Jim Krack, executive director of ABKA (Colorado Springs, Colo.), promoted the association on “Answering America’s Call: Associations at Work,” a talk radio show that focuses on the economic, cultural and social impact of associations on America.  The show aired worldwide throughout the month of April on American Airlines, reaching more than 4 million business and leisure travelers. [May 2007 PET AGE]

Companies planning to exhibit in the Global Pet Expo now must reserve booth space via the Internet, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (Greenwich, Conn.) and the Pet Industry Distributors Association (Bel Air, Md.), organizers of the trade event. The online registration system, available at www.globalpetexpo.org, will eliminate the impact of outside influences, such as mail deliveries, on the receipt of booth applications. Booth assignment will continue to be based on a priority-point system, in which companies get points for each year of membership in the associations and for each year they have exhibited at the show, show organizers said. [May 2007 PET AGE]

The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (Greenwich, Conn.) is offering eight $1,500 Jules Schwimmer Scholarship Awards for the 2007-2008 academic year to children of full-time employees of APPMA member firms. High school seniors and college freshmen, sophomores and juniors may submit applications online to Scholarship Program Administrators at www.scholarshipadministrators.net, using the access key code “APPMA.” Applications are due May 4. [May 2007 PET AGE]

Barkleigh Productions Inc. (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) plans to launch Pet Boutique & Spa, an annual magazine for pet-care professionals who offer high-end products and services, this summer. More than 10,000 copies of the first issue will be mailed to pet boutiques and spas across the country, and given out at major pet industry shows. Karla Addington Smith will serve as the publication’s editor. [May 2007 PET AGE]

Casco Group (Cerritos, Calif.) and partner company Reef One Ltd. (Norwich, United Kingdom) are donating proceeds from the sale of specially designed biOrb aquariums to Autism Speaks, an organization that funds autism research. They also are donating aquariums to autism treatment centers across the country. [May 2007 PET AGE] 

Giving independent retailers a unique incentive to help build a national pet food brand, Dave’s Pet Food (Agawam, Mass.) will rebate 40 percent of net profits to independent retailers who sell at least $10,000 worth of Dave’s “Simply the Best” dog food a year. For information on rebate agreements, contact Central Pet, the exclusive distributor of the food, or call Dave Ratner at 888-763-2738. [May 2007 PET AGE]  

Del Monte Foods Co. (San Francisco) reported net sales of $907.2 million for the 2007 third quarter, up 14.9 percent from $789.6 million in the year-earlier period. The sales increase was driven in part by the company’s acquisitions of the Meow Mix and Milk-Bone brands. [May 2007 PET AGE]

Essex Topcrop Sales Ltd. (Essex, Ontario) opened a distribution center in Winnipeg, Manitoba, serving Manitoba as well as Saskatchewan. The facility distributes Topcrop bird and small-animal foods, as well as products by many leading manufacturers. [May 2007 PET AGE]

Eternal Image Inc. (Farmington Hills, Mich.) signed a licensing agreement with The Cat Fanciers’ Association (Manasquan, N.J.) to create customized urns featuring the association’s logo. [May 2007 PET AGE]

Fetch Pet Care (Berkeley, Calif.), a pet sitting and dog walking franchise, launched “Go Fetch,” a service option designed to provide sustained exercise for dogs and cats. [May 2007 PET AGE]

Fetch Pet Care opened new franchises in Denver, Colo., Oveido, Fla., Hopatcong, N.J., and Tinley Park, Ill. The company now operates 66 locations. [May 2007 PET AGE]

Pet4Pets charity collars from Genia L.L.C. (Millsboro, Del.) now are distributed by United Pet Group (Cincinnati), Central Garden & Pet Co. (Walnut Creek, Calif.), Petco Animal Supplies Stores Inc. (San Diego), Drs. Foster & Smith (Rhinelander, Wis.) and a growing list of regional and local outlets. [May 2007 PET AGE]

Katie’s Bumpers (Golden, Colo.) partnered with Native Energy (Charlotte, Vt.), an organization offering renewable energy credits and carbon-usage offsets, to help bring new renewable energy sources to market. For more information, visit www.katiesbumpers.com. [May 2007 PET AGE]

KittyGoesPotty.com (Philadelphia), a new Web site, offer free instructions on teaching cats how to use a toilet. [May 2007 PET AGE] 

Lucky Litter L.L.C. (Orlando, Fla.), maker of the ScoopFree automatic litter box, launched the ScoopFree Shelter Program, providing free ScoopFree products, financial donations and administrative assistance to animal shelters across the country. [May 2007 PET AGE]

MINNESOTA—Dog and Cat Breeding. A bill to regulate dog and cat breeders as well as other pet dealers at press time awaited a March hearing in the House Committee on Public Safety & Civil Justice. House Bill 1046 and an identical companion bill, Senate Bill 121, would require licensing and set standards of care. Under the proposed Dog and Cat Breeders Act, breeder facilities would be inspected before licensure and annually thereafter. Violators would be subject to fines up to $10,000, injunctive relief action, issuance of an order to stop practice, or license suspension and revocation or refusal. [May 2007 PET AGE]

