The President and CEO of the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) recently called the Trump administration’s recent tariff actions “not pet-friendly.”
The statement came during Bober’s testimony on June 17 at a United States Trade Representativehearing on the Trump administration’s proposed 25% tariff increase on products imported from China. According to Bober, the proposed tariff actions would result in higher costs for most textile and plastic-based pet supplies, such as toys and bowls.
“Many of the toys and products included in the newest list of proposed tariffs are very important to the health and well-being of pets. They provide enrichment and activity, training and comfort.”
— Mike Bober, President & CEO, PIJAC
For more information about the hearing and about the potential effects of tariff increases on the pet industry, check out the full article.
While it’s great to know the best places for you and your pet to live, it’s also worth knowing which states most need to step their pet-friendly games up.
Bottom Ten
41. North Dakota
42. New Mexico
43. Kentucky
44. Hawaii
45. Utah
46. Mississippi
47. New York
48. Wyoming
49. Missouri
50. Iowa
To see the details of the top pet-friendliest states — including how they earned their rankings — hit the full article.
“Sometimes well-intentioned pet owners who can no longer care for their companions think the best thing to do is to release them ‘back to nature.’ With the renewed focus of Habitattitude, PIJAC, USFWS and NOAA are targeting and educating animal lovers earlier in their search for their perfect pets so they make wise choices before they bring them home, increasing the likelihood of a life-long relationship.”
— Mike Bober, President & CEO, PIJAC
The campaign’s centerpiece is the Habitattitude website, which has been renewed with an emphasis on current environmental concerns and modern audiences from its original focus primarily on aquatic invasive species. Sponsors PIJAC, USFWS, and NOAA updated the site to appeal to younger generations with their appetite for visually engaging media platforms, and also to address the growing popularity of reptiles including Burmese pythons, iguanas and Argentine tegus as pets.
Habitattitude’s website provides guidance for proper pet selection and care, along with sections on aquarium fish and water gardening. The new section on reptiles and amphibians addresses the variety of species and basic considerations and requirements for habitat, diet and health concerns. Another new component focuses on animals and plants in classroom education, and caring for them outside the home environment, in response to concerns about the potential for classroom pets to be released at the end of a school year.
Organizations and individuals including government agencies, academic institutions and classroom teachers who are involved in pet care, invasive species or environmental preservation concerns are invited to sign up on Habitattitude’s website to become partners and download graphics, posters and other artwork to demonstrate their commitment to promoting responsible pet care and a healthy environment. Contact Josh Jones at josh@pijac.org with any questions about becoming a Habitattitude partner.
A new podcast is giving celebs a chance to sound off about their furry friends.
Mars Petcare, via its Pedigree brand, has launched The Dog That Changed Me, a podcast focused on all things pet. Hosted by Katherine Schwarzenegger, The Dog That Changed Me features interviews with celebrities such as Bryce Dallas Howard, LeeAnn Rimes, Julianne Hough, Mandy Moore, and Haylie Duff about the impact their pets have had on their lives.
The podcast has been slated for a limited, nine episode run. All episodes are currently available directly from Pedigree as well as all major podcast services.
According to a new study, escaped exotic pet birds have become naturalized in 23 U.S. states
The study, published in the Journal of Ornithology, compared data from two different bird sighting databases, eBird and the National Audubon Society‘s Christmas Bird Count to track naturalized parrot species. In total, 56 different parrot species were found across 43 states. Of those, 25 species were found to be breeding in 23 different states.
The most common species observed in the wild were monk parakeets, red-crowned Amazons, and Nanday parakeets. Many of the birds were concentrated in areas with warmer climates, such as California, Florida, and Texas, as well as major urban centers like Chicago and New York.
Unlike other types of pet that have been released into non-natural habitats, most of the birds observed in the study have been found to not be invasive or otherwise harmful to the habitats in which they have been introduced. Combined with the fact that, in many cases, there are now more introduced birds living in the United States than in their original habitats, there has been a growth of support regarding efforts to preserve and protect these naturalized birds.
“The entire conservation focus for this species is now on a non-native, introduced, naturalized population. The survival of the species is most likely going to come from efforts to save it someplace where it never existed before.”
