Tammy Roussin, who owns Absolutely Pampered Pets L.L.C. (St. Louis), was featured in Parade Magazine’s most recent “What People Earn salary” report. Roussin, a member of Pet Sitters International (King, N.C.), reported a $100,000 annual salary as a way to promote her business and the pet-sitting industry. [July 2009 PET AGE]

The All American Grooming Show, set for Aug. 13-16 in Wheeling, Ill., is banking on an “economic stimulus plan” to draw more attendees. Show organizers are holding the line on registration fees, offering two free competition class entries with six paid entries, giving away tote bags and “Super Session” DVDs to competitors, offering deep discounts on hydraulic tables (reserve a table at 800-253-3362) and discounted room rates at the Westin Chicago North Shore. In addition, they are offering full-day add-on seminars, opportunities to meet contestants from the second season of Animal Planet’s “Groomer Has It” series and an All American Hat Competition. For information, call 847-364-4547 or visit www.aagrmgshow.com. [July 2009 PET AGE]

All Star Dogs (Marlboro, N.J.) acquired licensing rights to more than 100 university trademarks and now can produce officially licensed collegiate pet products. The company will add 50 schools this year and launch a Web site to feature the collection. [July 2009 PET AGE]

AMCOL International Corp. (Hoffman Estates, Ill.), the parent company of American Colloid Co., reported net sales of $164.4 million for the 2009 first quarter, down 14.1 percent from $191.4 million for the year-earlier period. “The global economic slowdown certainly had an impact on our business in the first quarter, but we are encouraged about gross margins, which have generally held up in spite of lower volumes,” said Larry Washow, AMCOL’s president and chief executive officer. [July 2009 PET AGE]

The American Kennel Club (New York) will hold the flagship event for the seventh annual Responsible Dog Ownership Days on Sept. 26 in Raleigh, N.C. For information, including ways to publicize the event in your area, visit www.akc.org/clubs/rdod. [July 2009 PET AGE]

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (New York) honored Martha Stewart with its Presidential Service Award at the 12th annual ASPCA Bergh Ball in April. [July 2009 PET AGE]

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (New York) launched an online database, www.aspcapuppyfacts.org, that lets potential pet buyers see inspection reports of breeding facilities. [July 2009 PET AGE]

“Beverly Hills Groomer,” which debuted in May on the Animal Planet channel, follows Artist Knox, the first “Groomer Has It” winner, as he starts his own business. The series follows a fish-out-of-water theme as Knox, a dog groomer from South Central Los Angeles, tries to gain clients in posh Beverly Hills. [July 2009 PET AGE]

Since welcoming Bo the Portuguese Water Dog into the family, the Obamas have been inundated with gifts from pet industry manufacturers: a case of Urine Off by Bio-Pro Research Inc. (Sarasota, Fla.), a Neater Feeder from TowerStar Pets L.L.C., a PoochPlanet bed from Worldwise Inc. and more. [July 2009 PET AGE]

Blue Buffalo Co. (Wilton, Conn.), through its Blue Buffalo Foundation for Cancer Research, sponsored the fifth annual Pet Cancer Awareness Month in May, distributing information and “10 Early Warning Signs” brochures while raising money through the sale of “Protect Our Pets” wristbands. [July 2009 PET AGE]

CALIFORNIA—Swap Meets. Legislation introduced to ban the sale of animals at swap meets and flea markets awaited a hearing in the Assembly Appropriations Committee at press time. Assembly Bill 1122 is intended to apply only to outdoor events, according to its sponsors. However, the term “swap meet” is interchangeable with “flea markets” or “open-air markets” regardless of whether the event is held inside a building or outside in the open, according to the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (Washington). Therefore, the bill as drafted could inadvertently affect industry trade shows, dogs show and other venues. [July 2009 PET AGE]

The China International Pet and Aquarium Show 2009 will be held Nov. 11-14 at Guangzhou Pazhou Poly World Trade Expo in Guangzhou. The show, by North Exhibition International Co. Ltd. (Beijing), will showcase a full range of pet supplies, including items in dog, cat, aquarium, bird, reptile and pond categories. For more information, visit www.cipas.com.cn. [July 2009 PET AGE]

D&D Commodities Ltd. (Stephen, Minn.) named PPI Pet Products Inc. (Lakeville, Mass.) its 2008 Distributor of the Year. [July 2009 PET AGE]

DAD’S Pet Care (Meadville, Pa.) named Jeffrey Watters its executive vice president. Watters, who has more than 20 years’ industry experience, was senior vice president at Del Monte Pet Foods (Pittsburgh) and vice president of marketing for The H.J. Heinz Co. (Pittsburgh). [July 2009 PET AGE]

