Gnasher's gone VEGAN! Dennis the Menace's sausage-chomping pet gets woke revamp in latest edition of Beano - even though dog owners could face £20,000 fine for feeding them dangerous diet

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Dennis the Menace's dog sidekick Gnasher has become vegan after decades of tucking into steaks and sausages.

The notorious carnivore, who first appeared in the children's comic book series more than 50 years ago, has found a penchant for plant-based food in the Beano Annual 2022, in which he is seen eating vegan sausages.

In one frame Gnasher is approached after some bangers go missing. Dennis is told: 'Your dog ate our vegan sausages.' He replies: 'How did you guess it was my dog?' A shocked Gnasher is then seen thinking: 'Vegan?!'

In the next scene Dennis adds: 'Gnasher. I'm very disappointed in you. Come with me for a stern talking to.' But his dog thinks: 'I liked those vegan sausages. What does that say about me?'

Gnasher's next thoughts are: 'I guess I like vegan sausages now. What else might I like? I'll draw the line at cats.'

The British Veterinary Association says that while it is possible to feed a dog a vegetarian diet, it is much easier to get it 'wrong than to get it right' and that it must be done under the supervision of a veterinary-trained nutritionist.

Its president Justine Shotton told MailOnline today: 'With vegan diets surging in popularity among people, it's no surprise that Gnasher has discovered a taste for plant-based bangers too. But our advice to Dennis and his sausage-obsessed sidekick is to make sure that he's having nutritionally balanced meals to avoid dietary deficiencies and associated disease. Meat contains vital vitamins and nutrients needed by dogs.

'Although we would not recommend it, it is theoretically possible to feed a dog a vegetarian diet, but owners would need to take expert advice as it is much easier to get the balance of nutrients wrong than to get it right. A dog on a vegan diet may also need synthetic supplementation. Our advice to Dennis and anyone looking to make changes to their pet's diet would be to always consult a vet with in-depth nutritional knowledge first.'

Pet owners have been warned that it might be a criminal offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 if they fail to feed a 'suitable diet' to meet their dog's nutritional needs – landing them with a £20,000 fine or a year in jail. 

And Anna Ewers Clark, veterinary research lead at national pet charity Blue Cross, told MailOnline today: 'Dogs and cats need to be fed a high-quality, balanced diet. There are many different foods and diets available for dogs, including vegetarian and vegan diets. Whichever you pick, it's always important to check that these are complete foods, which means they will provide your pet with all the nutrients they need to stay healthy and happy.

'Cats in particular have very specific dietary needs which would be unlikely to be met by a vegan diet. We would advise anyone considering feeding their pet a homemade diet to speak to their vet before making a change, whether this is meat-based or vegan. It can be very difficult to meet your pet's nutrient needs exactly when making their diet at home which can lead to health problems.'

It comes after the Beano, celebrating its 80th birthday last year, introduced a series of politically correct changes - including altering the names of the Bash Street Kids from Fatty and Spotty to Fred and Scotty after 67 years. 

The Beano, which is owned by Dundee-based DC Thompson Media and has a cover price of £2.75, had an average circulation of 54,800 per issue in the latest Audit Bureau of Circulations data for the first half of last year - including 37,075 paid subscriptions, 16,825 paid single copies and 900 free copies distributed to NHS hospitals. 

The magazine has seen increasing popularity particularly in subscriptions during the Covid-19 lockdowns, with the figure for January to June 2021 up from 45,644 in the final six months of 2020 - and well above 40,000 in 2010. 

Dennis the Menace's dog sidekick Gnasher has become vegan in the Beano Annual 2022 which sees him eat vegan sausages

In one frame Gnasher is approached after some bangers go missing. Dennis is told: 'Your dog ate our vegan sausages.' He replies: 'How did you guess it was my dog?' A shocked Gnasher is then seen thinking: 'Vegan?!'

