Mark Labelle Entertainer for Summit Gala

Mark Labelle aka Mr. Music, the comic entertainer with the keyboard, is back for the National Summit Awards Gala in Lake Louise on Thursday, 15 October 2009.

We first saw Mark at Agribition as he entertained the crowd at one of Canada's largest agriculture shows in Regina. When the opportunity came to use Labelle for the 2007 Summit Awards Gala there was absolutely no hesitation. We weren't disappointed. Labelle received rave reviews from his performance and a few new bookings from delegates in the audience. Mark's ability to engage the audience and to integrate music with comedy ended the 2007 celebration event on a high note.

Those attending the 2009 Summits Gala will have an opportunity to enjoy a high energy show to which Fairmont has now added a room and continental breakfast option. Those travelling up just for the Gala who are not delegates can bring a companion to the Thursday evening Gala and spend a relaxing Friday morning at one of the nicest resorts in the Rockies.

'I know of no other entertainer who has made me laugh, touched my heart and lifted my soul in the same performance', said Larry Evans, Chair, Organizing Committee for SUAS, 'We are so pleased to have Mark back in 2009. With his background in entertainment, film and now broadcast, Mark Labelle is worth spending time with.'

In addition to celebrating the achievement of your peers from the industry, we promise a really enjoyable evening full of fun, laughter and good fellowship. Register for the Summit Gala here

Campaign to End 'Cattiness'

National Survey Reveals 'Catty' Stereotypes Amongst Non-Cat Owners

Thought leaders attending the October 2009 National Summit on Urban Animal Strategies are not the only pet industry professionals who have recognized the need to address the status of cats in our society. It seems we need to examine the status of cat owners, too!

A recent study in the USA shed some light on what non-cat owners think about those of us who share our homes and hearts with more than one cat. The survey revealed that much work still needs to be done to change public perceptions of multi-cat owners from 'crazy cat ladies' to simply people who love cats!

ST. LOUIS, July 27 /PRNewswire/ Owning multiple cats is a way of life for millions of Americans. In fact, 71 percent of all domestic cats living in the U.S. reside in multiple cat households. However, while owning more than one cat is the status quo in America today, a new national survey reveals a surprising number of stereotypes still exist about people who own multiple cats.

According to the survey, the majority of non-cat owners have negative perceptions about multiple cat owners and their homes, saying that they would describe people with more than one cat as....

* A homebody (75%),
* Lonely (69%) and
* A "crazy cat lady" (58%).

And, multiple cat owners' homes as....

* Smelly (75%)
* Having furniture and bedding covered in cat hair (85%) and
* Being cluttered (66%).

To help debunk these perceptions and celebrate the millions of multiple cat owners, Tidy Cats brand cat litter launched the "Tidy Cats Campaign to End Cattiness." The campaign includes a national contest in which multiple cat owners can share their stories about their fulfilled lives with their cats to help redefine what it means to be a "cat lady."

2009 North American Urban Animal Survey Prospectus

Background
In October 2009, PetLynx will be hosting the fourth annual National Summit on Urban Animal Strategies. As in previous years, the Summit will incorporate the findings from survey research focused on cat and dog owning households. This research will seek to illuminate the relationships people have with their pets and will educate the industry on what pet owners are really like in terms of their attitudes and behaviors towards their pets.

As we learned in the 2008 survey, the companion animal market in Canada is vast, with more than 4.8 million households owning a cat and 4.4 million households owning a dog. Consequently, pet owners tend to be quite diverse, which makes understanding this marketplace a real challenge.

For this reason, the 2009 survey will include a segmentation of cat and dog owners, which will reduce this population down to 4 or 5 basic typologies or segments based on their attitudes and behaviors. This analysis will help industry stakeholders better understand pet owners and allow for more informed decisions regarding how to best position their services or products and communicate with this market.

Study Objectives
The main objective of this study is to provide the industry with information about pet owners. The study will be insightful for manufacturers of pet food and animal health products, veterinary associations, shelters, animal control agencies and the retailers of pet care products. This research will:

· Measure pet owners’ attitudes towards relationships with cats and dogs;
· Determine the levels of care given to cats and dogs, based on owners’ behavior;
· Profile the cat and dog ownership market, including demographics and owner lifestyle;
· Identify key market segments based on different pet care attitudes and behaviors;
· Determine the most influential sources of information for cat and dog care; and
· Determine the differences in all of the above between cat owners and dog owners

Methodology
This study will be based on questionnaires completed by a representative sample of 1500 cat or dog owners in Canada and a similar number in the US. Maximum statistical margin of error is +/- 2.53% at the 95% confidence interval.

Schedule
The project timeline is: Survey Design in August; Data Collection in September; and, Report Available in late October.

The Report
The report will present the findings in detail, including comparisons between cat and dog owners, as well as across socio-economic backgrounds.

The results will be presented at the National Summit in October, 2009 and at the Regional Summits to be held in the spring of 2010.

Further Information
For more information, please contact Cindy Kreutzer or Larry Evans at 403. 219.1088 or NAUAS@petlynxmail.com