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Pet360.com Shares the Top 12 Pet Trends of 2012

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Plymouth Meeting, PA – December 20, 2012 – 2012 was a big year for pets. From the Chinese jerky scare to new fads in pet fashion, pet parent ears have been perked listening to the latest pet trends develop. With less than a month left in the year, Pet360.com has compiled the 12 most wag-worthy trends of 2012.  

  1. Small Breeds Dominate Dog Shows – A Pekingese, Ch. Palacegarden Malachy, was crowned Best in Show at the 2012 Westminster Dog Show in February. The win was the first for the breed since 1990 and the fourth for a Pekingese in the show’s 115 year history. Animal lovers then watched Sky, a Wire Fox Terrier, take the Best in Show title in November’s National Dog Show.
  2. That Doggy in the Window is Now Illegal – In an effort to reduce the number of animals bred through puppy and kitten mills, Los Angeles became the largest city yet to enact a ban on cats and dogs sold in pet stores. Los Angeles followed in the paw prints of several smaller communities that have already banned the sale of puppies and kittens in pet stores.
  3. Tattoos of Pets and 'Tattoos' on Pets – Tattoos of beloved pets have become increasingly popular for humans, and now they’re becoming a trend for dogs, too! Dog tattoos, which are truly washable stencils, are applied by a professional groomer for an average price of $10.
  4. Pit Bulls in Books – Pit Bull advocates are overjoyed that the world of publishing is printing positive representations of their beloved dogs. Jim Gorant, editor at Sports Illustrated and bestselling author of The Lost Dogs, a story about the dogs tortured in Michael Vick’s dog fighting ring, penned his second book, Wallace: The Underdog that Conquered a Sport, Saved a Marriage, and Championed Pit Bulls – One Flying Disc at a Time. Ken Foster quickly followed suit with I’m a Good Dog: Pit Bulls, America’s Most Beautiful (and Misunderstood Pet).
  5. Lennox was Put to Death, Even as Bans Against BSL Made Progress – Lennox, an innocent 7-year-old “pit bull-type” dog in Belfast, Ireland, was put to death by the Belfast Council. Pit Bulls are illegal in Ireland, and a 122K-strong Facebook page coupled with a direct appeal from celebrity dog trainer Victoria Stillwell made no difference for Lennox. However, growing public support of Pit Bulls is saving dogs like Lennox throughout the U.S. This fall, Massachusetts repealed Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) in the state. Ohio removed breed specific language from its dangerous dog law, and several cities in the state repealed its BSL laws.
  6. Rocking Clothes for Dogs – The 80’s might be a distant memory for some, but Bret Michaels of the hit band Poison still made headlines in 2012 by launching his own line of pet apparel. The line of clothes range from rock and roll inspired wear and toys to collars, leashes and bowls with pink roses inspired by the group’s hit song, “Every Rose has Its Thorn.”
  7. Chinese Treats Lead to Bad Fortune – News articles continuously warned pet parents about buying cat and dog treats manufactured in China this year. An FDA report cited 360 cases of dogs dying and one cat dying from imported pet treats. Another 2,000 illnesses were reported. A majority of the illnesses and deaths since 2007 have been caused by jerky-type treats.
  8. Dancing Horses Gain Popularity – Americans who love horses typically fall into either the rodeo camp or the high-end world of show, but thanks to Mitt Romney and his wife, many more learned about the sport of dressage during the summer Olympics. The Romney’s horse Rafalca made the U.S. Olympic team. 
  9. Pets are Proven “Good for Babies” – A study published in Pediatrics found that babies in homes with cats or dogs were about 30 percent less likely to suffer from respiratory infection symptoms such as cough, wheezing, rhinitis (stuffy or runny nose) and fever, and about half as likely to get ear infections. The study also found that babies near dogs tend to need fewer courses of antibiotics compared to those who were reared in pet-free households.
  10. Cats Love that Darn Wabbit – Cats love to dig into their natural hunting instincts and bat around mouse toys. That's likely why the number one selling toy on Pet360.com this year was Zanies’ Real Fur Mouse. The site sold forty percent more mice than the number two cat toy, SPOT’s LED Motion Activated Cat Rainbow Ball.
  11. Pick a Bone – It’s not safe to give your dog real wishbones from holiday feasts, which may be why Nylabone’s Wishbone Dog Chew was the number one dog toy sold on Pet360.com this year. The site’s second top seller was the Kong Air Squeaker Tennis Ball.
  12. Dogs on the Silver Screen – Movies starring animals and about animals were particularly big in 2012. There were a few stories about the paranormal such as “Frankenweenie” and “ParaNorman.” The movie, “Seven Psychopaths,” was about a gangster whose Shih Tzu was stolen, and the recently released “Starlet” stars a most adorable Chihuahua. On DVD, “Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups” was released as were “The Dog Who Saved the Holidays” and “Scooter the Penguin.” For a cinematic thrill, “Life of Pi” is a must-see and a possible Oscar contender.   

    Media Contact: Kelly Lange, 610-234-4114, klange@pet360.com

    About Pet360

    Pet360.com is a personalized website dedicated to simplifying pet parenting. At Pet360, each member’s experience is tailored to their individual needs based on the type, breed, gender, age and size of their pets. By offering relevant tips and expert advice, connections to others with similar pets and the convenience of home shopping all in one place, Pet360.com is the ultimate resource for pet parents – available anytime, anywhere. For more information, watch the Pet360 Video or visit www.Pet360.com.