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) recently brought together several thought leaders from a wide range of veterinary practices to identify ways to help veterinary practices thrive.
Two roundtable discussions were held at the AVMA’s headquarters in Schaumburg, Illinois, to explore ways to help veterinarians thrive in clinical practice as well as how veterinarians can make the most out of telemedicine and virtual care technologies.
The first session focused on strategies and techniques for helping veterinarians create more financially successful practices while also maintaining a healthy work-life balance and achieving personal and professional growth. The AVMA is currently in the process of using the feedback received during this session to develop new tools geared toward helping clinical practitioners and their teams implement many of the approaches discussed.
The second session focused on establishing guidelines regarding the use of telemedicine to improve client satisfaction, retention, compliance, and outcomes as well as techniques for the collection and sharing of data to assess those metrics. The results of this session are being used by the AVMA to further develop its Telehealth Resource Center and its telemedicine policy.
For more information about other ways the AVMA is working to drive innovation for veterinarians, check out the full post over at the AVMA@Work blog.
The benefits of dog ownership are well known — from lowering stress and feelings of loneliness to decreasing our blood pressure, cholesterol, and our overall risk of heart disease, owning a dog definitely has its upsides. This is particularly true among older adults. However, despite these overwhelming perks, a recent study suggests that dog ownership among older adults may be linked to a higher risk of injuries related to dog walking.
The study examined the medical records of patients 65 and older who visited emergency rooms in the United States between 2004 and 2017. Within that 14 year span, researchers found over 32,000 cases of fall-related injuries associated with walking dogs. Some of these injuries were minor, but a few, such as hip fractures, were more serious.
Nearly all of the injuries identified in the study could have been avoided had the walkers taken a few basic precautions.
Mother Nature Network’s Mary Jo Dilonardo has compiled a list of basic exercises and other measures older adults can adopt to help take advantage of the benefits of pet ownership while minimizing the risk of walking-related injuries.
Balance Exercises
Dilonardo suggests light strength training of the core and other exercises to improve balance. By strengthening the muscle groups associated with balancing, older adults can reduce their likelihood of falling should their pets suddenly move in an unexpected direction during a walk.
Improve Your Dog’s Training & Obedience
Dogs who are well-trained — specifically in stationary commands like “stay” or ” heel” — are more easily controllable in unexpected situations. Dogs who obey commands consistently are less likely to move unexpectedly, resulting in an overall reduction in movements that may cause a fall.
Working with a dog trainer or behaviorist may be helpful for larger and stronger-willed dogs. While training is important for smaller dogs too, the risk of a dog causing a fall increases with the size of the dog.
For a complete list of things you can do to help reduce the risk of injury while walking your dog, check out the full article on MNN.
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has withdrawn several compliance policy guides pertaining to pet food manufacturing practices. According to the FDA, the guides, CPG Sec. 675.400 (Rendered Animal Feed Ingredients) and CPG Sec. 690.300 (Canned Pet Food), had been rendered obsolete by provisions contained in the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
In a continued commitment to the agency’s modernized risk-based approach to the regulation of animal food under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration today withdrew three outdated Compliance Policy Guides (CPGs) pertaining to the use of certain animal-derived materials in animal food.
These CPGs originally were issued in 1979-80 to explain the FDA’s enforcement priorities regarding use of certain materials in animal food. Today’s action is intended to clarify FDA regulatory policy for manufacturers of animal food (including ingredients) and to remind industry about the agency’s expectations of manufacturers who use materials from “diseased animals and animals that died otherwise than by slaughter” under the the Federal Food, Drug & Cosmetic (FD&C) Act and the FSMA preventive controls for animal food (PCAF) regulations.
The FDA has decided to withdraw CPG Sec. 675.400 – Rendered Animal Feed Ingredients and CPG Sec. 690.300 – Canned Pet Food because of the additional regulatory tools gained through FSMA. Under FSMA and the PCAF regulation, many animal food facilities are now required to establish a food safety plan, including identifying and evaluating known or reasonably foreseeable hazards. Preventive control measures must then be put into place to significantly minimize or prevent hazards requiring preventive controls.
