Mars Petcare has launched a new coalition to drive innovation in pet healthcare and nutrition.
The coalition, known as Kinship, is intended to bring together leading innovators and experts from the fields of science, technology, medicine, and, of course, pet care to create better futures for pets. By leveraging new discoveries in areas like microbiomics and genetics as well as new technologies and approaches such as machine learning and big data analysis, Mars hopes to improve the effectiveness and accessibility of pet health and pet nutrition.
“We’re excited about our new global division, Kinship, becoming a unique collaboration platform for entrepreneurs and innovators to create new products and services that deliver on our Purpose: A Better World for Pets. There are extraordinary opportunities in data, science and connected technology. Match them with the expansive reach, resources and core capabilities of a global industry leader like Mars, and together we can create a powerful force for transforming pet care.”
— Poul Weihrauch, President, Mars Petcare
The Kinship initiative offers several forms of financial support for startups in the pet space. Among them are a recurring pitch event with a $15,000 cash prize, an incubator program, and a dedicated investment fund of $100 million. Between them, these programs are intended to support innovation and the development of new startups from the concept and pre-seed phases to the growth phase.
The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) today unveiled an industry-wide, comprehensive set of recommendations for antibiotic stewardship and combatting antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in companion animals. The announcement was made at an event PIJAC hosted during the Global Pet Expo trade show at the Orange County Convention Center.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that two million people are infected with resistant strains of bacteria and 23,000 deaths result from antibiotic resistance in the U.S. annually. Two relatively common bacteria species that have resistant strains, Campylobacter and Salmonella, are also common in pets, making responsible use of antibiotics in companion animals an important concern.
“Antibiotic resistant germs are a growing and serious health risk to both humans and animals,” said Savonne Caughey, PIJAC director of government affairs. “Last year, PIJAC committed to work with the pet care community to create best management practices to combat AMR as part of our participation in the U.S. government’s Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Challenge.”
The recommendations encompass a unified set of principles for all sectors of the pet care community, with an emphasis on those involved in the breeding, rearing, transport and sale of companion animals as well as those who work with products where antibiotics regularly intersect with animals. They provide expert advice and best management practices on topics including use of antibiotics, sanitation, hygiene, veterinary oversight and zoonotic disease prevention, among others.
“PIJAC is proud to have served as the pet industry’s liaison on public health issues and zoonotic disease prevention for over a decade through our memorandum of understanding with the CDC,” said PIJAC president and CEO Mike Bober. “These recommendations are another demonstration of PIJAC and the pet care community’s commitment to promoting the health and well-being of animals and humans alike.”
PIJAC piloted the guide’s development through an extensive process of gathering resources, conducting research and consulting with specialists, professionals, and others in a variety of pet care roles. The final recommendations were developed by a working group comprised of stakeholders and experts including pet care retailers, breeders, distributors, authorities in animal care, and representatives from the veterinary medicine and health communities and other trade associations.
“This is the first-ever set of recommendations for antibiotic stewardship in the pet care community. With widespread adoption, they will help inhibit the development of resistant germs and ensure healthier pets and healthier people around the world.”
— Laura “Peach” Reid, Board Chair, PIJAC
PIJAC and other organizations involved in the working group will be distributing the recommendations to their members and promoting them at pet care industry and related events throughout 2019. The document will also be available for download on the PIJAC website.
Automaker Tesla recently released a new feature to help improve safety for pets and peace of mind for their owners.
The new feature, known as “Dog Mode,” activates climate control and displays a message on the dashboard touchscreen to alert passersby to the internal temperature and that pets inside are being cared for. In the event that the vehicle’s battery should drop below 20%, the driver will receive a notification to return to their pet to ensure their safety.
Dog Mode is currently only available for Tesla’s Model 3 — Models S and X built after August 2017 are slated to receive the feature via update at some point in the future.
While Dog Mode adds a layer of convenience for drivers who may wish to leave their pets briefly while running errands, Tesla reminds customers to consult local regulations before leaving pets unattended.
