Private-Equity Firms Buy Petco
Petco Animal Supplies Inc. (San Diego) on July 14 entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by two private-equity investment firms—Leonard Green & Partners L.P. (Los Angeles) and Texas Pacific Group (Fort Worth, Texas)—for approximately $1.8 billion, or $29 per share in cash...

Pet Food Recalled
Simmons Pet Food (Siloam Springs, Ark.) recalled 15 varieties of canned dog food after consumers complained about “random flaking” of the inside coating of the cans...

Pet Services Market Continues to Grow
People taking advantages of services ranging from doggy spa treatments to behavior modification sessions to advanced cancer therapy are driving rapid growth in the U.S. pet services market—a niche expected to top $25 billion by 2010, according to a new report by Packaged Facts, a division of MarketResearch.com (New York)...

Tampa Exhibit Promotes Home Aquariums
Visitors to the Florida Aquarium in Tampa are gaining fresh insight into the hobby of fish-keeping, thanks to a new display that features 21 stunning fresh- and saltwater home aquariums...

CDC Issues Pet Treat Warning
Because more cases of human salmonella infection are being traced to pet treats made out of natural animal parts, the Centers for Disease Control (Atlanta) are calling for pet stores and pet treat manufacturers to take steps to reduce the transmission of disease-causing bacteria—including providing consumers with information about the risks associated with animal-derived pet treats...

EU Extends Bird Ban
The European Union’s Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health in July voted to extend its ban on the importation of live captive birds through Dec. 31...

Jules Schwimmer Scholarships Awarded
The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (Greenwich, Conn.) awarded $1,000 Jules Schwimmer Scholarships to eight students with family ties to APPMA member firms: Jessica Carter, Hamilton Products Inc. (Ocala, Fla.); Pamela Hall and Katie Stevens, American Wood Fibers Inc. (Columbia, Md.); Kyla Kohagen, Planetwise Products Inc. (Pine Bluff, Ariz.); Minh-Bao Le, Nestlé Purina PetCare Co. (St. Louis); Erin Long, Grizzly Pet Products L.L.C. (Redmond, Wash.); Brain Timm, Kaytee Products Inc. (Chilton, Wis.); and Alexandra Wood, Woodstream Corp. (Lititz, Pa.)...

PETS IN THE WORKPLACE
On the heels of Take Your Dog to Work Day, held June 23, a survey by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (Greenwich, Conn.) shows that nearly one in five U.S. companies allows pets at work...

Special Activities Mark Backer’s 40th Christmas Show
A full slate of educational seminars, giveaways and special events await pet industry buyers at H.H. Backer’s 40th Annual Pet Industry Christmas Trade Show and Educational Conference, Oct. 6-8 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont (Chicago), Ill...

Expozoo Slated for March 2007
Nearly 18,000 French and international buyers are expected to visit Expozoo when it takes place March 18-20, 2007, at the Parc des Expositions in Paris-Nord Villepinte, France...

Zoomark 2007 Attracts More International Exhibitors
Companies from countries around the world are expected to bolster the continental flavor of the 12th edition of Zoomark International, a pet trade show to be held May 10-13, 2007, at the Bologna Exhibition Center in Bologna, Italy...

Aquarama 2007 Will Add Water Gardening, Pet Supplies
Members of the international aquarium, water gardening and pet supplies markets will find a global mix of products, knowledge and business opportunities when Aquarama 2007 takes place May 24-27, 2007, at the Singapore Expo in Singapore...