Edible Christmas Cards Top List of Hot Pet Holiday Gifts; The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association Announces Hottest Holiday Pet Products and Holiday Pet Safety Tips

Business Wire, Sept 24, 2003

Lifestyle Editors/Feature Editors

GREENWICH, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 24, 2003

Forty million Americans will be shopping not only for the family this holiday season, but for the family pet as well. Hundreds of Santa's elves (otherwise known as pet product manufacturers) are making sure these shoppers will have a great selection from which to choose. To help shoppers create their pet gift lists, The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association has released its own list of some of the "hottest" pet gifts on the market this year.

Topping the list is the APPMA 2003 "Best New Holiday Product" winner, Crunchkins' Crunch Cards. These custom edible dog greeting cards are made of flattened rawhide and imprinted with non-toxic ink. Card fronts include colorful Christmas designs with greetings such as "Merry Christmas from Santa Paws," "For All You Do, A Chew for You," "Just Bepaws I Love You." The cards come packaged with a red envelope for mailing and an insert for a personalized message. For photos and more information log onto www.crnhckins.com.

Other items sure to top pet owners' lists this year include:

-- Talk To Me Treatball(TM) is a revolutionary pet toy that

enables pet owners to pre-record personal messages for their

pet to listen to while their owners are away. The message is

activated when the pet plays with the ball. It also dispenses

treats and comes in a special holiday pack with free treats.

The Talk To Me Treatball made by Marketing and Creative Sales

(MACS) can be used as a training toy and help with pets'

separation anxiety. www.Talktometreatball.com

-- Rodi Petfood's Christmas Countdown Calendar for Cats and Dogs.

These brand-new calendars come with 24 compartments filled

with a selection of pet snacks including tiny bone shaped

cookies and hearts with healthy fillings. One compartment can

be opened each day as we near Christmas.

-- For the Jewish holiday season, Evangers Dog and Cat Food Co.

Inc. and Kosher Pets are offering Kosher pet food and treats

for Passover that include freeze-dried kosher beef and poultry

patties, fresh whole chicken treats and canned stew.

www.kosherpets.com, www.evangersdog.com

-- To adorn your pet with jewelry, Celltei has introduced pet

charms that attach to collars or harnesses and come in gold,

silver and colored bells, hearts made of Swarovski crystal,

and sterling silver hearts with a letter inside as well as dog

and fish bones. Celltei also offers high-end silk and other

material pet carriers. www.celltei.com

-- Multipet International offers a creative line of Christmas pet

toys including Snowman and Reindeer Chenille Flying Toys that

sing Christmas carols when squeezed. Also, Dingle Dangles(TM)

are Santa- and reindeer-shaped animals that hang over

doorknobs and squeak when squeezed, and Mousle Toe(TM) is a

holiday mouse filled with catnip. www.multipet.com

-- Happy Dog Toys makes a series of holiday products including:

JingleBone, a red and green tennis ball bone with jingle bells

inside, Holiday Tennis Buddys, which are bouncing plush toys

in Santa, reindeer and snowman styles and Holiday Kitten

Mitten, which combines pompoms, catnip and jingle bells that

dangle from 12" fingers on a glove. All at

www.happydogtoys.com.

-- Panic Mouse Inc. is featuring a toy sure to keep your kitty

occupied for hours on end. Adorned in Christmas wear, the

battery-operated plastic mouse mechanically waves around a

wand with a feather attached to the end for cats to chase

after for hours. www.panicmouseinc.com

-- For a combination of safety and fashion, Polybrite

International Inc. is featuring lighted safety collars and

leashes for those festive evenings. With these products,

Christmas trees won't be the only bright spot in the home.

www.polybrite.com

-- Also for safety, Earthsbalance offers KEEP AWAY, an

all-natural, chemical-free, non-staining spray that keeps pets

away from the Christmas tree and dangerous ornaments and

furniture. www.earthsbalance.com

-- For posh pets, Baker & Co. offers 100% Woolrich wool dog coats

in green, blue or burgundy, and safari-themed collars in

animal prints including jaguar, tiger, zebra and cheetah.

www.amberhill.com

-- Several companies are offering treat packages including: the

Ciuffo Christmas Box(R) by Ciuffogatto(R) which contains a mix

of treats for pets including dogs, cats and rodents; the Buddy

Biscuits(R) Treat Canister by Cloud Star, filled with

gingerbread shaped, all natural, peanut butter madness

wholesome dog treats in a reusable container,

www.cloudstar.com; a snowman filled with Redbarn Chewy Louie

Dog Treats, www.redbarninc.com, and Doane Pet Care also offers

red, green and natural colored biscuits in a reusable

container, www.doanepetcare.com.

-- For the feathered family members, Just Selling Inc. offers

Tweeter Toys hanging bird toys in a variety of Christmas

plastic shapes such as Christmas trees, candy canes and

snowmen with bells. They also offer toys for other holidays

throughout the year.

APPMA COO Robert Vetere said, "Pets bring so much joy and relaxation to people that it's only natural we're inclined to, and feel good about, lavishing our pets and friends and family members' pets with gifts around the holidays."