The audience for DogTime Media (San Francisco) grew 43 percent from January to March of this year, from 9.6 million to 13.7 million, according to a comScore Media Metrix report. The online community, anchored by DogTime.com, focuses on pet owners and the $43.5 billion pet market. [July 2009 PET AGE]

Dr. Rose’s Remedies (Chadds Ford, Pa.) signed an exclusive international export management agreement with Romac Export Management Corp. (Los Angeles) to handle sales, marketing and distribution outside the United States. [July 2009 PET AGE]

The Dublin Dog Foundation, the nonprofit branch of Dublin Dog Co. Inc. (Charlotte, N.C.), is raffling a custom-crafted bike and sidecar in an effort to raise $20,000 for a service dog to be donated to a Winston-Salem, N.C., with cerebral palsy. The raffle winner will be announced at the close of the 2009 Let Freedom Bark Ride, a 400-mile charity bike ride from Charlotte, N.C., to Washington. The race starts July 4. Follow the fundraising effort and see pictures of the one-of-a-kind bike at www.dublindogfoundation.org/blog/. [July 2009 PET AGE]

FLORIDA—Pet Warranties. Legislation to amend the state’s pet warranty law died in committee as the Florida legislature adjourned for the 2009 session. Senate Bill 288 would have removed enforcement authority of the pet warranty law from the state attorney and placed it with the Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. It also would have required pet dealers to provide a general disclaimer relative to genetic disorders in dogs and cats. [July 2009 PET AGE]

For the Earth Corp. (Phoenix) is seeking companies to join its affiliate marketing program, which promotes environmentally friendly products. Participants can access free Web ads, pre-written ad copy and a high commission structure for their products. For information, visit www.fortheearthcorp.com. [July 2009 PET AGE]

The Greenies Co., a division of Nutro Products Inc. (Franklin, Tenn.), now will sell Greenies dental chews exclusively through veterinary hospitals and pet specialty retailers. “We believe that pet medical professionals at veterinary hospitals and well-trained, knowledgeable staff at pet specialty retailers are best equipped to answer pet owners’ questions about our products, and to make the right recommendation,” said Carolyn Hanigan, vice president of marketing for Nutro. [July 2009 PET AGE]

Rolf C. Hagen (USA) Corp. (Mansfield, Mass.) paired its aquatic brands Fluval and Nutrafin to sponsor BlueZooRadio.com, an interactive online radio show hosted by Frank Reece. The radio program is dedicated to educating aquarium hobbyists about fish keeping and the importance of balance in aquatic ecosystems. For information, visit www.hagen.com or www.bluezooradio.com. [July 2009 PET AGE]

Talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres returned to QVC in April to unveil her signature products from Halo Purely For Pets (Tampa, Fla.).  [July 2009 PET AGE]

Happytails Canine Spa Line Inc. (Los Angeles) signed a distribution deal with Fusion Pet Care Supplies Inc. (Calgary, Alberta) for the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. [July 2009 PET AGE]

Healthy Spot L.L.C., a pet supply store and pet services facility in Santa Monica, Calif., is the first business to be labeled “green” under the Santa Monica Green Business Certification Program. [July 2009 PET AGE]

Home Buddies by Camp Bow Wow, a pet care franchise based in Boulder, Colo., launched in March 2009. For information, visit www.campbowwow.com. [July 2009 PET AGE]

Instant Ocean, a division of United Pet Group Aquatics (Blacksburg, Va.), supplied nearly 500 tons of Instant Ocean Sea Salt to the John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago for its newly remodeled Oceanarium exhibit. [July 2009 PET AGE]

Online pet food store K9Cuisine.com (Paris, Ill.) partnered with the WellPet Foundation (Tewksbury, Mass.) to donate more than 10,000 pounds of all-natural dog food to the Pooch Pantry, organized through the B.C. Dog Training Club in Mundelein, Ill. [July 2009 PET AGE]

Barktini Blends by Glo-Marr Products Inc., a division of Kenic Pet Products (Lawrenceburg, Ky.), won the bronze award in the Pet & Vet packaging category from the National Association of Container Distributors in April. Northpak Container (Fairfield, Ohio) and Turner Labels (Lexington, Ky.) share the award for their work on the packaging. [July 2009 PET AGE]

Kennelwood Pet Resorts (St. Louis), a full-service boarding, grooming and training facility founded by Donald Danforth Jr. in 1974 as Kennelwood Village, celebrated its 35th anniversary in May. The business, now run by the founder’s son, Chris Danforth, has six locations. [July 2009 PET AGE]

