Backer's Spring Trade Show Continues Steady Growth
A total of 8,169 qualified buyers from approximately 2,579 firms hunted for new products and show specials at H.H. Backer’s 17th Annual Pet Industry Spring Trade Show, held April 1-3 at the Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, N.J...

SALUTE TO RESCUE DOGS
Actor Paul Newman honored America’s search and rescue heroes during Backer’s Spring Pet Industry Trade Show by making a contribution to the Bear Search and Rescue Foundation, the largest non-governmental supporter of search and rescue teams in the country...

Walmart.com Rolls Out Pet Supply Section
The news that Walmart.com would launch a pet department selling a broader selection of pet necessities, personalized items and unique gifts than is available in Wal-Mart stores probably sent shudders through more than a few pet retailers. However, Wal-Mart’s recent entry into the pet dot-com business may not be that big a deal...

WALMART.COM VERSUS ITS RIVALS
Does Walmart.com offer the same brands and pricing as its pet supply rivals, such as Petco.com, Petsmart.com and Drsfostersmith.com? An informal survey in mid-April showed that the retail giant was taking the same approach online that it has taken in its stores—competitive pricing, but not always with the same brands as the other major online players...

Petco Ends Sale of Large Birds
Petco Animal Supplies Inc. (San Diego) agreed in April to stop selling large birds to end a two-year boycott of the national chain by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Norfolk, Va.)...

Pet Industry Tops $34.4 Billion, Says APPMA Study
U.S. pet owners spent a total of $34.4 billion on their pets in 2004, and are projected to spend $35.9 billion in 2005, according to a new survey by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (Greenwich, Conn.). That means Americans now spend more on pet supplies than on toys ($20 billion) or candy ($24 billion)...

Pet Pampering Sweeps Nation
Women would rather pamper their pets than their human partners, according to a survey of 901 pet owners by Shopzilla (Los Angeles), an Internet shopping search engine that has seen an increase in the number of searches for luxury pet products...

Early Easter Boosts Sales
The earliest Easter in 16 years put a spring in retailers’ step in March, according to the National Retail Federation (Washington). Its Retail Sector Performance Index was 58.4 in March, up 2.8 points from February—its highest reading since May 2004...

California Groomer Bill Stirs Controversy
A California bill that seeks to license animal groomers and that would make violations of mandated health, safety and handling standards misdemeanors punishable by jail time or fines is creating controversy throughout the grooming industry...

Petland Protests City Law
Petland Inc. (Chillicothe, Ohio) in March filed a lawsuit in Athens County Common Pleas Court requesting injunctive relief and a declaration that Athens' spay-and-neuter ordinance is vague and violates due process afforded by the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, according to published news reports...