Applica Inc. (Miramar, Fla.) reported sales of $112.5 million for the first quarter of 2005, down 12.5 percent from $128.5 million for the year-earlier period. The company markets small household appliances, including the LitterMaid self-cleaning litter box. [July 2005 PET AGE]

BowTie Inc. (Los Angeles) is the new publisher of Freshwater and Marine Aquarium magazine. Longtime FAMA editor Susan Steele will stay on board to perpetuate the publication’s personality. [July 2005 PET AGE]

Bark Busters (Englewood, Colo.) now offers a quiz to help people assess their dog’s behavior and determine when they need to seek professional help. Developed in collaboration with veterinarians and customers, the quiz is available online at www.barkbusters.com, and in brochure form from the company. [July 2005 PET AGE]

Best Products Inc. (Indianapolis) received the Entrepreneurs Challenge Award from the Entrepreneurs’ Alliance of Indiana. The four-year-old company, which makes the FidoRido pet car seat, will receive more than $100,000 in startup resources, including coaching in accounting, marketing and business development. [July 2005 PET AGE]

Central Garden & Pet Co. (Walnut Creek, Calif.) reported net sales of $378.9 million for the second quarter of 2005, up 5.5 percent from $359 million for the year-earlier period. Net sales for the pet products segment were $158.4 million, up 9.2 percent from $143.8 million for the year-earlier period. [July 2005 PET AGE]

Central Pet Distribution, the sales and logistics arm for the pet division of Central Garden & Pet Co. (Walnut Creek, Calif.), will hold its first national sales meeting Nov. 9-12 at Parrot Jungle Island in Miami. The four-day event, taking the place of regional events held in the past, will include educational conferences as well as the presentation of awards for vendor partner of the year, retail support, supply chain, new product and packaging. [July 2005 PET AGE]

Church & Dwight Co. Inc. (Princeton, N.J.) reported net sales of $420.7 million for the first quarter of 2005, up 42 percent from $296 million in the year-earlier period due in large part to the acquisition of Armkel. At the brand level, sales of Arm & Hammer Super Scoop cat litter were significantly higher than last year. [July 2005 PET AGE]

The Clorox Co. (Oakland, Calif.) reported net sales of $1.09 billion for the third quarter ending March 31, 2005, up 3 percent from $1.05 billion in the year-earlier period, driven in part by increased shipments of Scoop Away and Fresh Step cat litters. [July 2005 PET AGE]

Colgate-Palmolive Co. (New York) reported net sales of $609.7 million for North American operations in the first quarter of 2005, up 7 percent from $568.5 million for the year-earlier period, fueled by new product introductions and gains in market shares. New products and veterinary endorsements continued to drive growth at Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc. (Topeka, Kan.), as unit volume grew 3 percent in the first quarter and sales rose 7 percent. [July 2005 PET AGE]

D&D Commodities Ltd. (Stephen, Minn.) named Pet Food & More (Commerce Township, Mich.) its 2004 retailer of the year, and P&P Pet Food Distributors Inc. (Lakeville, Mass.) its 2004 distributor of the year. [July 2005 PET AGE]

U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner in Los Angeles in April barred Del Monte Foods Co. (San Francisco) from selling soft-centered pet treats, including Pounce Purr-fections and Snausages, after a jury ruled that Mars Inc. (McLean, Va.) holds a valid patent for the manufacturing process used to make them, according to published news reports. The ruling also blocks the sale of Nature’s Recipe Joint & Hip, Teeth & Breath and Skin & Coat snacks. [July 2005 PET AGE]

Evanger’s Dog and Cat Food Co. Inc. (Wheeling, Ill.) launched a new Web site, www.evangersdogfood.com, that allows visitors to find retailers who carry its products. [July 2005 PET AGE]

The Evercare Co. (Alpharetta, Ga.) said that it will launch new consumer-focused products that complement its core lint/pet hair pick-up business, and accelerate licensing and acquisition initiatives. [July 2005 PET AGE]

EzyDog (Sandpoint, Idaho) partnered with Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. (Novato, Calif.), the largest provider of insurance to veterinary clinics in California, to offer preferred pricing on EzyDog products for iCustomer Series-registered users in the veterinary community. [July 2005 PET AGE]

