPCA is calling on supermarkets and other UK food retailers to work with the charity and the British pig industry to develop and sign up to a voluntary labelling agreement because there are currently no set definitions for pork product labelling.
Pet Abandonment Rise Due To Economy
The struggling economy has lead to an increase of pet surrenders. Between job losses and shifting work schedules, many pet owners have given up their animals.
Pet Slimmer of the Year
Weight and obesity always seem to be hot topics in the news. Yet it’s not just people that need to watch the pounds, our pet dogs are just as at risk from the health implications of obesity as we are.
A Labrador dog has been crowned pet slimmer of the year in a UK wide competition after shedding 9 and a half kilos! A diet of fatty foods, and too many of them and the extra weight piled on Oscar, the black Labrador.
A one hundred day diet of water and dog biscuits, along with regular exercise and Oscar is now unrecognisable as a slim fit and energetic pet. Well done Oscar!
No matter what breed they are, all dogs enjoy food. Most of them would eat you out of house and home given half a chance but it is important not to indulge your pup too often. Like us humans they need a balanced diet and lots of exercise.
Cats and dogs to suffer ‘master separation syndrome’ as their owners split
This year, Sainsbury’s Finance estimates that over 60,000 cats and dogs in Britain could suffer from “Master Separation Syndrome” – a term coined by Sainsbury’s to describe the mental trauma caused by their owners separating.
Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance offers a range of benefits including up to £1,000 per condition for complementary treatments and £250 a year for behavioural problems. Over the last year, Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance has seen a 28% increase in the number of claims linked to behavioural problems, the Bank believes that Master Separation Syndrome is one of the reasons for this.
Neal Devine, Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance Manager said: “If a couple separating have pets, their animals can also suffer from the anguish and stress caused by the breakdown. Cats and dogs can be very susceptible to their owner’s feelings and if they sense they are unhappy they can easily become agitated and depressed.”
“Pet owners should be aware that good quality pet insurance doesn’t just cover vet fees but will provide cover for behavioural issues as well.
“Also, if you suddenly become reliant on one income to look after a pet the need for pet insurance will usually be greater as it will help you to cope more easily with any large unexpected vet bills.”
Sainsbury’s estimates that the cost of owning a pet is increasing by around 5% a year. Indeed, it has calculated that the lifetime cost of owning a dog bought today stands at around £9,000, while the corresponding figure for a cat is around £7,000.
Despite the rising costs of veterinary bills, its research shows that as many as 11 million British pet owners have no insurance cover for their pet cats and dogs.
Good quality pet insurance does not need to be expensive, good cover at a competitive price can be found by shopping around. Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance is designed to offer some of the widest range of benefits available at a competitive price. For further information call 0800 056 5758, log on to www.sainsburys.co.uk or pick up a leaflet in a Sainsbury’s supermarket.
Christmas pet survival guide
As the saying goes, a dog (or any animal) is not just for Christmas. Pets are family, and if Christmas is a time for celebrating togetherness, then our animals must be included. Seasonal indulgence in food, drink and the giving of dubious presents usually extends to the nation’s pets. Dogs may be bought ill-fitting winter coats or flashing reindeer horns and cats hightech virtual mice or exotic treats. But be prepared for disappointment. Bear in mind, it is usually the wrappings that are appreciated by cats more than the contents.
Keep Your Pet Safe At Christmas
Most pet owners like to indulge their four-legged friends over the festive period – but it’s worth remembering the party season can mean extra hazards.
To honour the ghosts of Christmas emergencies from the past, I have put together a list of holiday pitfalls which every pet owner should be aware of.
Read more Pet news at UK Pet Insurance Review
Rebellion over Government’s rules on pets
The recommendations – including “cat-proofing” windows and balconies to prevent falls, having at least one litter tray per cat, and guaranteeing that dogs wear collars and identity tags in public places – were announced in November.
Now, angry animal experts and pet owners believe that the rules risk criminalising responsible animal lovers.
Dog owners fear that they could be prosecuted for leaving their animals alone in a car for even just a few moments, or for not grooming their pets often enough.
Cat owners have expressed concern that they could face action for having only one litter tray when they own two cats.
Rebellion over Government’s rules on pets
Pet Insurance News
Animal Friends Insurance: Pet Owners Cut out Luxuries to Meet Pet Healthcare Needs
Despite recession, a specialist pet insurer, Animal Friends Insurance, is reporting a 40 percent increase in pet owners purchasing insurance policies to care for the health and wellbeing of their pets.
A startling fact found in research done by Sainsbury’s Finance in September, shows that 1.6 million pet owners have had to put down at least one pet dog or cat in the last five years because of not being able to cover a vet bill. To avoid this unnecessary heartache many are looking into getting lifetime policies for their pets.
As budgets tighten in the recession, families are cutting back on meals out, luxury food items and next year’s holiday. However, it seems that these same families are making a big effort to purchase pet insurance as a precaution.
Elaine Fairfax, Founder and MD of Animal Friends, commented: “More claims are made for pet related illness rather than accidents. Similarly, insurers are reporting that they find claim ratios are 1 in 4 and often as high as 1 in 3 for pets requiring veterinary treatment each year. Another important fact is that veterinary fees are rising faster than inflation and pet insurance claims are made more frequently than other household or car insurance claims.”
“With Christmas just around the corner there will be many new pet owners and it is even more important at a time like this that the annual message gets across: there is a cost to caring for pets.” added Elaine.
Animal Friends are unique in the pet insurance sector as they are a not-for-profit company. All their net profits made from the sale of pet insurance policies go directly to charities which help animals in need. The charities that they provide aid to are worldwide and include Animal Asia, The Born Free Foundation, donkey and horse sanctuaries in Israel and the Gambia along with many others including smaller charities such as Somerset and Dorset Rescue and Woodlands Animal Sanctuary.
The company offers several levels of cover ranging from just a few pounds per month to comprehensive full lifetime policies to help protect pet owners against unforeseen medical expenses for ongoing conditions such as arthritis and to give them peace of mind.
In a recession charitable donations are hit hard too. In response to this, Animal Friends has teamed up with The Mayhew Animal Home, one of the busiest animal sanctuaries in London, rescuing thousands of animals from cruelty and neglect each year. To help the Mayhew’s important work, Animal Friends Insurance will be donating 5 for every policy sold when a pet insurance purchase is made right until the end of December 08, a buyer just has to give the promotional code MAY1 at the time of purchase to trigger the donation. So whether you phone Animal Friends Insurance to buy a policy – or buy online – mention the promotional code MAY1 and Animal Friends will earmark 5 towards this worthy cause on your behalf. The web site can be found at http://www.animalfriends.org.uk.
In a report in the Dereham Times of Norfolk, David Green, spokesman for the RSPCA said, “The vast majority of responsible pet owners do get insurance. But people often do not appreciate the cost of vet treatment. People are out of touch with what it can cost. Insurance is a relatively small outlay in comparison.”
Web: http://www.animalfriends.org.uk/
High res image can be downloaded from: http://www.clickintopr.com/editors/articleDetail.asp?pjID=555
Animal Friends Insurance is a non-profit making insurance business, which donates 100% of its net profits to animal welfare charities worldwide. The company was founded in 1998 and offers competitively priced dog and cat insurance products. In 2005 Animal Friends Insurance’s managing director, Elaine Fairfax, won the NatWest everywoman Award for achieving the most outstanding success in business. Animal Friends currently insures around 30,000 pets at a 5 million gross written premium.
Read more Pet news at UK Pet Insurance Review