The most popular outlets are still small, independent pet shops, which retain customers by offering credit.

ECONOMIST: Profits from pooches are more than petty cash

The leaflet is available from most vets, pet shops, airlines and ferry companies approved to carry pets.

BBC: Pet travel leaflet

The Radiated and Ploughshare tortoises were on the last leg of their journey to pet shops and possibly cooking pots, Malaysian officials believe.

BBC: Smuggled rare Madagascar tortoises seized in Malaysia

They are destined not for pet shops but for the table.

ECONOMIST: The birth of the mega cuy

The first "Qian Hu--The Pet Family" shops opened in Malaysia, China and Thailand in 2004.

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In addition, Bharara claimed Beckley used fraudulent methods to deceive U.S. banks into processing payments, like disguising transactions so that they would appear to be from online flower shops or pet supply stores.

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As for the industries listed below, Sageworks data shows that Other Specialty Food Stores (which includes bakeries and confectionery and nut stores), Pet and Pet Supplies Stores, and Other Clothing Stores (which includes bridal shops, costume stores, swimwear stores, etc) all experienced sales increases of over 3.80% in 2010 over 2009.

FORBES: Connect

So whenever I travel, I have trouble passing a pet store without popping inside and checking it out (ditto for bike shops, kitchen stores, and barbecue joints).

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