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The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) recently announced that Amazon has become an official supporter of HABRI and its research on the human health benefits of companion animals.
“Amazon’s support for HABRI and human-animal bond research demonstrates its commitment to the values of great pet care and the importance of pets in our lives,” said Steven Feldman, Executive Director of HABRI. “Amazon helps make it easy for us to care for our pets and, in turn, our pets contribute to our health and wellness.”
Amazon customers can explore popular pet products, enjoy pet care tips, and create a profile for their pet in order to receive personalized recommendations and coupons. In addition to offering customers a wide selection of pet food, treats, toys, tech and more, Amazon has been dog-friendly since Day 1 at its Seattle headquarters where employees share their workspace with as many as 6,000 pupazonians each day.
Scientific evidence increasingly shows that pets improve humans’ heart health; alleviate depression; increase well-being; support child health and educational development; and contribute to healthy aging.
New research also shows that pet-supportive workplaces boost employee attraction, engagement and retention. When employers support pet owners, employees are more likely to feel highly connected to their company’s mission, become more fully engaged with their work and are more willing to recommend their employer to others. Additionally, employees at pet friendly workplaces are 52% more likely to report a positive working relationship with their boss and 53% more likely to report a positive working relationship with their co-workers, compared to just 14% and 19% among those in non-pet friendly environments.
“Science demonstrates that pet-inclusive work environments help boost morale and encourage a culture of healthy collaboration and teamwork. Amazon is a leading pet-friendly company, and HABRI looks forward to working together to help more employers become pet-friendly so that more people can experience the benefits of the human-animal bond at home and on the job.”
PetSmart Charities recently announced that it has committed $2 million toward the development of a facility that will be used to house and care for animals seized as part of police investigations.
The facility will house the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Animal Safe Haven (MASH) Unit and will be the first of its kind in the United States. Not only will the new MASH Unit provide housing and medical care for seized animals, it will also serve as a space for the rehabilitation of nonviolent inmates through the human-animal bond. The rehabilitation program allows inmates to earn a training certificate for socializing animals in preparation for adoption. Over 660 inmates have graduated from the program to date.
The new facility will replace the MASH Unit’s previous facility, the Maricopa County’s First Avenue Jail facility. Human use of the complex was prohibited when it was decommissioned two decades ago. The new facility is being designed from the ground up with support from animal welfare experts to ensure that it will be suitable for the long-term care of animals living there.
“Our MASH program benefits animals, humans, and our community at large. Numerous studies have demonstrated the impact that the human-animal bond has on stress levels and fostering compassion. This new facility will enable us to expand MASH to include engagement and responsibility for our inmate population, including incarcerated mothers and their children, veterans, juveniles, and those with substance use disorders. Our goal is to reduce recidivism, while finding loving homes for the vulnerable animals we must lawfully care for. Ultimately, we believe this program will serve the needs of our animal population, save taxpayer dollars, and make our County an even better place to live and work. We are grateful to PetSmart Charities for its role in this innovative public-private partnership.”
Invasive species — non-native plants and animals introduced to ecosystems outside of their own — can devastate local ecosystems. By upsetting the balance of individual regions, they can quickly explode in numbers and overwhelm native species. According to a new article from the Ecological Society of America, the worst offenders may be fueled by a particularly potent characteristic: positive public perception.
The opinion piece, published in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, suggests that charismatic critters may be more difficult to manage effectively due to the public’s adoration of them. While many invasive species negatively impact humans as well as their local ecosystems, others — such as free-roaming horses — may negatively impact ecosystems without directly affecting humans in the area. If the species happens to be viewed positively among humans — perhaps due to associations with their native versions — management efforts can become very difficult very quickly. In some cases, local people may actively attempt to thwart management efforts.
