A jury in the U.S. District Court’s Eastern District of Texas awarded more than $6 million to Avid Identification Systems Inc. (San Diego) in its suit against Datamars S.A. (Lugano, Switzerland) and its wholly owned U.S. subsidiary, Crystal Import Corp. (Birmingham, Ala.). The jury unanimously found that Datamars and Crystal willingly infringed on three Avid patents for RFID technology with ISO 134.2-kilohertz microchips and readers sold under the CrystalTag, iMax and iMax Plus brand names. The jury also found the companies liable under the Lanham Act for making false advertising claims about the effectiveness of the ISO products. [August 2006 PET AGE]

Big Bad Woof (Washington), a one-year-old retail store specializing in natural and environmentally friendly pet products, won $1,000 in services from the Women’s Business Center as one of four finalists for the annual WBC Capital Award. Store owners Julie Paez and Pennye Jones-Napier are already working on their second location, a store at the Washington Animal Rescue League. [August 2006 PET AGE]

CALIFORNIA—Mandatory Spay/Neuter Lawsuit. The American Canine Foundation in April sued the State of California for passing Senate Bill 861, a law that allows cities and counties to pass mandatory spay/neuter laws and breeding restrictions. The ACF amended the federal lawsuit in June to include Los Angeles County, which in May adopted a mandatory spay/neuter ordinance. [August 2006 PET AGE]

CANADA—Pesticide Registration. The Pest Management Regulatory Agency issued a memorandum establishing an electronic public registry of pest control products. The memorandum specifies the information to be included in the registry and how that information is to be accessed by the public. [August 2006 PET AGE]

Castor & Pollux Pet Works (Clackamas, Ore.) will sell its Natural Ultramix pet foods and treats exclusively through Petco stores nationwide as part of the chain’s “It’s All Natural” offering. [August 2006 PET AGE]

Cheengoo Boutique L.L.C. (San Francisco) launched an online store at www.cheengoo.com, selling high-end pet apparel, accessories and furniture. [August 2006 PET AGE]

Chomp Inc. (Weymouth, Mass.) received the Food Marketing Institute’s 2006 Retailer’s Choice Award for Product Innovation in the pet products category for creating a category of “pet candy” that can be merchandised as impulse items at checkout counters in grocery, pet and mass-merchandise stores.
Chomp also was named one of 15 finalists in the Smaller Business Association of New England’s Business Innovation Awards. Finalists are selected for finding success through innovation and thought leadership. [August 2006 PET AGE]

Cool Dogs & Crazy Cats, a pet gift store, moved from Maine to Southport, N.C., where it will remain open year-round. [August 2006 PET AGE]

Del Monte Corp. (San Francisco) in May completed the acquisition of Meow Mix Holdings Inc. (Secaucus, N.J.) for approximately $705 million. Other Del Monte pet brands include 9Lives, Kibbles ’n Bits, Milk-Bone, Pup-Peroni, Snausages, Pounce and Meaty Bone. [August 2006 PET AGE]

Doane Pet Care Co. (Brentwood, Tenn.) reported net sales of $237.7 million for the 2006 first quarter, down 11 percent from $267.1 million for the year-earlier period. Company officials attributed the decrease primarily to expected lower domestic sales volumes related to the timing of promotional activity and the discontinuation of domestic non-manufactured product distribution services. Doane is the largest manufacturer of store-brand pet food and the second-largest manufacturer of dry pet food in the United States. [August 2006 PET AGE]

For the fourth year, DogChewz NYC (New York) donated cases of products to Broadway Barks, a program in which Broadway stars showcase animals from local animal shelters that participate in The Mayor’s Alliance for NYC Animals. [August 2006 PET AGE]

Ecological Laboratories Inc. (Freeport, N.Y.) added a “What Product Should I Use” section to its Web site, www.microbelift.com, to help retailers and consumers understand how to use its pond products. [August 2006 PET AGE]

As part of an online educational campaign, Farnam Pet Products (Phoenix) is offering Comfort Zone Pet S.O.S., a quarterly newsletter with expert resources and tips to help people manage their pets’ most common stress-related problems. Consumers can sign up at www.petcomfortzone.com/petsos. [August 2006 PET AGE]

TheFerretStore.com (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) teamed with the American Ferret Association (Annapolis, Md.) to produce “Ferrets 101,” an educational brochure to be included in outgoing orders from the store and to be distributed at AFA events. [August 2006 PET AGE]

First Pet Life (Dallas) entered a three-year partnership with Petsmarketing Insurance.com Agency Inc., a subsidiary of Hartville Group Inc. (Canton, Ohio), enabling First Pet Life to offer four levels of its own branded pet insurance. [August 2006 PET AGE]

