In 2008 and 2009, scores of major retailers delivered a steady stream of bad news, from layoffs to store closings to bankruptcy. While the plagued economy has decimated the retail sector, one category remains seemingly unscathed by anemic consumer spending: the companion animal industry. March 25 – 27, 2010 independent retailers, distributors and mass–market buyers will gather in Orlando, Florida for the Global Pet Expo presented by the American Pet Products Association (APPA) and read more.