The American Pet Products Association (Greenwich, Conn.) hired Karyn Bennitt as coordinator of member relations and business development. [April 2009 PET AGE]

Aquatic Life L.L.C. (Los Angeles) has been approved as a vendor for NexPet Retailer co-op (New York). The manufacturer also signed Performance Sales and Marketing (Clifton, N.J.) as a representative. [April 2009 PET AGE]

BarkWear (Jacksonville, Fla.), a division of Unleashed and Freedom IV Enterprises, raised $5,000 for local animal rescue groups through its third annual Giving Tree program. [April 2009 PET AGE]

Information about the Cardinal Crystal Grooming Achievement Awards, sponsored by Cardinal Laboratories (Azusa, Calif.), now is available at www.cardinalcrystalawards.com. The site explains the nomination and balloting process and provides biographical information about past winners. [April 2009 PET AGE]

Central Garden & Pet (Walnut Creek, Calif.) reported net sales of $293 million for the first quarter of 2009, down 7 percent from the year-earlier period, and a net loss of $6.2 million versus a net loss of $290 million in the year-earlier period. Net sales for the pet products segment were $186 million in the quarter, down 8 percent from the year-earlier period. Sales of branded pet products were $148 million, down $16 million from the previous year. Sales of other manufacturers’ products were unchanged at $38 million. [April 2009 PET AGE]

Central Pet Distribution (Walnut Creek, Calif.) promoted Ian Weiss to the new position of marketing manager. He has been with the company eight years, most recently as sales manager. [April 2009 PET AGE]

De Botanica was acquired by L&J Green Products L.L.C. (Fairfield, Iowa). [April 2009 PET AGE]

DuckyWorld Products Inc. (Minneapolis) hired Stephanie Hofhenke as design and marketing coordinator. Previously, she was inside sales manager for R.F.G. Distributing (Crystal, Minn.). [April 2009 PET AGE]

Ecological Laboratories Inc. (Lynbrook, N.Y.) hired Linda Hernandez as trade show coordinator. She is based in the company’s in Cape Coral, Fla., manufacturing facility. [April 2009 PET AGE]

HAWAII—Pit Bull Ban. A bill that would prohibit the ownership, possession or sale of pit bulls was referred to the Committee on Judicial and Government Operations. Senate Bill 79 defines a pit bull as an American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, or any dog displaying the majority of physical traits of any one or more of those breeds or exhibiting distinguishing characteristics that substantially conform to standards established by the American Kennel Club or United Kennel Club for any of those breeds. [April 2009 PET AGE]

Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc. (Topeka, Kan.) donated $20,000 to the Morris Animal Foundation in honor of veterinarian C.A. Tony Buffington, winner of the 2009 Mark L. Morris Sr. Lifetime Achievement Award. The money will be used to study pain management in cats. [April 2009 PET AGE]

Kurgo, a division of Motivation Design L.L.C. (Salisbury, Mass.) partnered with Toyota Motor Corporation to promote the pet-friendly 2009 Toyota Venza. The companies say the car, plus aftermarket accessories, is the “ultimate pet and pet owner’s vehicle.” [April 2009 PET AGE]

Mars Fishcare Inc. (Chalfont, Pa.) named Peter Struble sales and marketing director for North America. He will focus on sales and marketing teams in North America and Asia. He has more than 17 years’ sales management experience. [April 2009 PET AGE]

MONTANA—Dog Breeder and Pet Store Inspections. Legislation that would impose new requirements and establish inspection standards for dog breeding as well as selling facilities remained in the House Agriculture Committee at press time after a February hearing. House Bill 548 also would require facility owners to register with the Department of Agriculture and pay a biennial $415 registration fee. [April 2009 PET AGE]

NEVADA—Pet Store Notification Requirements. A bill that would require pet stores to notify purchasers of dogs or cats about any sterilization requirements mandated by local ordinances awaited a February hearing in the Committee on Natural Resources, Agriculture and Mining at press time. As drafted, Assembly Bill 15 does not specify if pet retailers and dealers need only provide information about the jurisdiction in which they operate, or also about any locality in which a customer may reside. [April 2009 PET AGE]