“Take the ring-necked parakeet (Psittacula krameri) for example. The pet trade has led to an established population of parakeets in Europe, far outside the species’ native range. Even though parakeets can transmit diseases to native birds, compete with them for nesting cavities, and are recognized as a crop pest, the public enjoys seeing them in parks, gardens, and homes. Introduced parakeets tend to be released in cities, but the parakeets actually exact the most damage in rural areas. But because people have grown used to them, they are likely to oppose eradication efforts that take place before the birds become an established nuisance.”
— The Ecological Society of America
While the Ecological Society of America does not offer any firm solutions to the challenges to management posed by charismatic species, they suggest that communication between wildlife managers, researchers, and the general public will likely be key.
Mars Petcare recently announced the creation of a certification program that will serve as a companion to its Better Cities for Pets initiative.
The certification program, designed for city officials seeking to make their cities more pet friendly, provides evaluations based on 12 traits of pet-friendly cities. The 12 traits comprise attributes of a city’s businesses, homes, parks, and shelters. The certification program not only provides a way for cities to ensure that they are accommodating pets, but also provides a way for cities to advertise their pet-friendliness to prospective residents and businesses.
The Mars Petcare Better Cities for Pets initiative, for which the certification program is a companion, aims to improve the number and quality of pet-friendly cities across the United States. The initiative includes educational components through a collection of resources oriented toward city officials looking to improve the pet-friendliness of their cities as well as a grant program that awards funds to cities for projects that will improve their pet-friendliness.
“Cities across the country are making strides towards becoming more pet friendly, but there’s more work to be done. Through this certification, we hope to inspire more cities to take real action that leads to a better quality of life for people and pets in their communities.”
— Mark Johnson, President, Mars Petcare North America
Since its launch in 2017, Better Cities for Pets has impacted over 100 cities and provided more than $100,000 in grant funding and $1 million in pet food donations.
According to Petfood Industry, new actuarial data suggests that the rates of pet obesity and associated diseases continue to rise in the United States.
The data, collected by Nationwide, describes the incidence rate of obesity-related diseases in cats and dogs throughout 2017.
Top obesity-related diseases, 2017
Dogs
Arthritis
Bladder/Urinary Tract Disease
Liver Disease
Low Thyroid Hormone Production
Torn Knee Ligaments
Diseased Disc in Spine
Diabetes
Chronic Kidney Disease
Heart Failure
High Blood Pressure
Cats
Bladder/Urinary Tract Disease
Chronic Kidney Disease
Diabetes
Asthma
Liver Disease
Arthritis
High Blood Pressure
Heart Failure
Gall Bladder Disorder
Immobility of Spine
For the full list of obesity-related diseases as well as additional information on the pet obesity epidemic and what veterinarians are doing to combat it, check out the full article on Petfood Industry.
A new study suggests that medical alert dogs don’t just help people living with diabetes avoid hypoglycemic episodes, they also “vastly” improve their quality of life.
The research, led by a team at the University of Bristol, investigated the accuracy and reliability of medical alert dogs trained to detect hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic episodes over the course of 12 weeks.
Medical alert dogs are trained to respond to indications of medical distress with alerting behaviors, giving the affected individual or those around them the ability to intervene. In the case of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, alert dogs are trained to detect the subtle changes in the scent of affected individuals that accompany changes in blood sugar.
The team found that while detection accuracy varied between dogs studied, overall accuracy was much higher than had been previously reported. For all out-of-range glycemic events, there was a median sensitivity of 70%. For hypoglycemia, the median sensitivity was an even higher 83%. In total, over 4,000 glycemic episodes were detected by the dogs during the 12 week period.
Curiously, one of the factors associated with a dog’s accuracy was the degree to which it had been bonded to its human partner.
“Our research shows a dog’s effectiveness is affected by the individual dog and its connection with its human partner. Since the usage of such dogs is growing, it’s important that any dogs used for these purposes are professionally trained, matched and monitored by professional organisations like Medical Detection Dogs. It’s also vital that research continues both to assess true efficacy and determine ways to optimise their performance.”
— Nicola Rooney, Faculty, School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol
The results of the study have been published in PLOS One.