— The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
The FSMA, enacted in 2011, has granted the FDA new approaches to ensure food producers, manufacturers, and processors comply with best practices. These approaches include requiring food makers to develop risk-based controls and safety plans to mitigate risks and hazards.
For more information about the FDA’s recent withdrawal of their compliance policy guides, read their full statement.
New research suggests dogs are able to selectively lock onto the sound of a human voice, even in acoustically crowded environments.
The study, conducted by a team at the University of Maryland and published in a recent issue of Animal Cognition, examined the responses of dogs when their names were spoken in increasingly noisy environments.
The dogs in the study were able to recognize when their names were spoken, even when other background vocalizations were present. Only when the background noise eclipsed the sound of the dog’s name being spoken did dogs lose the ability to pick their names out of the din.
The ability of the dogs studied surpassed that of year-old human infants (who were only able to recognize their name when no background noise as present) but fell short of adult humans (who could recognize their name in even the noisiest conditions).
“Dogs are social creatures who pay attention to the adults around them and have evolved to do so. In some sense, they are a really good comparison to infants.”
Steve King, CEO of the American Pet Products Association (APPA), is pleased to announce that Allice Tillett has been elected to serve as chair of the APPA Board of Directors. Tillett succeeds Kevin Fick, CEO of Worldwise, Inc. Additionally, Jeremy Baker has been elected to serve on the board as a director.
Tillett is the CEO of Doskocil Manufacturing, doing business as Petmate, where she has been since 2014. As chair, Tillett oversees all meetings of the Board of Directors, the governing body of APPA. She also serves in a leadership advisory role, guiding industry-wide activities and initiatives. Prior to her role at Petmate, Tillett was the president of Pacific Cycle, a division of Dorel Industries, for more than 12 years. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Wittenberg University and a master’s degree from Miami University.
Jeremy Baker is Vice President of Strategic Business Development at Oxbow Animal Health, and brings nearly 12 years of pet industry experience to the APPA board. Baker earned bachelor’s degrees in marketing and management from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
“On behalf of the American Pet Products Association, I am pleased to congratulate Alice on her new leadership role and welcome Jeremy to the board. Based on their years of industry experience and passion for supporting responsible pet ownership, I am confident both Alice and Jeremy will serve their newly-elected positions well.”
PIJAC: Recent and Proposed Trade Tariffs not Pet-Friendly
The President and CEO of the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) recently called the Trump administration’s recent tariff actions “not pet-friendly.”
The statement came during Bober’s testimony on June 17 at a United States Trade Representative hearing on the Trump administration’s proposed 25% tariff increase on products imported from China. According to Bober, the proposed tariff actions would result in higher costs for most textile and plastic-based pet supplies, such as toys and bowls.
For more information about the hearing and about the potential effects of tariff increases on the pet industry, check out the full article.
Source: US administration’s tariff actions not “pet-friendly”: industry association
Oregon Claims Top Spot in Ranking of Pet-Friendliest States
A new ranking of the pet-friendliest states in the United States sees Oregon claim the top position.
The ranking, prepared by independent security review site SafeWise using data from BringFido, Animal Legal Defense Fund, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and nOkill Network, assessed states by their pet-friendly legislation, shelters, veterinary services and the number of pet-friendly businesses and activities.
Top Ten
10. New Hampshire
9. Texas
8. Rhode Island
7. Virginia
6. Louisiana
5. Washington
4. California
3. Maine
2. Colorado
1. Oregon
While it’s great to know the best places for you and your pet to live, it’s also worth knowing which states most need to step their pet-friendly games up.
Bottom Ten
41. North Dakota
42. New Mexico
43. Kentucky
44. Hawaii
45. Utah
46. Mississippi
47. New York
48. Wyoming
49. Missouri
50. Iowa
To see the details of the top pet-friendliest states — including how they earned their rankings — hit the full article.
story body ends
Source: The Most (and Least) Pet-Friendly States in America
Habitattitude Relaunched, Aims to Curb Wild Release of Pets
The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) along with co-sponsors the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), today announced the re-launch of the Habitattitude educational campaign during the Reduce Risks from Invasive Species Coalition’s (RRISC) agency fair on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Habitattitude is a non-regulatory collaboration between industry groups and government agencies that is designed to increase awareness of the risks posed by non-native species in the environment and to positively impact consumer attitudes and practices.
