Latest news with #PetsatHome
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
Gel-infused cooling mat prevents dogs from overheating
During a heatwave, it is advised to keep dogs in the shade, and go out for walks when it is cooler on morning and in the evenings As the nation basks in a heatwave, pet owners should keep a special eye on their beloved dogs. According to the RSPCA, canines are at high risk of dehydrating or getting heatstroke during high temperatures. Pet owners can take preventive measures, including keeping pups in the shade, making sure they drink plenty of cold water, and having something cool on which they can lie. The RSPCA recommends sitting dogs on a damp towel, but these are not waterproof and hence not accident-friendly. An alternative is investing in a pet-cooling mat specially designed for hot weather conditions. Amazon is selling a Pecute Dog Cooling Mat with prices ranging from £17.99 (for the small size) to £49.99 for the extra large size. The gel-infused mat is waterproof, scratch-resistant, and wear-resistant. There's no need to refill it; shoppers can pop it in the fridge or freezer before use. The Pecute Dog Cooling Mat absorbs a dog's body heat, stopping them from overheating and dehydration. It can be placed on top of dogs' beds, as well as inside crates or kennels, or on top of couches and floors. Free Amazon Prime membership Product Description For consumers with plenty of garden space, a paddling pool is another heatwave option. Pets at Home is selling a Cooling Pet Paddling Pool for £20 and it requires no inflation. It is also designed with a lead clip for secure bathing and a drainage plug. Amazon's Pecute Dog Cooling Mat has more than 17,00 customer reviews. A customer ordered the XL size for their 45kg German Shepherd, commenting: "He loves it and uses it all the time. Cushioned and so cooling for him. Have used others in the past, but not so cushioned, and now he's 12, he needs a bit more comfort. Would thoroughly recommend." A second buyer approved of the product, but said their dog 'hated it' and refused to use it. The customer said their dog still opts 'to lie on the tiles.' This could be an issue for other dog owners too, but there are other kinds of cooling items on the market. For instance, this Dog Cooling Vest from Spark Paws fits over the body like a harness. It is offered in a seven different sizes with prices from £18-£22. It promises to reduce a dog's body temperature by using evaporation. To use, wet it in water, wring it out, and then place it on your dog's body. Back to customer reviews on Amazon's Pecute cooling mat, a fourth person bought it for their cockapoo, who has been using it for a week: "It does work and he feels noticeably cooler to the touch after lying on it - it's really helped him through the recent heat spike." The shopper continued: "He's had a little scratch, and the material hasn't torn or anything and remains strong. It seems to be pretty resistant and good quality, at least so far. I'd recommend it, and so would our cockapoo."
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
People horrified after disabled woman claims NHS sent her to be weighed at a pet shop
A disabled woman has claimed she was left in a state of disbelief when NHS staff told het to go to a pet shop to be weighed. Shropshire-based Sarah Rennie, who documents her life as a 'proud' disabled person on TikTok, told viewers she had been directed to a Pets at Home store to be weighed by The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital in Oswestry. Fellow TikTokers were outraged by the NHS's blithe advice, with one branding Sarah's experience 'horrific'. The accessibility and inclusion specialist and trainer, who goes by 'sarahvbarriers' on the platform, explained she's often asked for her 'accurate weight' by medical staff. Wheelchair user Sarah is required to report her weight so doctors and nurses can make sure that she is on the correct medication at the right dose and that her lifting equipment is able to properly support her. In the clip, which has been viewed more than 200,000 times, Sarah said: 'I can't believe this just happened. 'The NHS has just referred me to a pet shop. 'As a disabled person [on] medication [and with] lots of lifting equipment, I'm often asked my accurate weight. 'I need to get weighed because I can't stand or walk.' Sarah explained that because she is unable to stand or walk, finding out her weight is slightly more complicated. She added: 'This means that I either need to have a hoist that's got weighing scales or I need to be able to roll onto a scales in my wheelchair and subtract the weight of the wheelchair.' In the minute-long video, Sarah, a member of the West Midlands Tourism and Hospitality Advisory Board, tells viewers she's been unable to find any NHS facilities in her area that are equipped to weigh her. 