Major challenge for the pet product sector

The 28th of February 2006 was a significant date for the German pet sector. That was the day on which the bird flu virus H5N1 was first detected in a cat on the island of Rügen. Stringent safety measures were introduced immediately in the protection and surveillance zones around the areas where dead wild birds were found. These safety measures are also important for pet owners: in the protection zones (a distance of 3 km from animals that have tested positive) and in the surveillance zones (a distance of 10 km) dogs had to be kept on leads and cats were not allowed to roam freely. And with the discovery of three infected cats in an animal refuge in Graz, the H5N1 virus arrived in Austria at the beginning of March. The arrival of bird flu has also caused consternation in the UK and France. The outbreak in France was the first in Europe to affect commercial poultry farming, while the case in the UK concerned a parrot imported from South America. According to a report from CNN.com, the parrot was one of a group of 148 parrots imported back in September. And in Croatia, wild swans have succumbed to the virus.The reaction of pet owners has been very mixed. Most dog and cat owners have been very understanding, but increasingly reports are coming in from the affected states that pet owners want to have their cats put down or are simply abandoning them. And in some refuges pets have been thrown over the fence at night. A big problem for cat owners has been the need suddenly to keep their pets confined indoors when the latter were previously accustomed to roaming freely, a measure that has provoked psychological stress in many cats. Experts have accused the media of being responsible for the hysteria.Bird flu has quickly become a hot topic in the pet product sector, too. Customers were afraid of becoming infected with the virus by the animals in pet shops, or even by the staff themselves. “Many pet owners have no idea how bird flu is transmitted and how high the risk of infection is for people and animals,” says one pet shop owner from northern Germany. He has received many enquiries regarding the ingredients of premium pet foods. However, bird flu has not so far had any negative effect on sales. The veterinary team at the head office of German franchise group Fressnapf has prepared and issued a brochure that gives answers to the most frequently asked questions about bird flu. The hand-outs have been distributed to all Fressnapf stores since the beginning of March…