The Pet Care Trust is pleased to announce that Brent Weinmann, President and CEO of Vitakraft Sunseed, Inc., has been appointed as President of the Pet Care Trust, a non-profit organization that promotes public understanding regarding the value of and right to enjoy companion animals, enhances knowledge about companion animals through research and education, and promotes professionalism among members of the companion animal community.

Weinmann’ expertise in the pet industry and philanthropic work will be an asset to his leadership role. In addition to being President and CEO of Vitakraft Sunseed, Inc., a manufacturer of pet food and treats, Weinmann is on the board of American Pet Products Association, and has held seats on the boards of Wood Lane industries and Wood County Workforce Policy Board.  He has been on the board of the Pet Care Trust since 2002.

“Brent Weinmann has a long track record of service to the Pet Care Trust as a member of the Board of Trustees,” said Steven King, Executive Director of the Pet Care Trust. “His leadership skills, creativity and devotion to the Trust’s mission will be in evidence even more during his term as president.”

Weinmann will be taking the place of Lew Sutton who has served as the President of the Pet Care Trust for the past 9 years.   “Lew Sutton has helped transform the Pet Care Trust into a vital contributor to a better understanding of the importance of pets in our daily lives,” said Steven King. “Under his leadership, the Trust first created the Fish in the Classroom program, then Pets in the Classroom, which is having a profound impact on school age children throughout the country.”

Sutton’s leadership has left a lasting impact at the Pet Care Trust, an impact that Brent Weinmann plans to expand on in his own presidency.

“I am looking forward to continuing in the strong direction that Lew Sutton provided for 9 years as the President of the Pet Care Trust,” said Weinmann. “I plan to focus on our signature program, Pets in the Classroom. Working with teachers to help give them an opportunity to make pets part of the learning process is exciting.  The Trust has received hundreds of thank you letters, pictures and stories of how student engagement and stimulation increases when animals are part of the curriculum.  Since the beginning of the program the PCT has authorized over  6000 grants to teachers across the country.  This has the potential of enriching the education and lives of nearly 180,000 students.”

For more information on the Pet Care Trust, visit www.PetsintheClassroom.org/about.

For Immediate Release:

Pets in the Classroom Program Sets Goal of Reaching 1 Million Children

Bel Air, Maryland – April 20, 2011

The Pet Care Trust announced that they have targeted reaching 1 million children in 30,000 classrooms across North America through their popular Pets in the Classroom grants program.  The program, established by the Pet Care Trust in 2009, provides grants of $100-$150 to purchase or adopt a new pet and required equipment or $50 to support existing classroom pets.

Steve King, Executive Director of the Pet Care Trust, says the program has had a powerful impact in elementary school classrooms throughout North America. In just one year the program has awarded grants to nearly 3,000 classrooms, giving up to 90,000 kids the opportunity to interact with a pet every day.  “The feedback we are receiving from teachers is overwhelmingly positive,” King says.  “At a time when school budgets are being slashed nationwide, Pets in the Classroom allows teachers to provide valuable enrichment activities through a classroom pet of their choosing.”

Sixth grade teacher Susan Dougherty-Fitzpatrick expressed her appreciation for the program, explaining, “This year, our entire fifth grade of over 150 students was allowed to learn about tree frogs and hermit crabs in our unit, ‘Systems and Survival’. Without your help and support, we would not have been able to undertake such a project and cannot thank you enough.”

The Pets in the Classroom program benefits students by teaching them responsible, long-term pet care at an early age and providing the psychological and developmental benefits associated with the human-animal bond.  Studies have shown that caring for pets has a positive effect on children, improving school attendance and teaching children responsibility, as well as encouraging nurturing and building self esteem.  Pets in the Classroom grant recipients confirm that having a classroom pet has a big impact on their students. “My students are learning how to be responsible care takers and the best of all, my very shy student and English language learners are talking now!” says Mrs. Johnson, a first grade teacher from Kentucky.

In the first year, approximately one-third of the funding has gone to freshwater aquariums. Another one-third has funded small animals, such as guinea pigs, rabbits and hamsters. Reptiles, amphibians and birds comprise the final one-third, with snakes, lizards, turtles and frogs most popular.

For more information, please visit www.petsintheclassroom.org and view a video documenting the impact of the Pets in the Classroom program at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGtQdRUyWrI.

In the February 17, 2011 edition of  The Yorktown Press, Kris Berry, a fourth grade teacher at the local elementary school, was mention in the article “Yorktown Stars” as a recipient of the Pets in the Classroom Grant.  Congratulations Kris!  We hope your students enjoy their new classroom pet!

The excerpt from ”Yorktown Stars”:

YES (Yorktown Elementary School) fourth-grade teacher Kris Berry is a recipient of the Pets in the Classroom grant sponsored by The Pet Care Trust.The $100 grant will be used to purchase a small animal for her classroom as well as all the needed food and supplies for the animal’s care. The Pet Care Trust offers this grant to teachers so that they can use small animals in their classrooms to help enhance the curriculum and provide an enriching classroom experience for their students. Students will learn not only how to properly take care of the animal, but they will also learn about responsibility and how important it is to be responsible when you are a pet owner.

Click Here to view the article online!