King’s Cages L.P. (East Brunswick, N.J.) hired Michelle Shrewsbury as art director to take the lead on graphic design and the company’s new Internet division. [July 2009 PET AGE]

LittleGifts Inc. (Secaucus, N.J.) hired Lisa Yen as a product development specialist and graphic designer.  [July 2009 PET AGE]

Mars Petcare U.S. (Franklin, Tenn.) is planning a $4.3 million expansion in Columbus, Ohio, a project that includes the relocation of a research and development plant and additional production capacity. [July 2009 PET AGE]

MASSACHUSETTS—Pet Care Sheets. Legislation to require pet shops to provide basic care information to purchasers of all birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish remained in the Joint Committee on Community Development & Small Business at press time. House Bill 192 calls for the content of the care sheets to be developed and approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Veterinary Medicine. [July 2009 PET AGE]

Matrix Partners (Chicago) hired Carol Boker as public relations director for the business-to-business segment. Boker previously was editor in chief of Pet Product News International and Pet Style News, published by Fancy Publications Inc. (Los Angeles). [July 2009 PET AGE]

Miss Autumn’s Barkery (Jackson, Mo.) is planning a $100 million expansion in the Southeast Missouri State University Technology Park. The company plans to build an automated, energy-efficient facility that will include a glass viewing area for behind-the-scenes tours. The expansion will create 100 to 200 jobs, according to the company. [July 2009 PET AGE]

Miss Autumn’s Barkery (Jackson, Mo.) named Stacy L. Busch of Busch Pet Products its director of sales. [July 2009 PET AGE]

A free 19-page disaster-preparedness guide for pet owners is available from the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (Mount Laurel, N.J.). Download it at www.petsitters.org. A smaller reference guide and emergency ID cards also are available. [July 2009 PET AGE]

The National Dog Groomers Association of America (Clark, Pa.) launched a searchable online groomer locator to help potential clients find NDGAA registered and/or certified members. Members can create their own listings at www.nationaldoggroomers.com using the access code on the mailing label of their Groomers Voice newsletter. [July 2009 PET AGE]

Natural Balance Pet Foods (Pacoima, Calif.) and PetCo Inc. (San Diego) teamed up with American Idol judge Paula Abdul to celebrate National Guide Dog Month in May, raising money and awareness for guide dog organizations across the country. [July 2009 PET AGE]

Nature’s Variety (St. Louis) signed Jeff Dezen Public Relations (Greenville, S.C.) as its agency of record, to provide strategic planning and media relation. [July 2009 PET AGE]

PurinaCare Insurance Services Inc., the first pet health insurance from Nestle Purina PetCare Co. (St. Louis), is now available to pet owners in California. For information, visit www.purinacare.com. [July 2009 PET AGE]

North Carolina—Breeding Regulations. Legislation to regulate commercial breeders passed the Senate Commerce Committee and awaited a hearing in the Senate Finance Committee at press time. Senate Bill 460 defines “commercial breeder” as anyone who owns or maintains at least 15 intact females of any age for the primary purpose of the sale of the offspring.       [July 2009 PET AGE]

Nutro Products Inc. (Franklin, Tenn.) on May 21 announced a voluntary recall of some of its dry cat food products, due to incorrect levels of zinc and potassium, which the company blamed on a production error by a U.S.-based premix supplier. For details, visit www.nutroproducts.com. [July 2009 PET AGE]

OurPet’s Co. (Fairport Harbor, Ohio) reported net revenues of $3.39 million for the 2009 first quarter, up 16.7 percent from $2.9 million for the year-earlier period. According to president and chief executive officer Dr. Steven Tsengas, the company’s highest-ever quarterly sales was the result of higher sales across all product lines. [July 2009 PET AGE]

OurPet’s Co. (Fairport Harbor, Ohio) said it will appeal the U.S. International Trade Commission’s decision to uphold one of nine patent infringement claims filed by Salton Inc., a subsidiary of Applica Consumer Products Inc. (Miramar, Fla.). [July 2009 PET AGE]

Patio Pacific (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) donated 18 large pet doors to the Second Chance at Love Humane Society, a no-kill rescue organization in California. [July 2009 PET AGE]

Pet Association With Service Inc. (Harrison Township, Mich.) celebrates its 15th anniversary this year. P.A.W.S. of America is a collective of 100 independent pet retailers in the Michigan area who work together to strengthen their buying power. [July 2009 PET AGE]

Penny Buchman was named interim chief executive officer of the Pet Care Services Association (Colorado Springs, Colo.). Formerly the association’s administrative manager, Buchman replaces Joseph Lyman, who resigned as chief executive officer. [July 2009 PET AGE]

