IN A VARIETY cover story, singer Barbra Streisandrevealed that two of her dogs, Miss Violet and Miss Scarlett, were cloned from her 14-year-old Coton du Tulear Samantha, who died in 2017. CBS News reports that only two facilities around the world offer such a service, one in Texas and one in South Korea, for sums that start at $50,000. CBS News, 3/1/18 & Variety, 2/27/18
Millennials Opt for Local
Almost nine in 10 millennials prefer to shop for certain items in person at smaller, locally owned pet stores, according to a survey by online retailer Zulily. Treats top that list at 59 percent, followed by toys at 58 percent, pet food at 55 percent, accessories at 39 percent and grooming items at 34 percent. Pets+ 2/22/18
Pet Bond as Old as 14,000 Years
New analysis of the oldest grave where dogs and humans were buried together — around 14,000 years ago — provides some of the earliest evidence not only of domestication of pets but of a puppy that was cared for while suffering from and succumbing to distemper. The archaeologist studying the bones also happened to be a veterinarian and noted the signs of distemper in its teeth as well as the age of the puppy upon death, which it likely could not have reached without care. National Geographic, 2/27/18
Associations Mark Milestones
American Pet Products Association marked its 60th anniversary, and the Pet Industry Distributors Association celebrated 50 years at the 14th annual Global Pet Expo March 21-23 in Orlando, FL. Pets+, 2/12/18
What Next? Dog Sudoku?
Researchers at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna have discovered that educational touchscreen games can help older dogs keep their brains sharp. Cognitive biologists found that simple mental tasks on the computer, combined with a reward system, can replace physically demanding training and still keep the animals mentally fit. The dogs quickly became “avid gamers.” Pets+, 2/8/18
Petco Buys into Pet Insurance
Petco has acquired pet insurance marketplace PetInsuranceQuotes.com. The site provides insurance plan descriptions and comparisons for dogs and cats, as well as facts on how the pet insurance industry operates. The platform features companies such as Trupanion, Healthy Paws, Petplan, Pets Best, Embrace, Pethealth and Nationwide. Pets+, 2/2/18
Pet Food Maker Expands
Carnivore Meat Co., maker of raw pet food brands Vital Essentials and Vital Cat, is expanding its production facilities in Green Bay, WI. Carnivore has committed $6 million to capital improvements. Pets+, 2/13/18