The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) recently announced that it had awarded grants to five projects examining the effects of human-animal interaction on human health.
The five projects that will receive HABRI grant funding focus on a wide range of topics within human-animal interaction, including the effects of human-animal interaction on the physical health of older adults, mental health of adolescents, and the quality of life of pediatric cancer patients.
“With human-animal interaction research more clearly documenting the impact of the human-animal bond on mental and physical health, it is important to support research on how companion animals can benefit vulnerable and at-risk populations. This new group of research projects is particularly exciting as two of the studies will add to existing HABRI research results on the benefits of dog walking for physical activity and the impact of therapy animal visitation on the quality of life of pediatric cancer patients. Two studies will look at mental health and preventing suicide among teenagers, a population that is often overlooked.”
— Bob Vetere, President, HABRI
Since 2010, HABRI has funded 26 research projects investigating the effects of human-animal interaction on humans and animals alike. HABRI has also supported the development of HABRI Central, a digital library for the study of human-animal interaction. In total, HABRI has contributed more than $2.75 million to funding new human-animal interaction research.
Mars Petcare Launches Pet Care Innovation Coalition
Mars Petcare has launched a new coalition to drive innovation in pet healthcare and nutrition.
The coalition, known as Kinship, is intended to bring together leading innovators and experts from the fields of science, technology, medicine, and, of course, pet care to create better futures for pets. By leveraging new discoveries in areas like microbiomics and genetics as well as new technologies and approaches such as machine learning and big data analysis, Mars hopes to improve the effectiveness and accessibility of pet health and pet nutrition.
The Kinship initiative offers several forms of financial support for startups in the pet space. Among them are a recurring pitch event with a $15,000 cash prize, an incubator program, and a dedicated investment fund of $100 million. Between them, these programs are intended to support innovation and the development of new startups from the concept and pre-seed phases to the growth phase.
Source: First-of-Its-Kind Coalition Launches to Drive Pet Care Innovation
PIJAC Releases Recommendations for Combatting Antimicrobial Resistance
The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) today unveiled an industry-wide, comprehensive set of recommendations for antibiotic stewardship and combatting antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in companion animals. The announcement was made at an event PIJAC hosted during the Global Pet Expo trade show at the Orange County Convention Center.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that two million people are infected with resistant strains of bacteria and 23,000 deaths result from antibiotic resistance in the U.S. annually. Two relatively common bacteria species that have resistant strains, Campylobacter and Salmonella, are also common in pets, making responsible use of antibiotics in companion animals an important concern.
“Antibiotic resistant germs are a growing and serious health risk to both humans and animals,” said Savonne Caughey, PIJAC director of government affairs. “Last year, PIJAC committed to work with the pet care community to create best management practices to combat AMR as part of our participation in the U.S. government’s Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Challenge.”
The recommendations encompass a unified set of principles for all sectors of the pet care community, with an emphasis on those involved in the breeding, rearing, transport and sale of companion animals as well as those who work with products where antibiotics regularly intersect with animals. They provide expert advice and best management practices on topics including use of antibiotics, sanitation, hygiene, veterinary oversight and zoonotic disease prevention, among others.
“PIJAC is proud to have served as the pet industry’s liaison on public health issues and zoonotic disease prevention for over a decade through our memorandum of understanding with the CDC,” said PIJAC president and CEO Mike Bober. “These recommendations are another demonstration of PIJAC and the pet care community’s commitment to promoting the health and well-being of animals and humans alike.”
PIJAC piloted the guide’s development through an extensive process of gathering resources, conducting research and consulting with specialists, professionals, and others in a variety of pet care roles. The final recommendations were developed by a working group comprised of stakeholders and experts including pet care retailers, breeders, distributors, authorities in animal care, and representatives from the veterinary medicine and health communities and other trade associations.
PIJAC and other organizations involved in the working group will be distributing the recommendations to their members and promoting them at pet care industry and related events throughout 2019. The document will also be available for download on the PIJAC website.