Fe-Lines Inc. (Tyler, Texas) made several Buddy Fund donations: $575 to the Humane Society of the United States (Washington); $575 to the Texas Federation of Humane Societies (Manchaca); $150 to Animal Haven (New York); $100 to Save the Animals Today (Temecula, Calif.); $75 to the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (Mount Laurel, N.J.); $50 to Feline Foundation of Greater Washington, D.C.; $50 to Safe Haven for Donkeys in the Holy Land (East Sussex, United Kingdom); and $50 to Kitty Rescue & Adoption of New Hampshire. [July 2005 PET AGE]

The Hartz Mountain Corp. (Secaucus, N.J.) in May agreed to purchase My Pet Inc. (Wray, Colo.), a manufacturer of toys for birds, dogs and other pets. Previously sold through the pet specialty and catalog channels, My Pet toys are made using a patented rubber production process and trademarked paint design. [July 2005 PET AGE]

International Absorbents Inc. (Ferndale, Wash.) reported net sales of $22.16 million for fiscal 2005, up 13 percent from $19.62 million for the previous year. [July 2005 PET AGE]

Quiet Spot, the Original Pet Tag Silencer by Itzadog L.L.C. (Denver) now is available at all 24 Pet Food Express locations in California’s Bay Area. [July 2005 PET AGE]

Jungle Laboratories Corp. (Cibolo, Texas) contracted with J.A. Hammond Associates (Stroudsburg, Pa.) to distribute its pond and specialty lawn and garden products in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, eastern Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont. [July 2005 PET AGE]

Purina Pro Plan, made by Nestle Purina PetCare Co. (St. Louis), in April launched the Pro Plan Rally to Rescue campaign, supplying up to 200,000 sets of pet collars and matching wristbands that participating pet rescue organizations can sell to raise money for rescue efforts. Campaign organizers hope to raise more than $1 million. [July 2005 PET AGE]

Purina Puppy Chow, made by Nestle Purina PetCare Co. (St. Louis), offers informational articles, videos and an interactive guide on raising a happy, healthy puppy at www.puppychow.com. [July 2005 PET AGE]

P.A.W.S. of America (Harrison Township, Mich.) is celebrating its 11th anniversary. Founded in June 1994, the organization allows approximately 100 independent retailers to combine their buying power to receive discounts normally available only to superstores and large chains. [July 2005 PET AGE]

Pet Supermarket (Sunrise, Fla.) opened a store at 1544 Piedmont Road in Atlanta. The chain now has 10 locations in Georgia. [July 2005 PET AGE]

Readers of the Detroit News voted Pet Supplies “Plus” (Farmington Hills, Mich.) Michigan’s Best Pet Store With Care in a shopping poll conducted in February. [July 2005 PET AGE]

Petco Animal Supplies Inc. (San Diego) announced on April 29 that it would not formally restate financial results affected by accounting errors stemming from under0accrued expenses in distribution. Instead, the company intends to include adjustments to its fourth-quarter financial results when it files its annual Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Petco left unchanged previous estimates for lower earnings as a result of the accounting errors. In early April, the retailer forecast that the accounting errors would reduce fourth-quarter earnings by $3 million to $4.5 million. [July 2005 PET AGE]

The Petco Foundation (San Gabriel, Calif.) raised more than $1.83 million for animal welfare causes nationwide through its Spring a Pet fund-raiser. Held March 13 to April 17 in Petco stores, the fund-raiser encouraged Petco customers, vendors and associates to donate $1, $5, $10 or $20 to help animals in need. [July 2005 PET AGE]

Setting a goal of one million pet adoptions per year, PetsMart Charities (Phoenix) expanded its Pet Adoption Kiosk Program into Los Angeles and Dallas, two cities with the greatest pet overpopulation problems. About 60 participating local shelters and 25 PetsMart stores will get kiosks, which allow people to use touch screens to evaluate thousands of locally adoptable pets. [July 2005 PET AGE]

