Healthy Paws Merseyside Entrepreneur of the Year

On the day that pet insurer Petplan told us that younger pet owners will be the most guilty of overfeeding their pet during this festive season, we also heard of a canine healthfood company which beat off over 200 competitors to become Merseyside Entrepreneur of the Year.

The Crosby based family run business Healthy Paws produces dairy free, GM free, preservative and additive free holistic dog food and treats. In a culmination of 'The Search' initiative, Cherie Blair announced Healthy Paws founder, Lisa Horne as the winner during a ceremony held at the Liner Hotel, in Liverpool yesterday.

The Liverpool Daily Post reports Ms Horne will receive up to £100,000 of unsecured business funding guaranteed by international asset management company Dominique Faversham Group. Ms Horne will also receive a tailored 12-month programme of coaching and expert professional advice.

Meanwhile..

Petplan reports that one in ten British pet owners admits to over-feeding their pet during the Christmas and New Year period and one fifth of vets say that the problem is getting worse.

Younger pet owners are revealed to be the most guilty: 20% of 18 to 24 year olds confessed to overfeeding their pet during the festive season, says Petplan. And almost one quarter (23%) of owners reported that in the past their pets had helped themselves to Christmas leftovers.

More than half of all vets have seen pets who have suffered illness because of food consumption at Christmas, and a quarter of them said that the majority of food-related cases they saw were caused by the owner over-feeding their pet.

Simon Wheeler, Head of Marketing, Petplan said:

"Most dog and cat owners see their pets as part of the family and probably feel guilty if while they are having their annual blow-out the family pet just gets its same boring old food.

"Unfortunately, what they are doing by over-indulging the family pet is the exact opposite of kindness. Pets need a healthy balanced diet which is what properly formulated animal food gives them.

"Their digestive systems are not suited to our diets, particularly at Christmas when so much of what we eat is very rich".