Source: PIJAC’s Antibiotic Stewardship Recommendations and Annual Award Winners
Tesla Adds New “Dog Mode” for Pet Owners
Automaker Tesla recently released a new feature to help improve safety for pets and peace of mind for their owners.
The new feature, known as “Dog Mode,” activates climate control and displays a message on the dashboard touchscreen to alert passersby to the internal temperature and that pets inside are being cared for. In the event that the vehicle’s battery should drop below 20%, the driver will receive a notification to return to their pet to ensure their safety.
Dog Mode is currently only available for Tesla’s Model 3 — Models S and X built after August 2017 are slated to receive the feature via update at some point in the future.
While Dog Mode adds a layer of convenience for drivers who may wish to leave their pets briefly while running errands, Tesla reminds customers to consult local regulations before leaving pets unattended.
Source: Tesla releases new ‘dog mode’ for pet owners
Amazon Becomes HABRI Supporter
Show Sponsored Authors if the article is sponsored
The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) recently announced that Amazon has become an official supporter of HABRI and its research on the human health benefits of companion animals.
“Amazon’s support for HABRI and human-animal bond research demonstrates its commitment to the values of great pet care and the importance of pets in our lives,” said Steven Feldman, Executive Director of HABRI. “Amazon helps make it easy for us to care for our pets and, in turn, our pets contribute to our health and wellness.”
Amazon customers can explore popular pet products, enjoy pet care tips, and create a profile for their pet in order to receive personalized recommendations and coupons. In addition to offering customers a wide selection of pet food, treats, toys, tech and more, Amazon has been dog-friendly since Day 1 at its Seattle headquarters where employees share their workspace with as many as 6,000 pupazonians each day.
Scientific evidence increasingly shows that pets improve humans’ heart health; alleviate depression; increase well-being; support child health and educational development; and contribute to healthy aging.
New research also shows that pet-supportive workplaces boost employee attraction, engagement and retention. When employers support pet owners, employees are more likely to feel highly connected to their company’s mission, become more fully engaged with their work and are more willing to recommend their employer to others. Additionally, employees at pet friendly workplaces are 52% more likely to report a positive working relationship with their boss and 53% more likely to report a positive working relationship with their co-workers, compared to just 14% and 19% among those in non-pet friendly environments.
Source: Amazon sponsors Human Animal Bond Research Institute
PetSmart Charities Contributes $2 Million Toward Development of Safe Haven Facility
PetSmart Charities recently announced that it has committed $2 million toward the development of a facility that will be used to house and care for animals seized as part of police investigations.
The facility will house the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Animal Safe Haven (MASH) Unit and will be the first of its kind in the United States. Not only will the new MASH Unit provide housing and medical care for seized animals, it will also serve as a space for the rehabilitation of nonviolent inmates through the human-animal bond. The rehabilitation program allows inmates to earn a training certificate for socializing animals in preparation for adoption. Over 660 inmates have graduated from the program to date.
The new facility will replace the MASH Unit’s previous facility, the Maricopa County’s First Avenue Jail facility. Human use of the complex was prohibited when it was decommissioned two decades ago. The new facility is being designed from the ground up with support from animal welfare experts to ensure that it will be suitable for the long-term care of animals living there.
Source: PetSmart Charities Commits $2 Million to Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Animal Safe Haven Unit Facility
Charismatic Invasive Species More Difficult to Manage
Invasive species — non-native plants and animals introduced to ecosystems outside of their own — can devastate local ecosystems. By upsetting the balance of individual regions, they can quickly explode in numbers and overwhelm native species. According to a new article from the Ecological Society of America, the worst offenders may be fueled by a particularly potent characteristic: positive public perception.
The opinion piece, published in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, suggests that charismatic critters may be more difficult to manage effectively due to the public’s adoration of them. While many invasive species negatively impact humans as well as their local ecosystems, others — such as free-roaming horses — may negatively impact ecosystems without directly affecting humans in the area. If the species happens to be viewed positively among humans — perhaps due to associations with their native versions — management efforts can become very difficult very quickly. In some cases, local people may actively attempt to thwart management efforts.
