MyPetStop

It's recently been announced that the superstore pet care centre MyPetStop in Denton, Manchester may be forced to close before the end of this year.

MyPetStop offers high quality and personally tailored services such as boarding to lots of different pets such as cats, dogs, rabbits and birds, dog training, pet grooming, hydrotherapy swimming sessions and doggie day care. Mars Petcare owns MyPetStop as well as other successful animal related brands such as Pedigree, Whiskers, Sheba and Kitekat. They also own food brands such as Mars chocolate, Wrigley, Uncle Bens and Dolmio.

The news was announced on the mypetstop Facebook Page last week as a customer notice. The post revealed that "Staff at our Leeds and Manchester centres are currently in a period of consultation, as there is a proposal to close both centres by the end of 2012… All centres remain open at this time, but customers with future bookings that may be affected should contact their centre for more information. Once the consultation period is complete we will update customers on the outcome."

This revaluation has been most disturbing to me, as I have grown very fond of the Denton centre over the past few years. I was recommended MyPetStop by my friend Melanie for training activities (for my American Bulldog Frankie). She who owns a feisty British Bulldog called Menace (who features in their calendar as Mr. March). I subsequently attended their fun dog show and Olympics event with Frankie to view the centre and am still amazed by its facilities including a cafe and shop selling dog food, toys and clothes. Frankie was able to socialise with other dogs and amazed the crowds with her jumping abilities and we made many more friends such as Betty the beautiful British Bulldog, a mini-Frankie if you will and her owner Hannah.

MyPetStop Denton have run several popular events for the people of Manchester to raise funds for charities such as a Skydive, Doggy Olympics, a fun dog show and fashion show, Christmas party and Swimathon in aid of charities the Cinnamon Trust, Nowzad and the RSPCA. The centre helps many dogs with illnesses and injuries recover and train many dogs and their owners to enable them to live a more active and fulfilled life whilst providing personalised care and grooming which many feel is second to none. They even published a calendar this year featuring twelve of their loyal doggie customers.

I've watched the swimming and it has encouraged me to take my bulloxer, Chance to hydrotherapy as a safe form of exercise for his arthritic hips. I've seen the groomers in action and I been amazed by their skills. I've also viewed the kennels and cattery and decided that this was the only centre that I could possibly leave my precious 16 year old cat Yasmin who has to be medicated daily due to kidney and thyroid issues. She stayed with the centre for a week this year and returned looking amazing. The staff had clearly spent time grooming her and she even managed to put on some much needed weight. If I could afford to, I'd send all of my animals to this centre for all of the services that they offer. They really are first-class.

Customer Vikki Paul also feels strongly about the news. "It's an absolute travesty that this is being allowed to happen. My dog had a spinal bleed last year and was given a 50/50 chance of being able to walk again. When he started hydrotherapy he had no use of his back legs at all. Now he is walking around unaided. Lisa and the team at Denton saved his life and do so much good work."

Fellow customer reactions were immediate as many of the 1,543 fans expressed their sadness, shock, outrage, devastation and concern for their beloved pets and the staff who could be affected. Clare Chawia from Leigh in Greater Manchester commented. "Well if Manchester closes I'll be gutted… And I agree with many on here, staff are great there. What a shame." A Facebook Page entitled 'STOP the closure of Mypetstop Manchester' has been set up with over 126 people registering their support within the first five days of the page being live.

Mars have responded with a statement that outlines the current situation. “Mars Petcare owns three mypetstop Centres in Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle. We are proposing to close the businesses in Leeds and Manchester by the end of 2012.  It is proposed that the Newcastle site will remain open under new ownership. Staff are currently in a period of consultation.”

It's not clear exactly why Mars might want to close this popular centre. Rumours have been circulating amongst the current staff that the centre regularly makes a loss and has done so since it opened in 2003 due to it's high overhead costs. There have even been rumours of a management split with one managing director offering to take over the Washington Branch leaving Mars Petcare to find a new owner for the Leeds and Manchester branches or possibly make changes to the size, scale or format of this pet care venture.

The current financial climate could be having an impact on yet another otherwise successful business. People may be choosing to holiday in this country or at home rather than go abroad and pay the costs of boarding their pets,  (I found this a suitable alternative, this August). In a recession, people are forced to cut their spending and luxuries such as dog training, hydrotherapy and grooming may simply have to be forgotten. Even I have had to cut back on such expenses and I have a full-time job which pays relatively well in the grand scheme of things and no children to prioritise other than the fur babies. The location of the centre may also have an impact on the potential success of the centre, as it is located on the far East side of Greater Manchester, rather than the more lucrative Southern areas of the county. The marketing of the centre may have had an impact. Facebook has clearly been utilised as a tool for communicating the centre's activities and events but for those customers not on the blue book or even the web, how would they learn more about this centre? Emails and postal mail communications do not appear to have been forthcoming from MyPetStop possibly in an attempt to keep those overheads low.