FLORIDA—Pet Dealer Laws. Senate Bill 674, to establish a new pet dealer license law, and Senate Bill 470, to amend the existing law regulating the sale of dogs and cats, died in May with the Florida legislature’s adjournment. [August 2006 PET AGE]

Free Range Dogs Chews Inc. is moving to a larger corporate office in Sterling Heights, Mich., and will open a larger warehouse in Caro, Mich. [August 2006 PET AGE]

FouFou Dog Inc. (Richmond Hill, Ontario) signed a licensing agreement with Paws Inc. to design, produce and market upscale Garfield and Friends products, including plush toys, blankets, apparel and charms. [August 2006 PET AGE]

Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc. (Topeka, Kan.) teamed with Bank of America (Charlotte, N.C.) to offer the PetRewards Visa card—which can be customized with a picture of the cardholder’s pet. Cardholders receive 500 bonus points with their first purchase; two reward points for every dollar spent at participating veterinary clinics, pet stores and farm and feed stores; and one point for every dollar spent on other purchases. Reward redemptions start at 750 points, for a $7.50 discount certificate toward Hill’s Science Diet or Hill’s Prescription Diet pet foods. For 1,000 points, cardholders can receive a $20 rebate on veterinary expenses or make a $10 donation to an animal shelter. For more information, call 800-349-2632 or visit www.bankofamerica.com/petrewards. [August 2006 PET AGE]

InfoUSA (Omaha, Neb.) increased its proprietary mailing database of pet owners by 38 percent—from 8,283,637 in April 2005 to 11,416,890 in April 2006. For more information, visit www.infousa.com. [August 2006 PET AGE]

International Absorbents Inc. (Ferndale, Wash.) reported sales of $6.6 million for the 2007 first quarter, up 12 percent from $5.9 million for the year-earlier period. [August 2006 PET AGE]

As part of the “You’re the Director” promotion sponsored by Kay Berry (Saxonburg, Pa.), retailers can submit video clips showing how they display Kay Berry products to win free freight and the chance to win $1,000 in free merchandise. The company plans to use customer-supplied video clips in trade showrooms around the country, in print ads and for other promotional purposes. For more information, call 800-426-1932 or (724) 352-0370. [August 2006 PET AGE]

Kudzu.com (Atlanta) launched a Pets Guide at www.pets.kudzu.com to help Atlanta residents find pet stores, groomers, boarding kennels, veterinarians, obedience trainers and pet sitters. [August 2006 PET AGE]

LA Dogworks (Los Angeles) recently became the first pet spa in California to install K9Grass, a synthetic grass with built-in antimicrobial agents to deter microorganisms that cause odor, discoloration, bio-fouling and other aesthetic problems. [August 2006 PET AGE]

Lixit Corp. (San Francisco) was named 2006 Small Business of the Year by the Small Business Administration’s San Francisco District for contributing to the economy through sales growth, expanding its employee roster and contributing to the community. [August 2006 PET AGE]

LOUISIANA—Reptile Restrictions. House Bill 783, to impose additional restrictions on constrictor snakes, died on the Senate floor in June upon adjournment of the Louisiana legislature. [August 2006 PET AGE]

MINNESOTA—Commercial Feed Law. The Minnesota legislature adopted House Bill 3670, to modify the commercial feed law. New record-keeping provisions require manufacturers of pet and specialty pet foods distributed in packages greater than 10 pounds to detail the tonnage of commercial feed distributed in the state. The records must be maintained for six years. [August 2006 PET AGE]

The International Council of Shopping Centers (New York) recently named Muttropolis Dog & Cat Boutique, a growing chain based in Solana Beach, Calif., one of five Hot Retailers of the Year. The first pet specialty store to be honored by the ICSC, Muttropolis was selected for the value of its brand, media buzz, cache, traffic and other factors demonstrating a measurable impact on the shopping centers in which it is located. [August 2006 PET AGE]

Neeps Inc. (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) launched three micro-sites featuring brand-specific products: BuyBeefeaters.com, selling rawhide dog bones and treats from Petrapport Inc. (North Bergen, N.J.); BuyMerrick.com, selling dog treats and food from Merrick Petfoods Inc. (Amarillo, Texas); and BuyOutwardHound.com, selling outdoor gear for dogs from The Kyjen Co. Inc. (Huntington Beach, Calif.). [August 2006 PET AGE]

