Petsmart ranked No. 72 in US top retailer list

Petsmart has been ranked 72^nd largest U.S. retailer, down from No.71 last year, despite 2007 revenue growth of over 10 per cent.

The slight drop on the National Retail Federation’s annual Top 100 Retailers list was mostly due to the trade association expanding its definition of retailers to include technology and entertainment companies such as Apple Stores/iTunes (No. 52), Dell Retail (No. 56) and Verizon Wireless (No. 61).

Remaining in the No. 1 spot for another year was Wal-mart, which saw revenues increase 11.7 per cent to US$348.6 billion and its store count rise 10.6 per cent to 6,779. In spite of this, their earnings were up only 0.5 per cent to US$11.3 billion.

Petsmart’s revenues increased by 10.4 per cent to US$4.7 billion. Earnings were up 39.8 per cent to US$258.9 million and store count by 11 per cent to 1,008.

Among the major retailers included in the Top 100 list with significant pet sections were Kroger (No. 4), Target (No. 6), Sears/Kmart (No. 8), Supervalu (No. 10), Safeway (No. 11), Publix (No. 15) and Ahold USA (No. 17).

Source: Pet Product News Int. September 2008

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British Airways accepts unaccompanied pets in Gatwick Airport

British Airway World Cargo recently announced that it will be making it possible for customers to send their dogs, cats and ferrets unaccompanied into London’s Gatwick Airport from approved non-European origins.

The airline said it had been working with the animal health division of the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in order to obtain approval for these animals to be carried as part of the Pets Travel Scheme and cleared at the Gatwick animal reception centre (ARC) without their owners travelling with them.

Unaccompanied cats, dogs and ferrets will now be accepted at the ARC between 7.30am and 5pm on weekdays for veterinary inspection, and will be kept at the reception centre until collected by their owners.

Source: Airline Industry Information, September 2008

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Guide dog puppies need homes

Guide Dog schools around Australia urgently need new Puppy Raisers to begin caring for a Guide Dog puppy.

The role of Puppy Raisers is to ensure that the pups are toilet trained, able to walk on a lead and are introduced to the sights, sounds and smells they are likely to encounter as a working Guide Dog. 

Depending on the State in which you will Puppy Raise, the pups are either returned to their respective Guide Dog school at approx. 12 months of age when their potential as future Guide Dogs is assessed (those that make the grade go on to a further six months intensive training), or they will remain with the Puppy Raising family until they graduate from training and are successfully matched with their blind or vision impaired handler.

The pups’ food is provided free, along with all veterinary care, and Puppy Raisers are fully supported by supervisors.

To take on the fulfilling role of Puppy Raiser, you need to:

·         Live in a metropolitan location and have your own      transport.

·         Not leave the pup for more than 3 hours.

·         Have a securely fenced yard.

·         Not have children under school age.

·         Allow pups to sleep inside the home overnight.

As the nation's leading providers of Orientation and Mobility services, including Guide Dogs, each Guide Dog school around Australia assists people who are blind or have a vision impairment gain the freedom and independence to move safely and confidently around the community and to fulfil their potential.

To register to become a Puppy Raiser, call 1800 804 805 

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What’s in a name? The APPMA ditches an ‘M’ to reflect their current state

Now known as the APPA, the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association decided to drop “manufacturers” from its name because, as APPA president Bob Vetere points out, the new name better reflects the current status of the organisation.

“Fifty years ago the 17 manufacturers got together in a hut somewhere … and pulled together the APPMA and it did what it had to do then for mostly manufacturers in the Northeast,” Vetere told Pet Products News. “We really have become something a lot more and a lot different than it was 50 years ago. We’re more than just a manufacturers’ trade association … We’re reaching out a lot further than we ever did before, and much of what we are trying to do is on behalf of the industry. Our new name is going to reflect that.”

The APPA has pulled together with retailers, groomers, breeders and other trade associations in the country to discuss and address issues in the industry, Vetere said, including raising the profile of the industry as a whole. One issue being tackled by the American pet industry in particular is the increased scrutiny of the safety of pet products since the pet food recalls.

“What I’ve found since the day I got here, and it always amazes me, is the passion that is contained within this industry, whether it’s a manufacturer, retailer, distributor or whoever. People really care. Most are pet owners. Most really care about pets.

“I know that and the people in the industry know that, but the public doesn’t know that. As far as the public is concerned, we’re a $43 billion dollar industry that’s just in it to make money, and we couldn’t care if we killed pets or kept pets alive. That’s our fault. That’s one of the things we’re focusing on, trying to lead that effort to get that message out there and let people know that we really do care about your pets because it’s important to us.

“This change in name is going to allow a lot more credibility to that effort that we’re trying to spearhead.”

The name and a sleek new logo was launched formally on September 1 at SuperZoo, but Vetere reiterates that aside from the name there wont be any huge changes to the oganisation.

“The letter ‘m’ now is going to get a lot less use on all our keyboards, but there are no [other] changes. It’s more a reflection of what we’ve become as opposed to what we’re going to become.”

Source: Pet Product News Intl. September 2008

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Something fishy about Swiss animal rights

Gone are the days when Swiss owners could flush their live goldfish down the toilet. They must now find other methods of ‘putting down’ their fish under new animal protection laws which came into action yesterday.

The legislation stipulates that a fish must be first knocked out and then killed before its body can be disposed of. It also instructs how all domestic or wild animals are to be handled, whether they are kept in the home, farm, zoo, circus or laboratory.

Swiss anglers are not allowed to practise catch-and-release fishing or to use live fish as bait. Common household pets such as hamsters or budgies, as well as exotic breeds such as lamas, alpacas and yaks, must have a companion. Even sheep and goats must have “a visual contact with their fellows”, the new law states.  

What would the Swiss think of this?

From now on all dog owners will have to take special classes on how to raise their pooch properly so it is less likely to bite, and those wishing to ‘customise’ their pet by clipping their tails or ears will not be allowed to.

Source: AFP, September 2008

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FOR SALE:

Used shop fittings for sale. Available soon. Kellyville Pets is making room for renovations and a huge range of shop fittings will be for sale. Click here for further info.

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Pet Trade Shows coming up