MONROVIA, Calif. (Sept. 28, 2010) – SuperZoo, the national show for pet retailers, experienced a substantial increase in the number of exhibitors and attendees at the 2010 show hosted recently at The Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.  Currently in its sixth year in Las Vegas, the three-day industry trade show noted an almost 14 percent increase in the number of exhibitors over the previous year and hosted more than 10,000 attendees, establishing a record-breaking event for the show’s producer, the World Pet Association (WPA).

“WPA is thrilled to report the success of SuperZoo 2010,” said Doug Poindexter, president of the World Pet Association. “We remain dedicated to providing the most valuable experience possible for our exhibitors and attendees and look forward to another great show in 2011,” Poindexter said.

Managed by the WPA, formerly the World Wide Pet Industry Association, SuperZoo attracts exhibitors and attendees from around the world with unique trade show features such as SuperZoo University, a pet industry education program which offers seminars covering important topics within the industry to help educate exhibitors on ways to improve their businesses. Other unique features include The Club at SuperZoo and the Groomer’s SuperShow, which awards more than $45,000 in prizing through the Groomer Super Jackpot contest and Creative Styling competitions.

In addition to hosting thousands of pet industry professionals, SuperZoo also supports the local community by hosting Rescue Rodeo, which challenges groomers to makeover rescue dogs from Las Vegas-area shelters. In addition to the prize money awarded to the winning groomers, shelters that provided the winning dogs received a cash donation.  This year’s competition attracted the largest turnout yet, with more than 44 local dogs participating in Rescue Rodeo.

World Pet Association also backed a charity fundraiser at SuperZoo for the nonprofit groups, Pets in the Classroom and Canine Cancer Foundation. Pets in the Classroom is a program geared towards educating youth on the joys and responsibilities surrounding pet ownership through providing classrooms with pets. The Canine Cancer Foundation is dedicated to eliminating cancer in dogs by funding research. Sponsored by ET Horn, this first year event raised more than $13,000 to be split between the two organizations.

SuperZoo also awarded annual “New Product” awards at the show in eight categories. The award process allows buyers the opportunity to vote on their favorite items from the New Product Showcase during the first day of the show. The following winners were announced at SuperZoo:

“New Product” Awards Winners

• Overall Best in Show
  1. United Pet Group – Tetra Fauna Viquarium
  2. United Pet Group – Waterfall Globe Aquarium
  3. Arms Reach Concepts – Co-Sleeper Brand Pet Bunk Bed

• Aquatic
  1. United Pet Group – Waterfall Globe Aquarium
  2. Timberline Live Pet Foods – Betta Bugs
  3. Rolf C. Hagen (USA) Corp. – Fluval Chi Glass Aquarium Kit

• Bird Products
  1. Kaytee/Super Pet –  Kaytee Nature’s Benefits
  2. A&E Cage Co. – Java Wood Table Top Stand

• Cat Products
  1. Lucky Litter LLC Dba Brilliant Pet – FroliCat™ SWAY™
  2. The OurPet’s Company – PlayNSqueak AT NIGHT Cat Toys
  3. The Green Pet Shop – Kat Pak

• Dog Products
  1. TechNiche International – Cooling Dog Coat
  2. All Four Paws – The Chill Collar
  3. Arms Reach Concepts – Co-Sleeper Brand Pet  Bunk Bed

• Miscellaneous Products
  1. Lixit Corporation – Poultry Food + Water Dish
  2. Jarden Animal Solutions – Outlaw Clipper

• Reptile Products
  1. United Pet Group – TetraFauna Viquarium
  2. Rolf C. Hagen (USA) Corp. – Exo-Terra Nano Glass Terrarium
  3. Zoo Med Labs, Inc. – ReptiBator

• Small-Animal Products
  1. JW Pet Company Inc. – PetVille Roll-A-Coaster
  2. Kaytee / Super Pet – Super Pet Critter Trail Habitat
  3. Kaytee / Super Pet – Super Pet Treat-Pet-Play

SuperZoo generated considerable media buzz in Las Vegas, attracting reporters from Las Vegas Review-Journal and all local broadcast affiliates, including ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC. The show was also covered by national media outlets BBC America and TLC as well as key trade media within the pet industry.

For more information about SuperZoo, visit www.SuperZoo.org or call (800) 999-7295.

ABOUT THE WORLD PET ASSOCIATION

The World Pet Association (WPA), formerly the World Wide Pet Industry Association, is the oldest industry organization promoting responsible growth and development of the companion pet and related products and services.  As society’s “humanization” of pets grows stronger, WPA knows it is important to inform and educate the general public to ensure safe and healthy lifestyles for our animal friends. WPA plays host to America’s Family Pet Expo, the world’s largest pet and pet products expo, hosted annually in Costa Mesa, Calif., and beginning in July 2011 in Puyallup, Washington The organization also holds SuperZoo (www.superzoo.org), an annual pet industry trade show that showcases a comprehensive collection of exhibits and offers a variety of informative educational seminars known as SuperZoo University.  WPA also offers Pet Industry Briefs, a free weekly e-newsletter providing vital industry information at your fingertips. For more information on WPA or to sign up for Pet Industry Briefs, please visit www.worldpetassociation.org.