The American Pet Products Association (APPA) just released the 2009-2010 National Pet Owners Survey, the most comprehensive consumer research providing insight on demographics, buying habits, and other traits of U.S. owners of dogs, cats, fish, birds, equine, reptiles, and small animals. Here are some of the results:

Amount Spent on Pets in the Past 12 Months

Dog and cat owners spend more money for food, kennels/boarding, routine veterinary visits, surgical veterinary visits, and travel expenses than other species owners. Fish owners reported their highest expenses associated with aquariums and ponds. Bird owners also noted higher costs for cages/crates and routine veterinary visits.

The latest from Nicole Sica at the examiner.com on the BARC debacle, Stephen Williams (head of Houston’s Health and Human Services Department) and basically government nitwits in general (Ok..I added that part)!

 
Read It Here

Wow! Our readers submitted beautiful photos…thank you all who participated.

The most famous animal communicator in the world actually resides in Houston and will be making a special appearance this weekend at Project Derek Dog,, Houston PetTalk, along with other sponsors such as Baccarat, Rover Oaks Pet Resort, The Chocolate Bar and others are poised to host a fun competition to select the Derek Dog. For a little fun, Sonya will make an appearance and “read” a few dogs from the audience and visit with the VIP guests.
Quite the busy celeb, Sonya will also be on HGTV’s “Leader of the Pack” this …

Think your pooch has what it takes to be best in show? No need to wait for the Westminster Dog Show. Hotel Derek will host its second annual Project Derek Dog on May 2, 2009 to benefit Citizens for Animal Protection. Last year more than 200 four-legged canines cruised the catwalk, but only one pooch walked away with the title of official Derek Dog, representing the hotel throughout the year in pet-friendly events.

“Hotel Derek caters to a canine-friendly crowd, so we love partnering with CAP, which does such an amazing job rescuing Houston ’s …

Adopt-A-Cat Month Is Just Around The Corner (June). Here Are The Top 10 Reasons to Adopt a Cat:

Cats will keep you entertained with their playful antics.
Cats are very affectionate and love to cuddle with you.
Having a cat can reduce your blood pressure and prevent heart disease.
Cats are very clean — they bathe themselves!
Cats are independent and can be left alone while you are at work.
Cats do not need to be housebroken – using the litter box comes naturally to them.
Cats do not need a lot of space. They are perfect …

We have had amazing feedback on our April cover featuring Grover and Shawn Welling of Planet Funk Academy. The photo shoot was awesome and Grover was definitely ”on” for the camera. Not that we don’t love dogs and cats, but it’s a nice change to pay homeage to Avian’s too! A special thank you to Shawn for sharing his amazing bird that he purchased from Adventures In Birds, a Houston PetTalk sponsor. We wanted to thank you with additional photography that we know you’ll love from our photo session with the …

The Houston SPCA Annual Mutt Strut was a huge success! This fun event that raises significant dollars for Houston’s largest shelter brought out many pet enthusiasts and their four legged (and several 3-legged) friends.

Come watch the “stars” walk the pink carpet this Thursday, Feb 12th, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM at Sasha’s Suds n Duds at 802 W. Gray. The dogs will be decked out for their runway “trot” so stop by and cast your vote for one of the five Pooches workin’ the carpet:

1.  Effie Kewalramani in – “Not a Slum Dog Millionaire”
2.  Kinsey Adams in – “Doubt”
3.  Sophie Bell in – “Milk”
4.  Bebe Kim in “Rachel Getting Married”
5.  “The Evil Stuart” in “Dark Knight”

It’s Yappy Hour at Sasha’s Suds n’ Duds, …

ANIMAL TALK WITH JEFF CORWIN by Michelle Mantor, June, 2007

“Rewind With Houston PetTalk” is a look back in time at some memorable articles we have published in our print magazine. Perhaps you missed the article and we would like to share it with you; or, you may have read it but would welcome a fresh look at the subject. Either way, enjoy!