'The wheelchair service no longer offers a weighing facility,' she said. Sarah was shocked when 'a very nice lady' associated with her surgery suggested she go on local radio to see if any local factory owners might have the kind of equipment that would allow her to be weighed - but worse was still to come. Explaining that she was advised to go to The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital in Oswestry, which is a 40-minute drive from her home, Sarah thought it was worth checking that the hospital would be able to help her before setting off. But, in a typed response which Sarah added to the TikTok video, she was told to 'access community-based weighing options, including facilities such as "Pets at Home".' Sarah, who was clearly in a state of disbelief, added: 'I've just had this response: "We advise patients to go to Pets at Home". Do I look like a chipmunk?!' The clip amassed 580 comments in a matter of three days, with the majority of fellow TikTok users sharing Sarah's shock and disappointment. One person wrote: 'That is horrific.' The TikToker advised: 'Although if you are stuck, Shropshire Council have a list of public weighbridges which are very accurate.' Another outraged user said: 'I work in a nursing home, does the NHS hospital not have a SINGLE hoist sling in the entire hospital?' A third person added: 'What? That's awful! I go to my local gym, they have a big platform weighing scales which I transfer onto'. While a fourth said: 'That is incredibly dehumanising! Being referred to Pets at Home or a factory like you're an animal or some kind of good to be sold?! Also, how can a wheelchair service work without being able to weigh people?' A fifth person commented: 'Outrageous! Shropshire-based myself, this is just... I'm lost for words. Reposted to raise awareness!' Fellow TikTokers were quick to comment on Sarah's experience, with the vast majority sharing her dismay at the NHS's directive Yet not everyone agreed that Sarah was right to be dismayed by the NHS hospital's suggestion that she go to a Pets at Home store to be weighed. One person said: 'At least they've found you somewhere'. Yet another user disagreed, writing beneath the comment: 'They haven't though. Pets at Home do not have roll on scales and she's not a dog'. Someone else added: 'Honestly don't get the issue here, it's a convenient and cost--effective alternative. 'You presumably live in a rural area where they don't have the facilities, or money for the facilities, locally, so either travel hours out your way to a major care centre or improvise'. When approached for comment, a spokesperson from NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, on behalf of the local health and care system, said: 'We would like to apologise to Ms Rennie for any upset or offence caused. 'Although we are unable to comment on individual cases, we are continuing to look into her experience to fully understand the wider issues and identify what can be done for her, and others, in similar situations.'
Daily Record
01-06-2025
- Daily Record
Massive blaze rips through Pets at Home as three people arrested
Thick black smoke was seen billowing high into the sky and visible for miles. Firefighters worked tirelessly into the early hours as a fierce inferno engulfed a Dunelm store at a shopping precinct over the weekend. The emergency services were summoned to the retail park off Towcester Road in Northampton just after 3pm on Saturday, with dense black smoke seen for miles around. Photographs from the scene depicted numerous fire engines in attendance, with the blaze threatening to spread to a neighbouring Pets at Home outlet. A striking video posted by Twitter user @tonyamk showcased the immense smoke column as the fire devastated the area. Three individuals have been detained by Northamptonshire Police under suspicion of arson and are currently being held as enquiries proceed. Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service personnel remained on site on Sunday, issuing a statement that read: "At this time, the smoke from the fire continues to blow toward the town centre and we would still advise people in the local area to keep windows and doors shut." Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Tuff commented: "At the present time, we believe this fire to have been started deliberately and throughout the day, have made a number of fast-paced enquiries which has led to these three arrests.", reports the Mirror. "However, I now want to appeal to the public for any information which could help our investigation. If you were in, or near, the Dunelm store this afternoon and saw anything suspicious, please contact us." DCI Tuff remarked: "I am particularly interested in speaking to a man who allegedly saw people setting fires in the Dunelm toilets a short time before the incident was reported. "This incident has not only caused significant damage and disruption but will have had a very serious effect on the wellbeing of the local people who work in Dunelm and the surrounding stores. Therefore if anyone knows anything, I would please urge you to come forward. Witnesses or anyone with information should call Northamptonshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111." A representative from Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service commented: "Our fire crews are still on the scene of a fire at the St James Retail Park in Northampton this morning (June 1). At this time, the smoke from the fire continues to blow toward the town centre and we would still advise people in the local area to keep windows and doors shut. "The retail park will remain closed until further notice. Thank you to the public for their support while we continue to deal with this incident."