In the next scene Dennis adds: 'Gnasher. I'm very disappointed in you. Come with me for a stern talking to.' But his dog thinks: 'I liked those vegan sausages. What does that say about me?'

Gnasher's next thoughts are: 'I guess I like vegan sausages now. What else might I like? I'll draw the line at cats'

The Beano has been a staple of British childhoods since 1938, with characters like Minnie the Minx and Roger the Dodger capturing several generations' imaginations.

Gnasher, an Abyssinian wire-haired tripe hound, was introduced to comic book readers on August 31, 1968 and has since chewed everything from steaks, slippers, bones and homework - but never anything specifically vegan.

A spokesman for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals welcomed the move and said it hoped the comic will help turn Beano fans into vegans, adding: 'The vegan revolution is in full swing, from grocers to galas. 

'So it's no surprise that even comic-book characters like sausage-loving Gnasher are swapping their meaty fare for planet- and animal-friendly vegan versions.

'And because people are influenced by what they see on TV, in films, and in comic books, this move is sure to inspire countless Beano fans to make the switch.' 

And Richard Stevenson, technical manager of the National Craft Butchers association, told MailOnline today: 'Good old Gnasher. Wherever his food comes from in future we hope he supports local suppliers and his local high street and that he continues to be as fit as a butcher's dog.' 

Meanwhile Gordon Wallace, manager of The Q Guild of Butchers association, told MailOnline: 'Poor Gnasher. My own dogs would attempt to devour a pair of socks given half a chance.

‘If I could offer Dennis a little tip from a fifth generation butcher, now retired; take a trip to your local Q Guild butcher and pick up a marrow bone and place it in front of you faithful hound - that should sort the problem. After all, they don’t say “as fit as butcher's dog” for nothing.'

Gnasher is often depicted eating sausages, for example in the Ultimate Dennis & Gnasher Comic Collection released last year

Gnasher, an Abyssinian wire-haired tripe hound, was introduced to The Beano comic book readers on August 31, 1968

Gnasher has become a character in his own right since 1968, with a spin off strip alongside his son Gnipper starting in 1986.

His popularity also sparked a strip for the Bash St Kids' dogs: Pup Parade, while Gnasher's disappearance in 1986 caused a national campaign to find him.

The Beano said: 'Gnasher is yet to find a sausage he doesn't like but will continue to try each and every one he comes across.

'Currently Gnasher's favourite sausages are made by Butch Butcher and specially formulated for Abyssinian wire-haired tripehounds.'

Dennis the Menace entered the Beano 17 years before Gnasher in 1951. 

The Beano, celebrating its 80th birthday last year, has introduced a series of politically correct changes - including altering the names of the Bash Street Kids from Fatty (left) and Spotty (right) to Fred and Scotty after 67 years

Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg received a cease and desist letter from the Beano in 2018, who accused him of 'masquerading' as Dennis the Menace's arch rival Walter the Softy - in particular his 'snootiness' and 'distinctive glasses'

Mike Stirling, editorial director of Beano studios told the Daily Telegraph last year that they had reverted the name of Bash St Kid Fatty to Freddy, saying: 'We don't want to risk someone using it in a mean way.'

In the same strip, 'Spotty' was also changed to 'Scotty' later in 2021. Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg criticised this at the time, saying: 'I expect it is just publicity-seeking, otherwise it is comically woke.'

Mr Rees-Mogg had received a cease and desist letter from the Beano three years before, who accused him of 'masquerading' as Dennis the Menace's arch rival Walter the Softy - in particular his 'snootiness', 'distinctive glasses' and 'insistence to remind others of his father's successful career'.

The Bash St Kids joked about the idea of going 'PC' with a media stunt to celebrate their 40th anniversary.

The Beano have said: 'Across all aspects of our work, we strive to be truly representative of our diverse and multicultural audience, ensuring that we are best placed to create amazing content that kids will love to watch, read, play, make and share with their friends.'