According to the National Retail Federation's 2007 Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, conducted by BIGresearch, an estimated one in ten celebrants (11.0%), or 7.4 million households, plan on donning their beloved pet in some sort of costume this year.

Devils (12.0%) and pumpkins (9.2%) top the list of pet costumes, with witches (4.5%), princesses (3.8%) and angels (3.3%) rounding out the top five.

"Many consumers who own pets think of them as family members," said NRF President and CEO Tracy Mullin. "Pet owners will go all out to include dogs, cats and other critters in Halloween festivities, including trick-or-treating, handing out candy or even celebrating at a friend or family members' house."

For information regarding the voluntary withdrawal of Hills Pet Nutrition Prescription Diet^� m/d^� Feline Dry Food, please go to www.hillspet.com/menu_foods/Menu_Foods_03302007_en_US.htm.

For information regarding the voluntary withdrawal of Del Monte Pet Products pet treats and wet dog food products, please go to http://www.delmonte.com/petfoodrecall.html

To facilitate viewing by our users who may be unable to access the Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. site directly at this time, we have reproduced the press release announcement from the Hill's site here.

Q:  Why have so many different brands been recalled?
A:  Menu Foods contracts with a wide variety of pet food companies to produce their specialized products. Although these foods are produced in the same facility, they are made using ingredients specified by the individual pet food companies. The foods themselves are not identical despite being produced by one manufacturer.

The contaminated lot of wheat gluten was supplied to Menu Foods, one supplier of dry food (see above), and a separate manufacturer of certain dog treats and wet dog foods. Therefore, only foods and treats that were manufactured with the affected wheat gluten source have been recalled

Q:  The initial recall list was only for canned or pouched foods. What about the dry food and treats I feed my pet(s)?
A:  Menu foods processes the "cuts and gravy" type pet foods at the processing plants in Kansas and New Jersey. Dry foods are manufactured using different processes and at different facilities.

To date, only one brand of dry food has been recalled (see above). This product was voluntarily recalled by the manufacturer after it was determined that a portion of the contaminated lot of wheat gluten was used to manufacture this type of food.

On Monday (April 2, 2007), a manufacturer of certain wet dog foods and dog treats issued a recall of products (see above). These products were voluntarily recalled as a result of the ongoing investigation and tracing of the distribution of the contaminated wheat gluten.

Q:  What should I do if I have the recalled pet food in my house?
A:  Do not feed the food or treats to your pet. If the product is unopened, you may return it to the store from which you purchased the food or treats.

If the product is opened, dispose of the remaining food or treats so that your pet cannot get to it. If your animal appears normal, consult with your veterinarian and/or monitor your animal closely for signs of illness.

If your animal shows any signs of illness and has been fed one or more of the recalled foods or treats, have your animal evaluated by a veterinarian. Store any opened food or treats away from the reach of animals, and contact your state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Consumer Complaint Coordinator. For a state-by-state list of Coordinators, go to http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html. Please include as much information as possible, including the specific product name, lot numbers, veterinarian's report and diagnosis, etc.

Q:  Does the problem affect dogs and cats equally?
A:  To date, it appears that cats are more commonly affected than dogs, and small dogs may be more affected than larger dogs. This may be because cats and smaller dogs are more sensitive to the causative substance, or it because they are more likely to be fed the types of food involved in the recall.

Q:  My pet has eaten the food that has been recalled. How do I know my pet is sick?
A:  Signs of illness include loss of appetite, lethargy, depression, vomiting, diarrhea, sudden changes in water consumption, or changes in the frequency or amount of urination.

These signs may also occur with other illnesses. Any animal showing these signs should be examined by a veterinarian, even if the animal has not eaten any of the recalled pet food.

Q:  My pet is showing signs of illness. What do I do?
A:  Have your pet examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Q:  What will my veterinarian do?
A:  Your veterinarian will examine your pet, and will most likely take blood samples and collect a urine sample to test for kidney disease or other problems. Other diagnostic procedures, such as radiographs (x-rays) or ultrasound examinations, may be recommended to eliminate other causes of kidney disease and vomiting.

If the tests determine that your pet has kidney disease, your veterinarian may recommend treatment including intravenous fluid therapy and medications.

Q:  What is in the food that is making animals sick?
A:  The cause of the illnesses has not yet been confirmed, and the FDA and laboratories are continuing to evaluate samples and reports of illness or death. Because the cause is not confirmed, the treatment can not be specifically directed to one cause. Generalized treatment for kidney disease and vomiting is recommended until a more specific treatment can be determined.

Q:  How long will it be before you know what is causing the problem?
A:  The answer to this question is unknown. Food, blood, urine, and tissue samples are being thoroughly tested for many possible causes. Many of these tests are not rapid tests, and may require additional time to complete. There is always the possibility, however, that the cause of the problem will not be found.