Registration is now open for the fourth annual fall Pet Fashion Week NY, set for Aug. 22-23 at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York. The event is produced by MD Productions (Providence, R.I.). For information, visit www.petfashionweek.com. [July 2009 PET AGE]

Pet Tech (Carlsbad, Calif.), an international training center focusing on pet CPR and pet first aid and care, certified its first three master pet tech instructors: Mary Oquendo, Beth Cristiano and Jerry England. They are now qualified to train others to become pet tech instructors. [July 2009 PET AGE]

Petcetera (Richmond, B.C.) reopened its East Vancouver store after the Supreme Court of British Columbia ruled in the retailer’s favor in a rent dispute with its landlord. The store, at Rupert Street and Grandview Highway, closed in April because of the dispute. [July 2009 PET AGE]

PETCO Inc. (San Diego) partnered with FETCH! Pet Care (Walnut Creek, Calif.) to offer pet sitting, dog walking and pet taxi services to customers in California and Seattle. Additional markets are planned. [July 2009 PET AGE]

Petland Inc. (Chillicothe, Ohio) and The Hunte Corp. (Goodman, Mo.) on May 12 filed separate motions with the U.S. District Court in Arizona to dismiss a proposed class action lawsuit that challenges the companies under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (the RICO statute), part of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970. [July 2009 PET AGE]

PetRelocation.com (Austin, Texas) was named “Relocation Service Provider of the Year, Specialist Supplier” by Re:Locate Magazine (Kent, England), a magazine for relocation specialists and human resources professionals. PetRelocation.com also launched MyPetMove.com, a social network site for people who have moved or are moving with their pets. [July 2009 PET AGE]

Pets on Canvas USA (San Diego) is donating 25 percent of the purchase price of any pet image to the nonprofit pet rescue organization of the buyer’s choice. The company turns digital photos into canvas-based artwork. [July 2009 PET AGE]

PetSmart Charities (Phoenix) in May celebrated the fifth anniversary of its Rescue Waggin’ program, which transfers dogs from overcrowded shelters to those with more room. [July 2009 PET AGE]

PetCo Inc. (San Diego) signed with Fluid Music Canada’s Trusonic Inc. (La Jolla, Calif.) to provide Internet delivered music and messaging services for its more than 950 U.S. stores. [July 2009 PET AGE]

Planet Dog (Portland, Maine) partnered with two new distributors: Natural Pet Distributors in Ontario and The Ianick Trading Co. Ltd. in Bristol, England. [July 2009 PET AGE]

The Proctor & Gamble Co. (Cincinnati) reported net sales of $18.4 billion for the 2009 first quarter, down 8 percent from the year-earlier period. [July 2009 PET AGE]

The new Web address for Puppy Pinata (Naples, Fla.) is www.puppypinata.com. [July 2009 PET AGE]

Sergeant’s Pet Care Products Inc. (Omaha, Neb.) launched its new consumer Web site, www.sergeants.com. [July 2009 PET AGE]

Snaggle Foot Dog Walks & Pet Care (League City, Texas) changed its name from Waggin’ Tailz as part of its franchise expansion. For information, visit www.snagglefoot.com. [July 2009 PET AGE]

Stella & Chewy’s L.L.C. (Muskego, Wis.) donated 5,000 Carnivore Kisses dog treats to Baltimore’s Animal Rescue Inc. during the H.H. Backer’s Pet Industry Spring Trade Show and Educational Conference, held in April in Baltimore. [July 2009 PET AGE]

24 Carrot Lane (Walnut Creek, Calif.) will host the third annual Worldwide Rabbit Love + Appreciation Day on Aug. 24 to promote responsible rabbit guardianship and help reduce the number of rabbits surrendered to shelters. The event includes a “What I Love About My Bunny” contest. For information, visit www.24carrotlane.com/rabbit_love.shtml. [July 2009 PET AGE]

Tyson Foods Inc. (Springdale, Ark.) and Kemin Industries Inc. (Des Moines, Iowa) opened a manufacturing operation to produce pet food flavor enhancers, called palatants, under the Palasurance brand. Production at the 24-hour operation, housed at Tyson’s flagship animal protein facility in Scranton, Ark., began in March. [July 2009 PET AGE]

VetRxDirect Inc. Online (Coralville, Iowa) received the first Veterinary-Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites accreditation from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (Mount Prospect, Ill.). [July 2009 PET AGE]

Weis Markets Inc. (Sunbury, Pa.), which operates 154 stores in five states, is celebrating 97 years of continuous operation. The company held Weis Paws for Pets in May, a chainwide program offering customers the opportunity to donate pet food and supplies to local animal shelters. For information, visit www.weismarkets.com. [July 2009 PET AGE]