Membership FAQs

Membership

1. What are the primary differences between APPA's Active, Associate, Manufacturers' Representatives, Domestic and International Livestock Memberships?

2. How do I become a member?

3. What are the APPA membership requirements?

4. How much are the membership dues?

5. What special benefits do APPA members receive?


1. What are the primary differences between APPA's Active, Associate, Manufacturers' Representatives, Domestic and International Livestock Memberships?

Active Membership: APPA Active Membership is open to pet product manufacturers who have either a manufacturing facility or warehouse in the U.S. and who meet the additional membership requirements outlined below. Active Members receive all of the applicable membership benefits and have full voting privileges.

Associate Membership: APPA Associate Membership is open to pet product manufacturers who do not have a manufacturing facility or warehouse in the U.S. but who meet the additional membership requirements outlined below. Associate Members receive all of the applicable membership benefits but do not have voting privileges.

Manufacturers' Representative Membership: APPA Manufacturers' Representative Membership is open to all pet products manufacturers' representatives who are currently representing at least two manufacturers. Applicants must also meet the additional membership requirements. Manufacturers' Representative Members receive all of the applicable membership benefits but do not have voting privileges.

Domestic Livestock Membership: APPA Domestic Livestock Membership is open to livestock suppliers who breed/sell domesticated companion animals in the following categories: dog, cat, fish, bird, small animal, reptile and equine. Livestock must be intended for sale as companion animals at the retail level. Applicants must have a breeding/kennel/cattery facility or distribution center in the United States. Applicants must also meet the additional membership requirements. Domestic Livestock Members receive all of the applicable membership benefits but do not have voting privileges.

International Livestock Membership: APPA International Livestock Membership is open to livestock suppliers who breed/sell domesticated companion animals in the following categories: dog, cat, fish, bird, small animal, reptile and equine. Livestock must be intended for sale as companion animals at the retail level. Applicants need not have a breeding/kennel/cattery facility or distribution center in the United States. Applicants must also meet the additional membership requirements. International Livestock Members receive all of the applicable membership benefits but do not have voting privileges.

2. How do I become a member?

Visit the How To Join section of APPA's Web site for an application, or contact APPA's Member Services Department for a membership kit and application. Complete the membership application and submit it with applicable dues and initiation fee and supporting documents to APPA for approval. All applications will be reviewed and presented to APPA's Board of Directors for approval.

3. What are the APPA membership requirements?

1. All applicants must be a pet product manufacturer or importer.

2. All Active Membership applicants must have a warehouse or manufacturing facility in the U.S. All Active Membership applicants must show one (1) invoice and a matching bill of lading as proof that you are selling pet products. The address and all information on the invoice must match the bill of lading. The transaction must originate at a U.S. address (your manufacturing facility or warehouse) and must be shipped to a U.S. address showing that your sale is occurring in the United States.

3. Associate Membership applicants need not have a warehouse or manufacturing facility in the U.S. All Associate Membership applicants must show one (1) invoice originating from your warehouse or manufacturing facility and a matching bill of lading as proof that you are selling pet products. The address and all information on the invoice must match the bill of lading, but need not originate from or be destined to a U.S. address.

4. All applicants must provide a marketing piece (box, brochure, catalogue, label, etc.) that shows that your product is being sold as a pet product.

5. All Manufacturers' Representatives applicants must represent a pet product manufacturer and provide complete contact information for at least two manufacturers that they are currently representing. References need not be APPA members.

6. All livestock must be intended for sale as domesticated companion animals at the retail level. All Domestic Livestock applicants must provide a copy of your pet brochure or advertisement indicating that you are a supplier of domesticated companion animals. All Domestic Livestock applicants must show one (1) invoice as proof that you are selling domesticated companion animals to a retail pet shop or distributor in the United States and a matching bill of lading as proof that you are selling domesticated companion animals to a retail pet shop or distributor. The address and all information on the invoice must match the bill of lading.

7. All livestock must be intended for sale as domesticated companion animals at the retail level. All International Livestock applicants must provide a copy of your pet brochure or advertisement indicating that you are a supplier of domesticated companion animals. All International Livestock applicants must show one (1) invoice and a matching bill of lading as proof that you are selling domesticated companion animals to a retail pet shop or distributor. The address and all information on the invoice must match the bill of lading, but need not originate from or be destined to a U.S. address.

4. How much are the membership dues?

Dues are based on your company's world-wide annual sales of pet products. For a complete list of dues categories, see the How to Join section of the site.

There is a one-time $1000.00 initiation fee, which is submitted along with your application for Active, Associate, Domestic and International memberships.

For Manufacturers' Representatives there is a one-time, $250 initiation fee plus the first year's dues of $350 must be included with your application.

5. What special benefits do APPA members receive?

APPA has developed membership benefits and programs in response to the needs of pet product manufacturers and importers as they face a changing national and international pet product market. There are many reasons to belong to APPA, including eligibility to exhibit at Global Pet Expo, the premier pet industry event in the United States; industry benefits such as legislative representation and public relations; market research including APPA's National Pet Owners Survey, educational opportunities such as APPA's Management Conference; discount programs such as APPA's Insurance Program, On-Line Shipping Program, Scholarship Program, and a full service Export/Import Assistance Program. Active Members are also entitled to full voting privileges.