PLC Newsletter

I hope you’ve all had a chance to recover after another busy, yet productive week at Global Pet Expo. Amidst all the hustle and bustle of the Show, I’d like to thank everyone who joined us for the PLC meeting, where we reported on our current initiatives, Pet-Friendly and Be Dog Smart, and gave a preview of what’s to come.

Speaking of what’s to come, I’m proud to share that the Pet-Friendly and Be Dog Smart websites are well underway. We’re currently working with designers to solidify the overall look of the websites, and once this is complete, we’ll start working with our web development team to build the framework for the guided user experience. These websites will play an integral role in both initiatives, as they’ll house helpful resources and information designed to give pets and people a better life together.

Building off the great meetings we had in Columbus, Ohio last month, we’ll host a stakeholder meeting in Austin, Texas, April 22-25 for Austin Pet-Friendly. During this time, we’ll meet with representatives from the Austin community to see what the PLC can do to help the city improve access to pet-friendly housing and expand pet-friendly workplaces. We’ll also tour some of the city’s most pet-friendly hangouts, an activity I always enjoy.

Until then, have a great week and enjoy the following industry articles.

Andrew Darmohraj, executive vice president and COO of the American Pet Products Association (APPA) is proud to announce Global Pet Expo successfully wrapped its 15th Show with record-setting numbers during the three-day Premier Industry Event.

In advance of the American Veterinary Medical Association’s National Dog Bite Prevention Week, April 7-13, National Dog Bite Prevention Coalition partners State Farm Insurance, Insurance Information Institute, American Humane and celebrity dog trainer Victoria Stilwell announced the 2018 numbers for dog bite injury claims and provided “dogs-on” demonstrations on how to make those numbers decline even further.

Mars Petcare has launched of Kinship, a division of the company that aims to bring pet-startups, veterinarians, investors, entrepreneurs and partners from all aspects of the pet care industry together.

The American Kennel Club (AKC®), the world’s largest dog registry, leading industry authority and advocate for dogs, is pleased to announce the launch of the AKC B.A.R.K Program.

WellHaven Pet Health says it is partnering with Fear Free to provide training to its medical staff on emotional well-being, enrichment, and reducing fear, anxiety, and stress in pets.

As legislators in three states ponder awarding non-economic damages to pet owners, the veterinary profession needs to get to the bottom of what is troubling nurses.

Today, Animal Supply Company (ASC) announced that it’s launching Animal Supply Connect, a digital eFulfillment and delivery solution to connect independent pet retailers with their shoppers.

America’s Family Pet Expo returns to the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa (88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa 92626) Friday, April 26 – Sunday, April 28, 2019. The annual family-friendly event features all creatures cute and cuddly, furry, feathered and scaled of all sizes, shapes and colors.

A pilot study exploring the benefits of animal-assisted activities (AAA) for psychiatrically hospitalized youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), was recently published, reported the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), the Children’s Hospital Colorado and the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

The 10th annual Feed and Pet Food Joint Conference, hosted by the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) and Pet Food Institute, will be held Sept. 30 through Oct. 2 in Kansas City, Missouri. The three-day conference will take place at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center.

Zoetis, Inc. (NYSE: ZTS) today announced that it has been named one of the 2019 Top Companies for Executive Women by the National Association for Female Executives. This honor recognizes U.S. corporations where there is a strong focus on best practices that demonstrate effectiveness in moving women to senior ranks.