How to Say Yes to Your Employees in Tough Times
from Forbes
The Kaplan Thaler Group rented an ice cream truck and parked it behind its offices for a day. Employees got any treat they wanted that day. "Nothing brings a company together like free food," says Linda Kaplan Thaler, the company's chief executive officer. She's one of many CEOs who have been finding creative ways to reward staffs that have been working harder in more trying times than ever before. More

Despite 2.1 Percent Decline, Hope for Retail Sales
from Globe Street
Sometimes numbers can be deceiving - though March 2009 comparable-store store sales declined by 2.1 percent from the same month of 2008, retailers’ moods seem to have lightened, and some shoppers may be emerging from hibernation as the weather turns warmer. More

Product Showcase: Kaytee Fiesta Max CritterTrail® habitats are designed for the health, security and comfort needs of your hamster or gerbil. Innovative features encourage interaction between owners and their pets. CritterTrail® is the only brand with Super Protect™ antimicrobial technology built-in to ensure a cleaner environment. Expandable Fun-nels™ and connectable accessories encourage activity and exercise. More info

In This Economy, Everything is (Re)Negotiable
from Entrepreneur
Although there are no hard numbers, Alisa Harrison, a spokesperson for the International Franchise Association, says renegotiating leases is a top strategy for many members looking to cut costs and preserve cash flow. "At our convention, making it through the recession was topic No. 1," she says, "and renegotiating leases is a big part of that." More

Pet Industry Still Seems Recession Proof
from Pet Age
Conventional wisdom says the U.S. pet market is either recession-proof or recession-resistant. That wisdom is being put to an unprecedented test right now - but it’s still holding true, according to Packaged Facts, a division of MarketResearch.com. Total U.S. retail sales rose just 1.4 percent overall in 2008, according to the National Retail Federation, but several leading pet stores, veterinary hospitals chains and pet food marketers reported gains of 6 percent or more at the end of 2008. More

Public Radio: A Good Bet?
from Pet Business
Radio advertising can be full of challenges, such as a declining audience in the face of satellite radio, the Internet, ipods podcasts, etc. But there is one type of radio station that has seen its listener base double over the past decade–public radio. Though these stations were once considered sleepy outposts where senior citizens could hear classical music, nowadays they’re at the forefront of news and talk radio. More

Maine Bill Aimed at Breeding Kennels
from PIJAC
Maine House Bill 666 targets breeding kennels by amending the definition of "breeding kennel" and establishes different categories of kennel licenses. The bill also provides additional requirements for "sellers." More

And for additional information and updates on the Non-Native Species Act, visit the HR 669 Forum.

One Obama Search Ends With a Puppy Named Bo
from The New York Times
For the first time since settling into the White House, the Obama family attended church services in Washington on Sunday, but their closely watched search for a spiritual home was overshadowed by news that a longer quest - for a dog - had ended. In a long-anticipated decision, the Obamas have chosen a 6-month-old Portuguese water dog, a gift from Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts and his wife, Victoria, to Malia and Sasha Obama. More

Symbol	Name	Last	Change
ALO	ALPHARMA, Inc.	36.94	0.00%
CENT	Central Garden and Pet Co	8.83	0.06%
CHD	Church & Dwight Co., Inc.	52.67	0.86%
CLX	Clorox Company	53.14	0.94%
CL	Colgate-Palmolive Company	58.55	1.25%
DLM	Del Monte Foods Company	7.57	0.07%
IAX	International Absorbents, Inc.	2.42	0.10%
JAKK	Jakks Pacific, Inc.	13.90	0.24%
KFT	Kraft Foods, Inc.	22.52	0.17%
ODC	Oil-Dri Corporation of America	15.88	0.12%
OPCO	OurPet's Company	0.00	0.0%
PECD	Pet Ecology Brands, Inc.	0.00	0.0%
PETS	PetMed Express, Inc.	15.50	0.49%
PETM	Petsmart, Inc.	23.00	0.12%
PFE	Pfizer, Inc.	13.49	0.06%
PG	Proctor & Gamble Company	48.14	1.05%
SGP	Schering-Plough Corporation	23.38	0.06%
SPC	Spectrum Brands, Inc.	0.00	0.00%
WOOF	VCA Antech, Inc.	24.17	0.46%

For up to the minute stock quotes, click here.