Scotsman
28-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Thames Water record 104.5m fine
From Thames Water's record fine and Pets at Home's vet division overtaking retail, to Willmott Dixon's profit rebound, falling retail confidence, and a warning from Britain's biggest bioethanol plant - here are today's top UK business stories. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Thames Water has been hit with a record £104.5 million fine for sewage failures, plus £18.2 million for breaking dividend rules. Regulator Ofwat says the penalty will be paid by the company and its investors - not customers. It follows Ofwat's biggest ever probe into how sewage works and networks are run. Pets at Home's vet division overtakes retail: More Business in Brief Pets at Home has posted flat revenue, with retail and vet services pulling in opposite directions. Retail profit fell 16.6 per cent to £72.9 million, while vet profit surged 23.3% to £75.9 million - overtaking retail for the first time. Vet revenue now makes up a third of the business. Retail sales dropped nearly two per cent, as weak footfall and consumer pressures continue to bite. Pets at Home has posted flat revenue, with retail and vet services pulling in opposite directions. | Getty Images Retailers across the board are bracing for tough times, with plans to raise prices, cut jobs and slash investment. A CBI survey shows sector confidence has dropped faster than at any point since the pandemic. Rising costs from tax hikes and a higher minimum wage are squeezing businesses. Willmott Dixon is back in profit, reporting £46.8 million before tax after a £14.4 million loss last year. The turnaround follows recoveries from cladding-related costs and a steady £1.2 billion turnover. The construction firm says it's entering the new financial year with strong momentum. The UK's biggest bioethanol plant says it could shut down due to the latest UK-US trade deal. Hull-based Vivergo Fuels warns the removal of a key tariff on US ethanol is the 'final blow'. It says British producers can't compete with subsidised US imports. Vivergo is urging the Government to step in and fix what it calls 'regulatory failures'. And Growth investor BGF has pledged £100 million to support Welsh businesses. It's part of a wider £3 billion UK commitment over the next five years. BGF has already invested £47 million in Wales since 2011. It's also backing female-led firms, with £300 million earmarked across the UK.
Scotsman
28-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Thames Water record 104.5m fine
From Thames Water's record fine and Pets at Home's vet division overtaking retail, to Willmott Dixon's profit rebound, falling retail confidence, and a warning from Britain's biggest bioethanol plant - here are today's top UK business stories. Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Thames Water has been hit with a record £104.5 million fine for sewage failures, plus £18.2 million for breaking dividend rules. Regulator Ofwat says the penalty will be paid by the company and its investors - not customers. It follows Ofwat's biggest ever probe into how sewage works and networks are run. Pets at Home's vet division overtakes retail: More Business in Brief Pets at Home has posted flat revenue, with retail and vet services pulling in opposite directions. Retail profit fell 16.6 per cent to £72.9 million, while vet profit surged 23.3% to £75.9 million - overtaking retail for the first time. Vet revenue now makes up a third of the business. Retail sales dropped nearly two per cent, as weak footfall and consumer pressures continue to bite. Pets at Home has posted flat revenue, with retail and vet services pulling in opposite directions. | Getty Images Retailers across the board are bracing for tough times, with plans to raise prices, cut jobs and slash investment. A CBI survey shows sector confidence has dropped faster than at any point since the pandemic. Rising costs from tax hikes and a higher minimum wage are squeezing businesses. Willmott Dixon is back in profit, reporting £46.8 million before tax after a £14.4 million loss last year. The turnaround follows recoveries from cladding-related costs and a steady £1.2 billion turnover. The construction firm says it's entering the new financial year with strong momentum. The UK's biggest bioethanol plant says it could shut down due to the latest UK-US trade deal. Hull-based Vivergo Fuels warns the removal of a key tariff on US ethanol is the 'final blow'. It says British producers can't compete with subsidised US imports. Vivergo is urging the Government to step in and fix what it calls 'regulatory failures'.