NEW MEXICO—Mandatory Spay/Neuter. Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez signed into law a comprehensive animal control ordinance that mandates all dogs and cats older than 6 months be spayed and neutered unless owners purchase a $150 intact-animal permit. The Human and Ethical Animal Rules and Treatment ordinance also mandates pet microchipping and sets pet limits. HEART also greatly expands the definition of animal cruelty. The law takes effect Aug. 22. [August 2006 PET AGE]

Oil-Dri Corp. of America (Chicago) reported sales of $51.8 million for the 2006 third quarter, up 7 percent from $48.3 million for the year-earlier period. Sales of the company’s Cat’s Pride and Jonny Cat litters were up in the quarter. [August 2006 PET AGE]

OurPet’s Co. (Fairport Harbor, Ohio) reported net revenues of $2.1 million for the 2006 first quarter, up 33.8 percent from $1.6 million for the year-earlier period. Company officials attributed the increase in part to the recent acquisition of Pet Zone Products Ltd. [August 2006 PET AGE]

Paws-N-Claws Cookie Co. (Hixson, Tenn.), a family-owned company that provides premium gourmet pet treats to retailers and fund-raisers nationwide, changed its name to HappyWhiskerz Cookie Co. [August 2006 PET AGE]

Working with various international distributors, Pet Ecology Brands Inc. (Dallas) recently received its first orders for Scientific Professional Cat Litter from China, the Netherlands, Romania, Singapore and South Korea. [August 2006 PET AGE]

“The Pet Place,” airing in Los Angeles for 16 years on television station KDOC, received underwriting sponsorship from the 300-unit Ralphs supermarket chain so it can continue to find homes for animals from Southern California shelters. More than 160,000 animals have been adopted after being featured on the show or because viewers visited participating shelters. [August 2006 PET AGE]

Petco Animal Supplies Inc. (San Diego) reported net sales of $521 million for the 2006 first quarter, up 8.6 percent from $479.6 million for the year-earlier period. Comparable store net sales were up 2.2 percent in the quarter versus the year-earlier period, and service-related sales were up 19.1 percent. [August 2006 PET AGE]

Petfinder.com (New York), the largest online database of adoptable animals, celebrated its 10th anniversary—and its 10 millionth adoption—on May 25. [August 2006 PET AGE]

Petland Inc. (Chillicothe, Ohio) opened an 8,300-square-foot store in the Greene Crossings Shopping Center in Beavercreek, Ohio, and a 7,064-square-foot store in Ashland Plaza in Russell, Ky. [August 2006 PET AGE]

PetSmart Inc. (Phoenix) suspended pet adoptions in 22 stores in Maryland and Virginia for two weeks in June after a kitten adopted from its Greenbelt, Md., store was diagnosed with rabies, according to published news reports. The kitten and its five littermates were euthanized. At press time, its owner and the director of the rescue group that supplied the kitten were being treated for the disease as a precaution. [August 2006 PET AGE]

PetSmart Inc. (Phoenix) reported net sales of $1 billion for the 2006 first quarter, up 10.7 percent from $903.2 million for the year-earlier period. Comparable store net sales were up 3.7 percent in the quarter versus the year-earlier period, and services-related sales were $90.3 million, up 26.8 percent from the year-earlier period. [August 2006 PET AGE]

PHIz l.l.c. (New York) launched its Phiz Team Builder at www.thephiz.com to match manufacturers’ representatives with manufacturers, importers, distributors or investors in more than 20 retail industry channels, including pet supplies. [August 2006 PET AGE]

Three PuppyPurse pet carriers by PuppyPurse (Nokomis, Fla.) will be displayed in an exhibit titled “Bêtes de Style” at the Museum of Design and Contemporary Applied Arts in Lausanne, Switzerland. The exhibit, open from Oct. 12 through Feb. 11, 2007, explores the relationship between humans and pets. [August 2006 PET AGE]

ShopByBreed (West Chester, Pa.) launched GroomByBreed, a system that uses specific icons on packaging to help consumers choose the proper grooming tools for seven coat types. [August 2006 PET AGE]

Theo Ehf, a dog clothing company in Reykjavik, Iceland, won first prize in the Best Business Plan competition held by Junior Chamber International (Coral Gables, Fla.). The company received 100,000 Icelandic Kronas, a Palm Pilot and the right to enter its business plan into an international business plan competition. [August 2006 PET AGE]

Woof It Down opened in the Windham Village Green Plaza in Windham, N.H., in June. The store sells organic dog food and treats, high-quality accessories and boutique apparel. [August 2006 PET AGE]

ZuPreem (Mission, Kan.) received its fifth consecutive “superior” audit rating from the American Institute of Baking International (Manhattan, Kan.) for the cleanliness and efficiency of its warehouse facilities. [August 2006 PET AGE]