OurPet’s Co. (Fairport Harbor, Ohio) named Scott Mendes chief financial officer, assuming the duties of retiring company controller John Murchie. [April 2009 PET AGE]

Paws Awhile Online Community (Lunenburg, Mass.) celebrates its tenth year online and will be a major contributor to Whisker Walk 2009, a walk-a-thon fundraiser to benefit New England shelters and rescue groups, set for Sunday, June 7 in Lancaster, Mass. For information, visit www.pawsawhileoc.com. [April 2009 PET AGE]

Petco Animal Supplies Stores Inc. (San Diego) is offering low-cost vaccination clinics, heartworm testing and preventatives, fecal testing, de-worming and microchipping at several of its U.S. stores. [April 2009 PET AGE]

Petland (Chillicothe, Ohio) partnered with the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Arizona (Phoenix) to give a pair of Yorkshire terrier puppies—a male and a female—to a 15-year-old Arizona girl. Petland provided free spay and neuter services for the puppies, while the foundation provided funding for supplies and accessories for both dogs. The puppies were presented at a Tucson Petland store in February. [April 2009 PET AGE]

The Take Your Dog to Work Day Web site by Pet Sitters International (King, N.C.) was cited as best Web site of 2008 by the Tarheel Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (New York). Takeyourdog.com promotes PSI’s annual campaign, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. [April 2009 PET AGE]

Puppy Cake (Pittsburgh) hired Jeffrey Darville as business development manager. [April 2009 PET AGE]

Siemer Enterprises Inc. (Teutopolis, Ill.) now is distributing Bite O’ Blue Wild Blueberry Dog Treats by Peaked Mountain Farm (Dedham, Maine), and treats by A Dog’s Life (Santa Monica, Calif.). [April 2009 PET AGE]

Sloppy Kisses, a dog bakery and boutique in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., is opening a second location this spring at a shopping center in nearby Clifton Park. [April 2009 PET AGE]

SOUTH CAROLINA—Turtle Harvesting. A bill that seeks to limit the number of turtles that can be harvested in the state was reported out of committee with amendment and resided in the full House at press time. House Bill 3121 would prohibit the removal of more than 20 turtles of certain species from the state in any one year. The affected species include yellowbelly turtle (Trachemys scripta), Florida cooter (Pseudemys floridana), river cooter (Pseudemys concinna), chicken turtle (Deirochelys reticularia), Eastern painted turtle (Cheysemys picta), spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera), Florida softshell turtle (Apalone ferox) and common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentine). [April 2009 PET AGE]

Christi Fries of Terrapin Pets (Beltsville, Md.) received the 2009 Business of the Year Award from the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (Mount Laurel, N.J.) during the group’s national conference, held Jan. 16-18 in Long Beach, Calif.
Also at the conference, outgoing board members Jerry Wentz and Linda Norton were recognized for their two-term service.
The next NAPPS conference will be held Jan. 22-24, 2010, at the Regal Sun Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla. For details, visit www.petsitters.org. [April 2009 PET AGE]

Tomlyn Products (Fort Worth, Texas) inked a marketing agreement with Overby Farms (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) to promote Overby Farm Hip Bones and Overby Farm Hip Flex products. [April 2009 PET AGE]

Canine life coach Tamar Gellar and model Christie Brinkley were among celebrity pet lovers visiting the Pet Pad, a hospitality lounge co-sponsored by Veterinary Pet Insurance (Brea, Calif.) at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival in Park City Utah. Designed to promote pet health and animal shelter adoptions, the Pet Pad was staffed by Dr. Karen Halligan, author of What Every Pet Owner Should Know and a judge on Animal Planet’s “Groomer Has It.” [April 2009 PET AGE]

Villa La Paws Resort and Spa (Phoenix) recently launched marketing initiatives for expansion through its Universal Franchise Disclosure Document-approved national franchising program. The company, which offers three franchise options, offers cage-free dog daycare, pet grooming and overnight slumber parties. For information, visit www.villalapaws.com. [April 2009 PET AGE] 

West Paw Design (Bozeman, Mont.) earned the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Certification for its eco-friendly line of pet beds and toys. The international association tests textile products to ensure that they are free from harmful levels of more than 100 dangerous substances. [April 2009 PET AGE]