Planet Dog Philanthropy, the nonprofit grant-making arm of Planet Dog (Portland, Maine), donated $350 to the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland to help fund the Meet Your Match Canine-ality Program. The program scientifically matches shelter dogs’ personality, traits and behavior characteristics with the needs of potential owners. [July 2005 PET AGE]

Premier Pet Products L.L.C. (Midlothian, Va.) received the Virginia Vanguard Award from the Virginia Chamber of Commerce for the highest growth rate in the retail/wholesale category. Premier was one of six Richmond, Va.-area businesses to be recognized as the state’s fastest-growing companies. [July 2005 PET AGE]

Procter & Gamble Co. (Cincinnati) said in April that it will expand its Iams distribution center in Aurora, Neb., to offer direct shipments to retailers nationwide. Slated for completion in early 2006, the 225,000-square-foot expansion will cost $12 million and will add 30 jobs to the region. [July 2005 PET AGE]

Procter & Gamble Co. (Cincinnati) reported net sales of $14.29 billion for the first quarter of 2005, up 10 percent from $13.03 for the year-earlier period. The company’s strong portfolio includes Iams. [July 2005 PET AGE]

Royal Pet Meals Inc. (Sausalito, Calif.) retained Emerging Growth Stocks L.L.C. (Beverly Hills, Calif.) to coordinate investor relations, including financial reporting and a public awareness campaign. Royal Pet Meals began trading shares on the NASDAQ under the symbol “RYPM” in April. [July 2005 PET AGE]

Ruff Wear (Bend, Ore.) partnered with Rosker Ltd., a United Kingdom-based distributor of outdoor products, to expand Ruff Wear’s distribution in the United Kingdom and Ireland. [July 2005 PET AGE]

Ryan’s Pet Foods (Mississauga, Ontario) reported sales of $12.99 million for the first six months of 2005, up 24.7 percent from sales of $10.41 million for the year-earlier period. [July 2005 PET AGE]

S&M NuTec L.L.C. (North Kansas City, Mo.) acquired the assets of Pill Pockets Inc. (Raleigh, N.C.), taking over manufacturing, inventory and order fulfillment. [July 2005 PET AGE]

The HomeAgain Microchip Identification System, marketed by Schering-Plough Animal Health Corp. (Kenilworth, N.J.), now is recognized by the European Union as a fully accepted form of companion animal identification for owners traveling with pets to EU member nations. The HomeAgain microchip is one of three chips recognized under the EU’s Pet Passport Law, which requires that pets traveling to member nations be microchipped for identification. [July 2005 PET AGE]

The Skamper-Ramp water rescue device for animals, manufactured by Skamper Industries L.L.C. (Mount Pleasant, S.C.) now is available for sale worldwide. [July 2005 PET AGE]

Sojourner Farms L.L.C. (Minneapolis) acquired Monzie’s Organics, an organic pet food company based in California. [July 2005 PET AGE]

Spectrum Brands Inc. (Atlanta), formerly known as Rayovac Corp., in April completed the acquisition of Tetra Holding GmbH, the privately held supplier of fish and aquatics supplies headquartered in Melle, Germany, for $556 million from Triton, a European private equity firm. Terms of the acquisition, expected to accelerate Spectrum’s strategy to become the leading global manufacturer and marketer of specialty pet supplies, were not disclosed at press time. The company began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SPC” on May 2. [July 2005 PET AGE]

Spectrum Brands Inc. (Atlanta) reported net sales of $534.5 million for the second quarter of 2005, versus net sales of $278 million for the year-earlier period. The acquisition of United Industries Corp. (St. Louis), the parent of United Pet Group (Cincinnati), contributed $228 million to net sales for the quarter. [July 2005 PET AGE]

Devoted to the art of living with dogs and looking good while doing so, Wag magazine launched in June. The magazine covers pet care do’s and don’ts, fashion from top designers and pop culture—all with edgy humor. For more information, visit www.mywag.com. [July 2005 PET AGE]

Zuke’s Performance Pet Nutrition (Durango, Colo.) is distributing its Hip Action and Natural Purrs treats through the western region warehouses of United Natural Foods Inc. (Dayville, Conn.).

[July 2005 PET AGE]