The campaign’s centerpiece is the Habitattitude website, which has been renewed with an emphasis on current environmental concerns and modern audiences from its original focus primarily on aquatic invasive species. Sponsors PIJAC, USFWS, and NOAA updated the site to appeal to younger generations with their appetite for visually engaging media platforms, and also to address the growing popularity of reptiles including Burmese pythons, iguanas and Argentine tegus as pets.
Habitattitude’s website provides guidance for proper pet selection and care, along with sections on aquarium fish and water gardening. The new section on reptiles and amphibians addresses the variety of species and basic considerations and requirements for habitat, diet and health concerns. Another new component focuses on animals and plants in classroom education, and caring for them outside the home environment, in response to concerns about the potential for classroom pets to be released at the end of a school year.
Organizations and individuals including government agencies, academic institutions and classroom teachers who are involved in pet care, invasive species or environmental preservation concerns are invited to sign up on Habitattitude’s website to become partners and download graphics, posters and other artwork to demonstrate their commitment to promoting responsible pet care and a healthy environment. Contact Josh Jones at josh@pijac.org with any questions about becoming a Habitattitude partner.
Source: Habitattitude Aims to Prevent Release of Pets into Wild
New Podcast Focuses on Human-Animal Bond
A new podcast is giving celebs a chance to sound off about their furry friends.
Mars Petcare, via its Pedigree brand, has launched The Dog That Changed Me, a podcast focused on all things pet. Hosted by Katherine Schwarzenegger, The Dog That Changed Me features interviews with celebrities such as Bryce Dallas Howard, LeeAnn Rimes, Julianne Hough, Mandy Moore, and Haylie Duff about the impact their pets have had on their lives.
The podcast has been slated for a limited, nine episode run. All episodes are currently available directly from Pedigree as well as all major podcast services.
Source: Mars Petcare podcast focuses on dog-human bond
Former Pet Parrots Naturalized in 23 States
According to a new study, escaped exotic pet birds have become naturalized in 23 U.S. states
The study, published in the Journal of Ornithology, compared data from two different bird sighting databases, eBird and the National Audubon Society‘s Christmas Bird Count to track naturalized parrot species. In total, 56 different parrot species were found across 43 states. Of those, 25 species were found to be breeding in 23 different states.
The most common species observed in the wild were monk parakeets, red-crowned Amazons, and Nanday parakeets. Many of the birds were concentrated in areas with warmer climates, such as California, Florida, and Texas, as well as major urban centers like Chicago and New York.
Unlike other types of pet that have been released into non-natural habitats, most of the birds observed in the study have been found to not be invasive or otherwise harmful to the habitats in which they have been introduced. Combined with the fact that, in many cases, there are now more introduced birds living in the United States than in their original habitats, there has been a growth of support regarding efforts to preserve and protect these naturalized birds.
Source: Escaped pet parrots are now naturalized in 23 US states, study finds
AVMA Holds Events to Drive Innovation for Veterinarians
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) recently brought together several thought leaders from a wide range of veterinary practices to identify ways to help veterinary practices thrive.
Two roundtable discussions were held at the AVMA’s headquarters in Schaumburg, Illinois, to explore ways to help veterinarians thrive in clinical practice as well as how veterinarians can make the most out of telemedicine and virtual care technologies.
The first session focused on strategies and techniques for helping veterinarians create more financially successful practices while also maintaining a healthy work-life balance and achieving personal and professional growth. The AVMA is currently in the process of using the feedback received during this session to develop new tools geared toward helping clinical practitioners and their teams implement many of the approaches discussed.
The second session focused on establishing guidelines regarding the use of telemedicine to improve client satisfaction, retention, compliance, and outcomes as well as techniques for the collection and sharing of data to assess those metrics. The results of this session are being used by the AVMA to further develop its Telehealth Resource Center and its telemedicine policy.
For more information about other ways the AVMA is working to drive innovation for veterinarians, check out the full post over at the AVMA@Work blog.
