Pet Trade Groups, Retailers to Provide $500,000 to PIJAC in 2010

The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council reported that several major pet industry trade associations and retailers agreed to provide more than $500,000 in financial support. The announcement comes about eight months after two of the associations decided to withhold its PIJAC funding.

The American Pet Product Association, the Pet Industry Distributors Association, World Pet Association, Petsmart and Petco will contribute more than $500,000 in funding and in-kind services for the remainder of the year, according to PIJAC.

“This is a great opportunity for everyone in the pet industry,” said Jim Heim, the newly elected chair of PIJAC’s board of directors. “It shows that the industry is strong, focused and poised to work together.”

The boards of APPA and PIDA voted late last year to withhold PIJAC’s funding beginning in 2010. APPA president Bob Vetere said the Greenwich, Conn.-based organization has been pleased with the “progress and positive new direction adopted by PIJAC” over the past several months. “Therefore, we are proud to announce that APPA will join other industry groups in funding PIJAC in the coming months contingent on them continuing to attain the milestones set forth in [PIJAC’s request for] funding including, specifically, development of a sustainable funding plan,” Vetere said. “It is our sincere hope that this renewed relationship will benefit the industry and further promote our mission of promoting the joys and benefits of responsible pet ownership.”

Last year, APPA provided $325,000 to PIJAC in dues and in-kind services, Vetere said. This year, APPA is providing essentially the same amount, but on pro-rated basis, he said.

WPA president Doug Poindexter said the Monrovia, Calif.-based trade association is providing PIJAC with about the same amount of funding this year as it did last year. “At this point, we have continued our funding and hope they [PIJAC] continue to make progress on their strategic plan and continue to move the PIJAC organization forward to be the important part of the industry that it is,” Poindexter said.

Jamie Reaser, PIJAC’s vice president of environmental policy and communications, said the funding contributed by Petco and Petsmart includes their dues and a financial contribution above and beyond that. The funds will be used to implement PIJAC’s strategic plan, which was adopted by its board of directors at its March 25 meeting in Orlando, Fla. The plan includes the development of a comprehensive fundraising strategy, implementation of a new governance plan, and hiring of a president. (PIJAC decided late last year to terminate its  president after funding became an issue).

PIJAC added that its government affairs activities will remain its core focus. The organization noted that there are a growing number of legislative and regulatory threats facing the pet industry.

Related articles:
PIJAC Moves Forward Without APPA, PIDA Funding
APPA Pulls Funding from PIJAC

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Pet Trade Groups, Retailers to Provide $500,000 to PIJAC in 2010

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