GroomTeam USA is now accepting applications for the Lonnie Lange Memorial Scholarship Fund. There are two levels of awards: one for college education, and the other for grooming education. The deadline for application submissions is April 30, 2012. Level 1 will provide two recipients with $1,000 in college money. These funds may be used toward college education in any field and will be paid directly to the school. The only stipulation is that the applicant must be the child, stepchild or grandchild of a bona-fide professional groomer.

MADISON, Wis.—Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc., a global consumer products company has announced its United Pet Group division has signed an agreement to acquire FURminator, the leading provider of deshedding products.“FURminator immediately expands and further strengthens UPG’s broad companion animal product portfolio through entry into the large and growing dog and cat grooming category,” said Dave Lumley, CEO of Spectrum Brands Holdings.

MONROVIA, Calif.—This year’s Groomer Supershow, held at SuperZoo in Las Vegas, featured exciting grooming competitions and was the setting for this year’s Crystal Grooming Achievement Awards presentation.Once again, the World Pet Association hosted its Groomer Supershow grooming competitions at this year’s SuperZoo trade show in Las Vegas. Prizes totaling more than $45,000 were awarded to competition winners across 12 categories.Jackie Boulton won the Groomer Super Jackpot and took home the top prize of $10,000.

LAS VEGAS—Nature’s Specialties’s Plum Crazy Foaming facial Wash won first place in the new grooming product category of the New Product Showcase Awards at the SuperZoo trade show, held September 13-15 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.  Plum Crazy is a tearless, detangling foaming facial wash that can be used in the tub or on the go, and has optical brighteners and a long-lasting fragrance.

BRIGHTON, Mich.—DaySmart Software Inc.—makers of the pet grooming salon software, 123Pet—has released the 123Pet Android app, which runs on any mobile device that runs Android.123Pet users can use the free app remotely to schedule and view appointments, add and edit pet information and clients, map clients’ home addresses, run sales reports and view product information.“We received a lot of requests for this feature,” said Christianna Jackson, DaySmart vice president.

GRANGER, Ind.—Wag’n Tails Mobile Conversions’ third-annual Mobile Grooming for a Cause charity event, held in October in conjunction with the ASPCA and Human Society Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, was a success.Anne Ledet of Smithtown Mobile Grooming claimed the Wag’n Tails-sponsored $5,000 grand prize in a close contest among a small army of Wag’n Tails grooming vehicle owners volunteering to clean up shelter pets to make them more adoptable.In all, Wag’n Tails owners groomed more than 800 shelter pets across the country in an effort to help them put their best paws forward fo

KORTRIJK, Belgium—GroomTeam USA took second place in the 2011 Groomania World Team Championship. Groomers from all over the globe converged in Kortrijk, Belgium, for the 2011 Groomania in September, including GroomTeam USA, which was defending its first-place win from 2009. Throughout the year, groomers around the world compete for points that determine their place on their country’s team. Many of the U.S. groomers travel around the country to attend different grooming competitions and earn their points.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo—AgriLabs has launched ProLabs, a division dedicated to the introduction, marketing and over-the-counter sales of safe, effective health care products for companion animals.Founded in 1984 and long recognized as the animal health industry’s leading food animal marketing and sales organization, AgriLabs owes much of its success to a partnership structure and philosophy committed to expeditious product development.

WEST WAREHAM, Mass.—Preppy Puppy Bakery has released its fundraising line of dog bones in its 2012 product brochures. The line will kick off with a gift pack that includes a 3-in. iced red heart and a 6-in. bone with red, white and pink sprinkles to benefit the Cardiovascular Research Foundation. It will be sold to retailers at a wholesale price of $42 for a 12-count case and will be available Dec. 26–Feb. 28, 2012. Additional lines will benefit causes such as breast cancer, multiple sclerosis and the military.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council has opened registration for the first annual Pet Industry’s Top to Top Conference, which will be held in La Jolla, Calif. May 3-4, 2012. The meeting is open to all industry leaders, pet product manufacturers, distributors, companion animal suppliers and retailers. Petco, PetSmart, APPA, Central Garden & Pet, Coastal Pet Products, E.T. Horn, Segrest Farms, PetAge, Pet Business, Pet Product News International and WPA are sponsoring the event.