Other local businesses could subsequently experience a rise in interest as customers of MyPetCare seek alternative solutions to their beloved animals needs. The staff currently working at MyPetCare must be feeling very vulnerable and insecure as this could lead to them being out of work just before Christmas time and so they may be seeking alternative work. The business may be sold onto a new owner who may or may not retain its current staff, structure and services. All we can do at this stage is speculate. All that is clear is that the business is changing. Whatever decisions are made during this this period of consultation, every customer, supporter and friend of MyPetStop Denton will be wishing everyone the best of luck as their future has suddenly been made so uncertain.

There may be no more social outings in Denton for Menace, Betty and Frankie but then again, they may be all celebrating Christmas together at another one of MyPetStops Christmas Parties. Let's hope for the best for every man, child and beast.

Breed: The British and their Dogs

This week I had the honour of attending the opening for the latest exhibition by The University of Manchester and The Manchester Museum. Breed - The British and Their Dogs is a new exhibition, which illustrates the history of pedigree dog breeding in Britain. The exhibition focuses on six specific pedigree dog breeds: Bloodhound, Irish Wolfhound, Borzoi, Pekingese, Bulldog and Collie.

The theme of the exhibition is clear. Dogs. Dogs. Dogs. I would be very surprised to encounter anyone who wasn't a dog enthusiast here although they would most certainly feel welcome as there is plenty available for us all to ponder upon. You might find the taxidermy and skulls are not to your taste but there are also cuddly toys and funny statues to balance out the artefacts on display and cater to all tastes. The exhibition is displayed in a medium large room that has been designed to resemble an old-fashioned dog show. The featured breeds each have their own section including taxidermy specimens proudly on show enclosed within central glass cabinets. Most of which are named as they were once someone's dearly loved pet.

As you enter the exhibition through a darkened archway, you are met with a projected moving image display, mainly photographed in black and white of dogs taking part in various activities. This is the only interactive element of the exhibition which is a little disappointing to interactive media junkies such as myself but the show does go on and there is enough to keep everyone pacified, including a seating area with doggie themed books and magazines to leaf through whilst you rest your tired legs or simply contemplate the meaning of it all.

Life-size black shadowy figures of each breed are painted onto the white walls of the entrance and represent the differences in size and shape within this species. To the left hangs the Victorian painting 'An Early Canine Meeting' by R Marshall (1855), which illustrates many of the popular breeds of the 19th Century as well as highlighting the changes that have occurred in these breeds over the last 157 years.

The walls are painted in hues of red, white, blue and grey and the artwork has been designed to resemble a Victorian dog show, including old-fashioned bunting, which draws together the British, Victorian and Kennel Club elements of the exhibition. One side of the room features a timeline of dog show related facts and artefacts including some fierce looking brass collars and a few references to Queen Victoria. Alongside this is a glass cabinet of trophies from The Manchester Dog Show Society that sparkle and gleam proudly.

The rest of the room is dedicated to the breeds that each has their own enclosure. The highlights of these sections include a Sherlock Holmes Bloodhound statue, Porcelain Bronze Foo Dogs to represent the Pekingese, a whisky jar featuring an Irish Wolfhound, a Borzoi Faberge figure on loan from Her Majesty the Queen and large painting on loan from The Kennel Club, a painting of Collie from Manchester City Galleries and an example of a Winston Churchill Bulldog propaganda poster.

The private opening night event was attended by some fine living specimens of each breed, accompanied by members of the Manchester Dog Society. I was greeted initially by a British Bulldog called 'Rockstar' or 'Rocky' for short who was so handsome I contemplated taking him home before I clocked his burly man owner and decided not to free him from his best friend. They were a proud, kind and gentle pairing. I did however steal a few kisses from Rocky before I left the exhibition. The Museum entrance hall was crammed with dog fanatics who were fed nibbles from dog bowls and drinks including a beer from The Black Dog Brewery.

Nick Merriman, Director of The Manchester Museum opened the exhibition with his black miniature schnauzer Ruby who he admitted was "a bit of an imposter, however she's a bit like the queen; Thoroughly British but she's got a bit of German stock." Merriman was clearly delighted to be hosting this exhibition and went on to comment on the old adage that "you should never work with animals or children" stating that  "here at The Manchester Museum, we scoff at that notion". Merriman went on to explain that with the museum welcoming over 370,000 visitors last year he was now looking to the 31% of British households who own some of the 10.5 million dogs in Britain to increase his audience.

The academic work of Professor Worboys forms the basis of the exhibition and he was there on the opening night to remind his audience that all of the breeds represented are of course from the same species. Despite their very obvious physical differences. He attempted to enlighten his guests by telling them that "breed is something that was created by the Victorian dog fancy and has informed the way that we thing about dogs". "Dog breeders pioneered artificial insemination which was then transferred to agriculture". "The Irish Wolfhound could be seen as the first designer dog". Difficult to imagine in this modern age of 'tea-cup' dogs but you defiantly understood the point he was trying to make.