Q:  How do I report my pet's illness from the pet food?
A:  You should contact your state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Consumer Complaint Coordinator. For a state-by-state list of Coordinators, go to http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html. Please include as much information as possible, including the specific product name, lot numbers, veterinarian's report and diagnosis, etc.

Q:  What if I want to have the pet food from my house tested independently?
A:  We do not provide referrals for private laboratories to perform tests. If you choose to have the pet food tested by an independent laboratory, it is your responsibility to locate and contact the laboratory, and the costs associated with the testing will be your responsibility.

Q:  Where can I go for up-to-date information?
A:  The American Veterinary Medical Association's home page (www.avma.org) includes links to more information, and is updated as soon as new information becomes available.

Wheat gluten is sold in both "food grade" and "feed grade" varieties. Either may be used in pet food, but only "food grade" gluten may be used in the manufacture of products meant for human consumption. Published reports have thus far focused on tainted pet food, but if the gluten in question entered the human food supply through a major food products supplier and processor, it could potentially contaminate thousands of products and hundreds of millions of units nationwide.

Stephen F. Sundlof, director of the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Veterinary Medicine said the FDA is not aware of any contaminated gluten that went into human food but said he could not confirm this "with 100 percent certainty." Wheat gluten is a common food additive used as a thickener, dough conditioner, and meat substitute. It is widely used as an additive in commercial bakery items and special purpose flours.

The FDA announced today that it has traced the contaminated wheat gluten to a single processor, Xuzhou Anying Biological Technology of Peixian, China, but has not released the name of the U.S. distributor who supplied the product to Del Monte, Menu Foods, Nestle Purina, and Hills Nutritional. In all, more than 70 brands and over 60 million cans and pouches of dog and cat food are now part of this massive recall, as well as at least one brand of dry cat food.

Menu Foods Ltd., which recalled 60 million cans of wet pet food in the U.S. last week, asked for all brands involved to be removed, regardless of the date of manufacture, amid concern tainted products are still being sold.

Menu Foods, based in the Toronto suburb of Streetsville, withdrew all varieties of the affected brands even though there isn't a known risk for those foods, the company said in a statement. The original recall, announced March 16, applied to wet food made at its Emporia, Kansas, and Pennsauken, New Jersey, plants between Dec. 3 and March 6.

The recall doesn't include any dry pet food or pet food sold in Canada.

Rat poison was found in pet food blamed for the deaths of at least 16 cats and dogs, but scientists said Friday they still don't know how it got there and predicted more animal deaths would be linked to it.

After the announcement, the company that produced the food expanded its recall to include all 95 brands of the "cuts and gravy" style food, regardless of when they were produced. The company also said it would take responsibility for pet medical expenses incurred as a result of the food.

The substance in the food was identified as aminopterin, a cancer drug that once was used to induce abortions in the United States and is still used to kill rats in some other countries, state Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker said. The federal government prohibits using aminopterin for killing rodents in the U.S. State officials would not speculate on how the poison got into the pet food, but said no criminal investigations had been launched.

The pet deaths led to a recall of 60 million cans and pouches of dog and cat food produced by Menu Foods and sold throughout North America under 95 brand names. Some pets that ate the recalled brands suffered kidney failure, and the company has confirmed the deaths of 15 cats and one dog.

*****

The Food and Drug Administration has said the investigation into the pet deaths was focused on wheat gluten in the food. The gluten itself would not cause kidney failure, but it could have been contaminated, the FDA said. Paul Henderson, chief executive of Ontario, Canada-based Menu Foods, confirmed Friday that the wheat gluten was purchased from China.

*****

A complete list of the recalled products along with product codes, descriptions and production dates was posted online by Menu Foods and is available at http://tinyurl.com/2pn6mm. The company also designated two phone numbers that pet owners could call for information: (866) 463-6738 and (866) 895-2708.

Total reports of sick or dead pets: 1715

Deceased pets: 845

Of those:

Cats, deceased: 500

Dogs, deceased: 345

It also has put a spotlight on the world of pet food processing and is raising a range of questions about whether companies and the government do enough testing to ensure the safety of products meant for pets at a time when animals hold a special place in many Americans' households.

Whatever tainted Menu's "cuts and gravy" - style pet food "remains a puzzle," spokesman Sam Bornstein says. Federal regulators have said one possibility could be contaminated wheat gluten, but other ingredients are being checked. The food linked to pet deaths so far is believed to have been produced at Menu's plant in Kansas. The recall includes products made at Menu's New Jersey plant, too, because it received some of the same wheat gluten.

This week, pet owners have gone to veterinarians' offices, online chat rooms and blogs to express anxiety over what to feed their animals and the safety of pet food - and even to wonder whether the contamination could have implications for the human food supply system.

Karen Goodhart of Port Wentworth, Ga., says she lost one of her cats to kidney failure and is caring for another that also lost some kidney function after eating tainted food. She's now buying food from her veterinarian and may never use commercial food again. "I'm scared to death of it," she says.