While the Ecological Society of America does not offer any firm solutions to the challenges to management posed by charismatic species, they suggest that communication between wildlife managers, researchers, and the general public will likely be key.
For more information about charismatic invasive species, check out the full article in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment.
Source: Why charismatic, introduced species are so difficult to manage
Mars Petcare Announces Better Cities for Pets Certification Program
Mars Petcare recently announced the creation of a certification program that will serve as a companion to its Better Cities for Pets initiative.
The certification program, designed for city officials seeking to make their cities more pet friendly, provides evaluations based on 12 traits of pet-friendly cities. The 12 traits comprise attributes of a city’s businesses, homes, parks, and shelters. The certification program not only provides a way for cities to ensure that they are accommodating pets, but also provides a way for cities to advertise their pet-friendliness to prospective residents and businesses.
The Mars Petcare Better Cities for Pets initiative, for which the certification program is a companion, aims to improve the number and quality of pet-friendly cities across the United States. The initiative includes educational components through a collection of resources oriented toward city officials looking to improve the pet-friendliness of their cities as well as a grant program that awards funds to cities for projects that will improve their pet-friendliness.
Since its launch in 2017, Better Cities for Pets has impacted over 100 cities and provided more than $100,000 in grant funding and $1 million in pet food donations.
Source: Mars Petcare certification aims to create more welcoming world for pets
New Actuarial Data Highlights Top Diseases Associated with Pet Obesity
According to Petfood Industry, new actuarial data suggests that the rates of pet obesity and associated diseases continue to rise in the United States.
The data, collected by Nationwide, describes the incidence rate of obesity-related diseases in cats and dogs throughout 2017.
Top obesity-related diseases, 2017
Dogs
Cats
For the full list of obesity-related diseases as well as additional information on the pet obesity epidemic and what veterinarians are doing to combat it, check out the full article on Petfood Industry.
Source: Infographic: Top 10 obesity diseases in dogs, cats 2017
New Research Suggests Medical Alert Dogs Vastly Improve Quality of Life of Those with Diabetes
A new study suggests that medical alert dogs don’t just help people living with diabetes avoid hypoglycemic episodes, they also “vastly” improve their quality of life.
The research, led by a team at the University of Bristol, investigated the accuracy and reliability of medical alert dogs trained to detect hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic episodes over the course of 12 weeks.
Medical alert dogs are trained to respond to indications of medical distress with alerting behaviors, giving the affected individual or those around them the ability to intervene. In the case of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, alert dogs are trained to detect the subtle changes in the scent of affected individuals that accompany changes in blood sugar.
The team found that while detection accuracy varied between dogs studied, overall accuracy was much higher than had been previously reported. For all out-of-range glycemic events, there was a median sensitivity of 70%. For hypoglycemia, the median sensitivity was an even higher 83%. In total, over 4,000 glycemic episodes were detected by the dogs during the 12 week period.
Curiously, one of the factors associated with a dog’s accuracy was the degree to which it had been bonded to its human partner.
The results of the study have been published in PLOS One.
Source: Medical detection dogs help diabetes patients regulate insulin levels
HABRI Awards Five Research Grants to Study Effects of Human-Animal Interaction
The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) recently announced that it had awarded grants to five projects examining the effects of human-animal interaction on human health.
The five projects that will receive HABRI grant funding focus on a wide range of topics within human-animal interaction, including the effects of human-animal interaction on the physical health of older adults, mental health of adolescents, and the quality of life of pediatric cancer patients.
Since 2010, HABRI has funded 26 research projects investigating the effects of human-animal interaction on humans and animals alike. HABRI has also supported the development of HABRI Central, a digital library for the study of human-animal interaction. In total, HABRI has contributed more than $2.75 million to funding new human-animal interaction research.
Source: Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) Funds Five New Grants