Nestlé Purina PetCare Co. (St. Louis) donated more than $263,000 in proceeds from the Purina Parent Club Partnership Program to the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation (Raleigh, N.C.). [May 2007 PET AGE]

Nestlé Purina Petcare Co. (St. Louis) recently started production at its first pet food factory on the Chinese mainland. The company has imported pet food products for sale in China since 2003. [May 2007 PET AGE]

Pet Ecology Brands Inc. (Dallas) entered into a stock purchase agreement that would give Tricon Holdings L.L.C. and Texas Atlantic Capital Partners L.L.C. controlling interest in the company. In an additional agreement, the two companies will exclusively license Pet Ecology Brands products for home delivery through television, Internet, telephone and print media. [May 2007 PET AGE] 

Pet Ecology Brands Inc. (Dallas) signed Veterinary Companies of Australia Pty Ltd. (Kings Park, New South Wales) to expand distribution of its products to veterinarians in Australia and New Zealand. [May 2007 PET AGE] 

Pet Ego L.L.C. (Chicago) opened a new office in Danville, Ill., the site of its logistics center, to enhance customer service and also launched www.petego.com to make it easier for retailers to place orders. [May 2007 PET AGE]

Pet Sitters International (King, N.C.) announced that Pedigree Jumbone Snack Food for Dogs by Masterfoods USA (Hackettstown, NJ) will be the official presenting sponsor of the ninth annual Take Your Dog to Work Day on June 22. [May 2007 PET AGE]

Pet Sitters International (King, N.C.) donated a total of $11,000 to Noah’s Wish and the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in support of the organizations’ efforts to help homeless animals. [May 2007 PET AGE]

Petco Animal Supplies Stores Inc. (San Diego) and The Petco Foundation (San Gabriel, Calif.) raised more than $2.7 million for more than 4,000 animal organizations across the country during its five-week Tree of Hope fund-raiser. [May 2007 PET AGE]

Petland Inc. (Chillicothe, Ohio) is celebrating its 40th year of business. Begun with a single store, the company now operates nearly 200 retail locations across the United States and in Canada, Chile, Japan and South Africa.  [May 2007 PET AGE]

PeTS Best Insurance (Boise, Idaho) received an exclusive recommendation for constituents of Guide Dogs for the Blind (San Rafael, Calif.). Additionally, the insurance provider is giving one-year policies to people who adopt healthy dogs released from the school’s training program.    [May 2007 PET AGE]

PetSmart Inc. (Phoenix) reported net sales of $1.17 billion for the 2006 fourth quarter, up 11.4 percent from $1.05 billion for the year-earlier period. Pet services sales were $97.2 million, up 22 percent from the year-earlier period. Comparable store sales grew 5 percent in 2006.
The company announced plans to exit the State Line Tack horse business, including departments in 180 stores. The horse business represented about 2 percent of company sales in 2006.  [May 2007 PET AGE]

Precision Pet Products recently moved into a new distribution center in Redlands, Calif. The facility houses customer service, order entry, purchasing, logistics and international operations. The company’s sales, marketing, product development and finance departments remain at its corporate headquarters in Costa Mesa, Calif. [May 2007 PET AGE]

Snake Pit and Critters, a pet retailer in Jacksonville, Fla., closed after owner Harry Latham was found guilty of animal cruelty, according to published reports. A city animal control investigator brought the charge against Latham after he failed to provide veterinary care for two Chinese water dragons with nose injuries. [May 2007 PET AGE]

Sun Seed Co. Inc. (Bowling Green, Ohio) acquired the dry products division of Fluker Farms (Port Allen, La.), including the division’s brand name, graphics and product range. Fluker Farms retains its feeder insect business, and both companies will use the Fluker brand name. Beginning May 1, Sun Seed will ship and invoice acquired inventories from its location in Bowling Green.  [May 2007 PET AGE]

Texas—Snake Regulation. A bill that would have established a permit system for persons who possess or seek to bring into the state any live venomous snake or constrictor snake that is not native to the United States was tabled at a March hearing of the House Culture, Recreation and Tourism Committee, according to the Responsible Pet Owners Alliance (San Antonio).  An in-depth study on House Bill 1309 will be undertaken before additional action is taken, the group said. [May 2007 PET AGE]

Virbac Corp. (Fort Worth, Texas) named Kathy West of Campobello, S.C., and her golden retriever, KC, winners of the Pet-Tabs Lucky Dawg Sweepstakes. The pair received a two-night Pet Package at a pet-friendly Kimpton hotel, roundtrip American Airlines tickets for two plus one pet, and a $100 voucher for a rental car. [May 2007 PET AGE]