The research and message of this exhibition is multi-layered. It is a celebration of British culture, which includes dog shows, clubs and societies. People are clearly very fond of having different breeds of dog to choose between and as a visits, you are likely to find yourself gravitating towards to the section which features the breed of which you are most fond, highlighting your own personal canine preferences. This highlights the exhibition's other goal, which is to examine exactly what we have done to the dog as a species through selective breeding, artificial insemination and other medical interventions and developments.

It is clear that dogs have played an important part in the development and history of man. This body of work examines the part that man has played in the history and development of the dog. Have our influences on their species been as positive as their influences on ours?

They may be our best friend but have we really been theirs?

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The exhibition is free and open to the public from 6th October 2012 to 13th January 2013 10am - 5pm.

There are a series of events aimed at families and adults for the general public to attend including Big Saturday: Dogs on Show on 13th October 11am-4pm. With live dogs in our courtyard and activities for all the family. You can meet a Bloodhound, Bulldog, Borzoi, Collie, Pekinese and Irish Wolfhound and their breeders.  There’s Barking Dogs Bark and Read - where children can read to dogs. Dog Detective workshops (11.30am & 2.30pm) that explore the science of smell and crime investigation. Dog Talk on Manchester Dogs (1.30pm) – the street dogs when Manchester was the rabies capital of the UK, the ace ratter Manchester terrier and the Lyme Hall mastiff. FREE, drop in, suitable for all ages. Walkies! Departing from the Whitworth Art Gallery is Walkies (1-4pm), a walking tour for dogs and their owners that sniffs around the buildings, parks and stories of this part of town. To book either Visit www.manchester.ac.uk/museum    or ring 0161 275 2648 Or email – museum@manchester.ac.uk

The Manchester Museum, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL          Tel: 0161 275 2648

Museum opening times: Tues-Sat: 10am-5pm Sun, Mon, Bank hols: 11am-4pm 27-31 Dec: 11am-4pm 24-26 Dec, 1 Jan: closed

The Manchester Museum is the UK’s largest university museum and all of its collections are designated by the government as being of national and international importance. As a university museum, The Manchester Museum uses its international collection of human and natural history for enjoyment and inspiration. Working with people from all backgrounds, the Museum provokes debate and reflection about the past, present and future of the earth and its inhabitants.

The Pink Dog Show 2012

Punctuating Manchester’s Gay Village lies the green haven of Sackville gardens, a leafy retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city’s busy streets and walkways,  and on a grey Sunday in August it plays host to The Pink Dog Show a Carnival of canine chaos and campery.  The Pink Dog Show acts as a Fringe event for Pride (Taking place the following weekend) and acts as the main fundraising event for The Manchester and Cheshire Dog’s Home.  With dog lovers both gay and straight turning out in their droves.

In the past, the event has embraced such themes as The Wizard of Oz and Fairy Tales. This year, the theme was a more interactive one, embracing the enthusiastic energy that has been infecting the nation: Dog-Olympics. The show focused around dog and owner activities such as Ball and Cup Dash, Musical Olympic Rings and Temptation Tower; a bizarre activity that saw owners trying to stacks a doggy snack skyscraper without it being chomped down by their accompanying hairy companion.

The event is supported, hosted and embraced by the gay community with Viva La Diva hosting the show and Camp Cooks nourishing the crowds with some very appealing cupcakes and snacks, both parties provided lots of glamour,  many of the drag queens were dressed in pink satin or sequins and towered above the crowds, navigating their  high heels with finesse. Towering at over 7ft, Miss Easyer led the Ball and Cup Dash across the park to the astonishment of her adoring fans.

“It’s all about the community today…  And The Manchester and Cheshire Dogs Home” – Viva La Diva

Being at the event and talking to many of the participants who return year after year, one has the sense that this is Doggie Christmas. The main event of the year for these dog owners. They have been planning and preparing the costumes since the theme was announced in March (via the official website www.pinkdogshow.co.uk), training their dogs in the various events and generally getting very, very excited. The crowds were filled with children, various different couples and people of all backgrounds and of course there were lots and lots of dogs from a tiny Daschund to a mighty English Mastiff and everything in between.

As well as the main games many canine centric companies were represented with pop up stalls, Doting owners could treat their dogs to special human-grade standard biscuits, fun photos, sparkly collars, framed paw prints, cheeky t-shirts, make day-care arrangements or order a custom painting.

As the day progressed the skies began to dark and the heavens opened, the organisers delayed the start of the fashion parade but the crowds were not to be deterred as the music, laughter and refreshments kept people entertained. The atmosphere was carnivalesque with colourful wigs and costumes spread across the gardens whilst dogs of all shapes and sizes barked sporadically at Pickles the dog’s home mascot and other strange half-dog, half-man creatures that were in attendance.

The pink dog show is a testament to Manchester’s rich and diverse culture, people coming together to celebrate our canine chums, it’s doesn’t discriminate people based on gender , sexuality, age or background, it’s about people with a love of  dogs coming together and having fun and in a way isn’t that what owning a dog is all about?