Source: AVMA-led conversations drive innovation for veterinarians
Safe Walking Tips for Older Adults to Get the Most From Your Dog Walks
The benefits of dog ownership are well known — from lowering stress and feelings of loneliness to decreasing our blood pressure, cholesterol, and our overall risk of heart disease, owning a dog definitely has its upsides. This is particularly true among older adults. However, despite these overwhelming perks, a recent study suggests that dog ownership among older adults may be linked to a higher risk of injuries related to dog walking.
The study examined the medical records of patients 65 and older who visited emergency rooms in the United States between 2004 and 2017. Within that 14 year span, researchers found over 32,000 cases of fall-related injuries associated with walking dogs. Some of these injuries were minor, but a few, such as hip fractures, were more serious.
Nearly all of the injuries identified in the study could have been avoided had the walkers taken a few basic precautions.
Mother Nature Network’s Mary Jo Dilonardo has compiled a list of basic exercises and other measures older adults can adopt to help take advantage of the benefits of pet ownership while minimizing the risk of walking-related injuries.
Balance Exercises
Dilonardo suggests light strength training of the core and other exercises to improve balance. By strengthening the muscle groups associated with balancing, older adults can reduce their likelihood of falling should their pets suddenly move in an unexpected direction during a walk.
Improve Your Dog’s Training & Obedience
Dogs who are well-trained — specifically in stationary commands like “stay” or ” heel” — are more easily controllable in unexpected situations. Dogs who obey commands consistently are less likely to move unexpectedly, resulting in an overall reduction in movements that may cause a fall.
Working with a dog trainer or behaviorist may be helpful for larger and stronger-willed dogs. While training is important for smaller dogs too, the risk of a dog causing a fall increases with the size of the dog.
For a complete list of things you can do to help reduce the risk of injury while walking your dog, check out the full article on MNN.
Source: How senior dog owners can avoid injury
FDA Withdraws Pet Food Compliance Guide
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has withdrawn several compliance policy guides pertaining to pet food manufacturing practices. According to the FDA, the guides, CPG Sec. 675.400 (Rendered Animal Feed Ingredients) and CPG Sec. 690.300 (Canned Pet Food), had been rendered obsolete by provisions contained in the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
The FSMA, enacted in 2011, has granted the FDA new approaches to ensure food producers, manufacturers, and processors comply with best practices. These approaches include requiring food makers to develop risk-based controls and safety plans to mitigate risks and hazards.
For more information about the FDA’s recent withdrawal of their compliance policy guides, read their full statement.
Source: FDA drops pet food ingredient compliance policy guide
Dogs Able to Recognize Their Names, Even in Noisy Environments
New research suggests dogs are able to selectively lock onto the sound of a human voice, even in acoustically crowded environments.
The study, conducted by a team at the University of Maryland and published in a recent issue of Animal Cognition, examined the responses of dogs when their names were spoken in increasingly noisy environments.
The dogs in the study were able to recognize when their names were spoken, even when other background vocalizations were present. Only when the background noise eclipsed the sound of the dog’s name being spoken did dogs lose the ability to pick their names out of the din.
The ability of the dogs studied surpassed that of year-old human infants (who were only able to recognize their name when no background noise as present) but fell short of adult humans (who could recognize their name in even the noisiest conditions).
For more information about the study, read the full version in Animal Cognition.
Source: Your dog can hear you, even when it’s noisy
American Pet Products Association Announces Board Changes
Steve King, CEO of the American Pet Products Association (APPA), is pleased to announce that Allice Tillett has been elected to serve as chair of the APPA Board of Directors. Tillett succeeds Kevin Fick, CEO of Worldwise, Inc. Additionally, Jeremy Baker has been elected to serve on the board as a director.
Tillett is the CEO of Doskocil Manufacturing, doing business as Petmate, where she has been since 2014. As chair, Tillett oversees all meetings of the Board of Directors, the governing body of APPA. She also serves in a leadership advisory role, guiding industry-wide activities and initiatives. Prior to her role at Petmate, Tillett was the president of Pacific Cycle, a division of Dorel Industries, for more than 12 years. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Wittenberg University and a master’s degree from Miami University.
Jeremy Baker is Vice President of Strategic Business Development at Oxbow Animal Health, and brings nearly 12 years of pet industry experience to the APPA board. Baker earned bachelor’s degrees in marketing and management from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Source: American Pet Products Association Announces Board Changes