Author: Tim Wall
The term fur baby has become shorthand for a complex of concepts. A key aspect of the fur baby phenomenon is that pets have become surrogate children, as opposed to living mouse traps, sheep protectors or pests. All over the world, people increasingly consider pets as part of their family. More than just companionship, pets can be the preferred family member for some. For example, I occasionally receive press releases about survey results suggesting that people would rather be stranded on a desert island with their pet or that parents care more about their fur babies rather than their own…
The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, appears to be zoonotic, having transferred to humans from wild animals. Diseases can also pass from wildlife to pets, zoo animals and companion animals, including a small number of dogs and cats that have contracted COVID-19. This phenomenon of one non-human species passing one disease to another can be called spillover. Those animals do not need to be in direct contact with each other for spillover to occur. On July 25 and 31 last year, health officials confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) infections at two cat shelters in Seoul, South Korea.…
Think about your online shopping habits. What do you look at first? For many people, a product with less than four stars is not even considered and a bad review can be a deal breaker. Also, pet food reviews can differentiate products for pet owners and influence purchasing decisions. The percentage of food and pet food sold online has been growing for more than a decade. After a sharp boom during the pandemic, internet-based pet food sales have come to rival sales at brick-and-mortar retail outlets. Packaged Facts estimates that 36% of pet food sales will occur online in 2021.…
Beyond all the fads and fads, nutrition is the most important goal of the dog, cat and other pet food industry. Pet owners, veterinarians and pet food manufacturers all aim to ensure that companion animals are eating a complete and balanced diet. However, communication among these groups can be complicated. For example, veterinarians and pet owners may differ in their assessments of pet obesity. Veterinarians’ recommendations can play an important role for pet owners looking for ideal diets for their companion animals. However, four major barriers can hinder communication about nutrition among pet owners and veterinarians. Researchers identified their challenges…
Last year was relatively slow for pet food acquisitions, especially compared to 51 business deals in 2018. However, opportunities may exist in 2024 for private equity groups, banks and other investors who bet on the pet. Investment bank Harris Williams compiled a report detailing some of the characteristics investors look for in pet food companies.Social and environmental ethicsEarth’s surface temperature in 2023 will be the hottest in recorded history, according to NASA scientists, beating the baseline period (1951-1980) by 2.1 degrees Fahrenheit. Every month from June to December sets a global record for that month, with July being the hottest…