Animal Planet (Phoenix) partnered with Pets911.com (Scottsdale, Ariz.) to launch Pet Connection, an Internet portal that connects thousands of animal welfare organizations into one network. The free site allows visitors to report missing or found pets, view information about adoptable pets, learn how to foster needy pets, find information about local animal shelters and veterinarians, and more. [January 2005 PET AGE]

Applica Inc. (Miramar, Fla.), marketer of the LitterMaid self-cleaning cat box, reported sales of $187.8 million for the third quarter of 2004, up 8.2 percent from the year-earlier period. Its net loss was $9.9 million, compared with earnings of $4.9 million for the year-earlier period. [January 2005 PET AGE]

Aquascape Designs Inc. (Batavia, Ill.) will present a two-day seminar on “Succeeding and Prospering With Water Features” in more than 55 U.S. and Canadian cities through March. The seminar covers everything from business basics to marketing materials. For more information, call 866-877-6637 or visit www.aquascapedesigns.com. [January 2005 PET AGE]

Banfield, The Pet Hospital recently broke ground for a new $25 million headquarters in Portland, Ore., on a plot adjacent to its founding location. The 225,000-squre-foot facility will include two stories over a sub-grade parking garage, as well as a two-acre off-leash dog park. [January 2005 PET AGE]

The Clorox Co. (Oakland, Calif.) reported sales of $1.09 billion for the first quarter of 2005, up 4 percent from $1.05 billion for the year-earlier period. Decreases in the company’s specialty products segment were offset by the 10th consecutive quarter of volume growth for Scoop Away cat litter, the eighth consecutive quarter of volume growth for Fresh Step cat litter and record shipments of Fresh Step Plus Dual Action Crystals cat litter. [January 2005 PET AGE]

DogChewz NYC (New York) donated 400 porcelain dog bowls for doggie bags given away at the Jeep Yappy Hour and Febreze Fashion Show. The event, held Nov. 9, benefited The Amanda Foundation, a nonprofit group that rescues dogs and cats from local animal shelters and places them in new homes. [January 2005 PET AGE]

After nine years as Millennium Lawns Inc., the company changed its name to Earth’s Balance (Bedford Park, Ill.) to better reflect its broader marketing scope. The company also launched two Web sites: www.earthsbalance.com, which gives consumers information about all Earth’s Balance products as well as an “Ask the Vet” section; and www.earthsbalance.biz, which gives distributors and dealers access to pricing and ordering information, images and Material Data Safety Sheets. [January 2005 PET AGE]

GPC Pet Products (Muscatine, Iowa) recently unveiled a new logo that positions the company as a manufacturer and distributor of premium pet products. The company makes and distributes World’s Best Cat Litter, World’s Best Little Pet Litter, Inobys Pet First products and, under an U.S. licensing agreement with Armitages Pet Products Ltd. (Nottingham, United Kingdom), Good Boy and Good Girl pet treats. [January 2005 PET AGE]

GPC Pet Products (Muscatine, Iowa) added Freedom Pet Supply (Cambridge, Ontario) as a distributor, servicing accounts throughout Ontario. [January 2005 PET AGE]

Rolf C. Hagen (USA) Corp. (Mansfield, Mass.) just launched www.habitrail.com, an interactive site where visitors can navigate virtual Habitrail tunnels, find practical advice on caring for hamsters and mice, design their own virtual Habitrail model, and print a list of parts needed to build their models. [January 2005 PET AGE]

Hartville Group Inc. (North Canton, Ohio) and PetMed Express Inc. (Pompano Beach, Fla.) reached an agreement allowing Hartville to market its new Healthy Bark & Purr insurance to PetMed customers via its www.1800petmeds.com site. [January 2005 PET AGE]

The Honest Kitchen Inc. (San Diego) added three distributors: Animal Food & Supply Co. (West Los Angeles), serving Southern California; Pet Alternative (McLean, Va.), serving Virginia; and Preferred Pet Products (Stamford, Conn.), serving Connecticut, New York City and lower New York state.
At press time, the company expected to sign a deal to place its products in Pet People, a chain of independent stores in Southern California, as well as a second independent chain within the state. [January 2005 PET AGE]

International Absorbents Inc. (Ferndale, Wash.), parent company of Absorption Corp. , is ramping up manufacturing and warehousing operations in its recently completed 86,000-square-foot facility in Jessup, Ga. The East Coast facility is expected to almost triple the company’s production capacity. [January 2005 PET AGE]

International Ally Inc. (Woodland Hills, Calif.), maker of Thermal Aid pet therapy packs, donated $25,000 to the Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles to open the Thermal Aid Friends for Life Pet Club at the Topanga Pet Adoption Center. The club offers dog training classes and expects to add dog day care and grooming in the near future. [January 2005 PET AGE]

The International Association of Canine Professionals (Montverde, Fla.) formed a therapy dog division to partner pet-service providers with educators and health care providers who want to include animals in their work. The division provides resources and continuing education to educators and health care professionals who work with dogs or oversee volunteer organizations, and is open to volunteer handlers, evaluators, testers and group administrators. For more information, visit www.dogpro.org. [January 2005 PET AGE]

LJS Partners L.L.C. (Denver) recently opened the first Three Dog Bakery stores in Colorado, both in the Denver area. The licensing company plans to open stores in Boulder, Parker, Lakewood, Thornton and Highlands Ranch over the next two years. [January 2005 PET AGE]