Organic pet-food makers and retailers across North America may be the winners as the fallout settles from the recall of nearly 100 brands of pet food manufactured by Canada’s Menu Foods Inc.

"I just want to find something that won't kill my dog," said Adriana Pierce as she watched her 4-year-old border collie, Tango, race around a downtown Toronto dog park. "I'm so afraid of him getting sick that I've been feeding him table scraps for three days."

Natural and organic products may provide the alternative, analysts say.

"I'd say this is an in for the organic manufacturers and retailers," said Vivian Ma, a senior retail analyst at CIBC World Markets in New York. "At this point, consumers see them as an option that represents a source of comfort."

US biotech firm Allerca says it has managed to selectively breed them by reducing a certain type of protein that triggers allergic reactions. The company says the animals will not cause the red eyes, sneezing and even asthma triggered by cat allergy, except in the most acute cases. Despite costing $3,950 (£2,104), there is already a waiting list to get one. Allerca first started taking orders for hypoallergenic cats back in 2004.

It tested huge numbers of cats trying to find the tiny fraction that do not carry the glycoprotein Fel d1 - contained in an animal's saliva, fur and skin - which often prompts an allergic reaction in humans. Those cats were then selectively bred to produce the hypoallergenic kittens now on sale, the company says. The company's Steve May told the BBC that it was a natural, if time consuming, method. "This is a natural gene divergence within the cat DNA - one out of 50,000 cats will have this natural divergence," he said.

"So candidates - natural divergent cats - were found and then bred so there is really no modification of the gene." The BBC's Pascale Harter says there could soon be a global market for the kittens - in the US alone 38 million households own a cat, and around the world an estimated 35% of humans suffer from allergies.

The first patented GPS location device for pets 35lbs. or more.

Lets you set fences of any sizes and continuously transmits readable updates on the wearer's exact location to your cell phone, PDA, or computer.

Snaps easily and securely onto collar or harness and weighs less then 5 ounces.

Dial F-O-U-N-D from your cell phone for your pet's location on demand.

Also produces environmental temperature and battery status monitoring.

Includes three AAA batteries, 3-cell charger, and snap guard.

4.5"L x 2.25"W x 1.25"D.

T-Rex Crab Island Hermit Homes are intended for two purposes. First, as hermit crabs grow, they need the opportunity to change their shell to a larger more comfortable home. Hermit Crabs should always have access to these shells in their environment. Second, the hermit crab owner may want to give the crab an opportunity to change into a different shell to enhance or change its looks. This is completely appropriate. Just remember, the crab will change shells when it wants to, not necessarily when the caregiver wants to. The changes will normally take place at night when no one is watching.

Carmel is a pet friendly town where dogs can run free on Carmel Beach. Several Carmel restaurants welcome your pet for lunch and dinner and some provide your pet with a water bowl and biscuits. Some restaurants even feature a special menu for your dog!

From a New Jersey businessman building a 20-ton coral reef in his cigar room to the rock singer who bought Shaquille O'Neal's home for its predator tanks, some fish-loving consumers are starting to create at-home versions of Atlantis. One couple on Long Island, N.Y., is spending $400,000 for an 8,500-gallon saltwater aquarium.

Inspired by resort aquariums and spurred by technological advances in the $3 billion aquarium industry, homeowners are building the huge tanks in unconventional shapes like arches and racetracks.

While most of the growth is in expensive tanks, some of this is trickling down to regular homeowners. PetsMart’s biggest aquarium, which costs $475, is now 150 gallons, up from 75 gallons a few years ago. Later this year, some of the retailer's stores will begin stocking a 110-gallon model with upscale cabinetry for $1,000.

Petco recently expanded its line of fancy cabinet finishes for bigger tanks. Even custom builders are reaching out to a slightly broader audience: Living Color Enterprises, an aquarium company in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., just introduced its first line of $13,000 ready-made tanks about the size of a big-screen television.

Clad in water-resistant fabric and open-air netting, this classic-looking pet stroller will turn heads as you enjoy an outing with your cat, older dog, or smaller dog who has to work hard to keep up with you! Removable, 26"x14"x17"-tall carrier folds for travel and storage. Stroller includes rear safety brake; independently turning, 4-1⁄2" plastic front wheels; washable 1⁄2"-thick padding; 13"x14" privacy "parlor"; rear pockets. For pets up to 25 lbs. Measures 37-1⁄2" tall from ground to handle.

Upgrade to the 30% larger SUV for larger pets! Similar to above, but considering this one is for pets up to 50 lbs., it’s bigger, (removable folding carrier is 31"x16"x20" tall), has bigger 8" hard-rubber wheels, and measures 40" tall from ground to handle. Also includes a thicker 1" washable padding, privacy "parlor," two rear pockets. All-Weather Gear Kit for your Pet Stroller. Tour the town in any weather! Kit includes waterproof rain cover, canvas sunshade awning, faux-sheepskin cozy cover and pad, plus two flashing red safety strobe/reflectors.