Global Pet Expo to Unleash Hundreds of New Pet Products; World's Largest Annual Pet Products Trade Show Ever Will Cover the Equivalent of 10 Football Fields Full of the Hottest Toys, Treats, Food and Gadgets for Pets and Their Owners.

GREENWICH, Conn. -- From hydroponic cat grass gardens, treat launchers and hologram toys, to plasma aquariums and cookie cards for pets, the products that will be unveiled at Global Pet Expo in San Diego, March 23-25, 2006, are sure to meet the needs of the growing number of pet owners traveling with, throwing parties for and pampering their pets.

While a majority of companies prefer to keep their new products a secret until the show doors open, some have offered a sneak peak of what can be expected during this enormous gathering of pet product makers and pet store giants. Some of these innovative products include scent-stopping memory foam pet beds, plush toys with a mechanical mother's heartbeat, ergonomically correct pet walking devices, pet bed heaters and coolers, revolutionary fish disease treatments, matching people and pet fashions, Swarovski Crystal bone charms, self-serving dog water bottles, rolling edible treat toys, and much, much more!

Also released at Global Pet Expo will be 2005 national pet spending figures, as well as projected sales figures for 2006, which will be announced during a press conference onsite on Friday, March 24, at 10 a.m.

Attending media will also be honored during a media reception with complementary cocktails and appetizers Thursday, March 23, at a restaurant across from the convention center. Awards will be presented to select journalists for their outstanding contribution to the pet industry.

"There is no other place in the world where members of the media can see everything the pet industry has to offer under one roof," said APPMA Vice President and Deputy Managing Director Andy Darmohraj. "Given the unprecedented growth of the pet industry over the past few years, this will definitely be the must-see event of the year for buyers and media alike."

This is also the last chance to attend Global Pet Expo on the West Coast until 2008. Next year's show is scheduled to be held in Orlando, Fla.

Global Pet Expo, the largest annual pet industry trade show in the world, is presented by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA) and Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA). Following the 2005 show, APPMA and PIDA reported unprecedented space and attendance numbers with 204,900 net square feet of booth space, 630 exhibiting companies, 600 new product launches and 4,400 pet product buyers from around the world. Global Pet Expo is open to independent retailers, distributors, mass-market buyers, and other qualified professionals.

To register as a member of the media to attend Global Pet Expo, log onto www.globalpetexpo.org/pressreg. For more information on Global Pet Expo, the press conference, media reception or any of the products in this release, or for photos, product samples and interviews, please contact Tierra Griffiths, Julie Rowe or Leah Nelson at MassMedia at 775-322-0755.

Global Pet Expo is not open to the public.