Magnolia Bird Farm (Anaheim, Calif.) celebrated its 50th anniversary in November with special events such as a 1950s-themed party at the store, tours and a raffle. Founded by Frank Miser Sr., the family-run business operates a bird specialty store in Anaheim and another in Riverside, Calif. [January 2005 PET AGE]

Merit Imports Inc. (Paramus, N.J.) recently celebrated its 25th anniversary by holding a 25-cent fish sale. The wholesale supplier, which services retailers in the tri-state area, offers freshwater and marine fish, aquatic plants, reptiles, amphibians, birds and small animals. [January 2005 PET AGE]

Nutro Products Inc. (City of Industry, Calif.) donated $7,500 to the Humane Society of New York in honor of its 100th anniversary. The Humane Society celebrated its centennial on Oct. 14 with a benefit auction. [January 2005 PET AGE]

OurPet’s Co. (Fairport Harbor, Ohio) reported net sales of $1.53 million for the third quarter of 2004, up 20 percent from $1.37 million for the year-earlier period. The company attributed increases to product introductions and creative marketing programs. [January 2005 PET AGE]

OurPet’s Co. (Fairport Harbor, Ohio) hired George S. May International Co., a management consultant firm, to review its organizational structure and develop procedures for achieving revenue and profitability objectives. [January 2005 PET AGE]

Pet Supermarket (Sunrise, Fla.), the nation’s largest independently owned pet specialty store, recently opened its fourth pet store in Ohio. The new store is in Stow. [January 2005 PET AGE]

Petco Animal Supplies Inc. (San Diego) on Oct. 22 announced a public offering of more than 6.9 million shares of common stock by affiliates of Leonard Green & Partners, Texas Pacific Group and other selling stockholders. The offering completes the sale of all shares of the company’s common stock registered for sale under the existing shelf registration statement previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. [January 2005 PET AGE]

Petfinder.com (Tucson, Ariz.) in October added the 8,000th animal welfare organization to its list of participants. The online database showcases more than 160,000 homeless pets ready for adoption at shelters across the nation. [January 2005 PET AGE]

PetMed Express Inc. (Pompano, Beach, Fla.) reported net sales of $28.8 million for the second quarter of 2004, up 15 percent from $25 million for the year-earlier period. [January 2005 PET AGE]

Pets Warehouse (Copiague, New York) re-launched its online retail store in October after an Alabama Supreme Court ruling resulted in the dismissal of a case involving libelous comments allegedly posted by the company’s principal, Robert Novak, on CompuServe’s Aquaria/Fish Forum chat room. [January 2005 PET AGE]

PetsKingdom opened its doors for business in Miami Springs, Fla., in October. The pet supplies retailer offers a variety of pet foods, pet care items and accessories. [January 2005 PET AGE]

Louie, a 3-year-old beagle mix in O’Fallon, Ill., in October became the 2 millionth pet to be adopted from a PetsMart adoption center. PetsMart Inc. (Phoenix), which has promoted in-store adoptions for 10 years, now helps place more than 1,000 homeless pets per day. [January 2005 PET AGE]

Launched in September, ThePetStar.com (Petaluma, Calif.) gives pet owners the chance to create custom Web pages featuring photos of their pets’—and to win original pet portraits by artist Rive Nestor as well as other prizes. Winners are selected every three months on the basis of visitors’ votes. [January 2005 PET AGE]

Radio Systems Corp. (Knoxville, Tenn.) in October opened the first public dog park in Knox County, Tenn. PetSafe Park, adjacent to the company’s headquarters and PetSafe Village, an all-inclusive pet retreat facility, features a walking trail, dog agility equipment, a large pond with a fountain and a small watering pond. [January 2005 PET AGE]

Reidell Chemicals Ltd. (Dorchester, Ontario) entered an agreement with Yaps Pet Bakery (Wilmington, N.C.) to produce pet treats containing Pet Coral Calcium. Under the agreement, Reidell will supply the mineral ingredients and will retain distribution rights for all Yaps products in Canada. [January 2005 PET AGE]

The National District Export Council (Memphis, Tenn.) gave its first Small Businesses Exporter of the Year Award to S&M NuTec L.L.C. (North Kansas City, Mo.) for scientific research and market strategies that allowed the company to quickly introduce Greenies dog treats to foreign markets. Grant Aldonas, U.S. Department of Commerce Undersecretary for International Trade, presented the award. [January 2005 PET AGE]

Sittin Pretty Products (Tustin, Calif.) signed two manufacturers’ representatives: Askew Sales and Marketing Inc. (Conyers, Ga.), servicing the Southeast; and Mello Sales Associates (Napa, Calif.), servicing the West Coast. [January 2005 PET AGE]

Tenderfoot Training (Boulder, Colo.) is the new expert advisor on pet behavior and training for Pets.ca, an Internet-based information resources for Canadian pet owners. Its staff members answer questions on the site’s “Training talk” bulletin board. [January 2005 PET AGE]

Weis Markets Inc. (Sunbury, Pa.) reported sales of $518.6 million for the third quarter of 2004, up 2.8 percent from $504.7 million for the year-earlier period. In addition to grocery stores, the company owns SuperPetz, a pet supply superstore chain with 33 units in 11 Eastern states. [January 2005 PET AGE]

Zuke’s (Durango, Colo.) in November signed a deal to place Zuke’s Hip Action dog treats and Natural Purrs cat treats in Wild Oats Natural Marketplace stores across the country. Wild Oats operates 101 stores in 25 states and Canada. [January 2005 PET AGE]