4Kids Entertainment, Inc. and the American Kennel Club (AKC) announced a multi-year extension of their worldwide representation agreement. Through this extension, 4Kids Entertainment, the licensing and marketing agent behind such properties as Yu-Gi-Oh! and Cabbage Patch Kids, will continue serving as the AKC's exclusive worldwide licensing agent for the AKC's extensive collection of imagery and trademarks in all merchandise categories.

"Over the past decade, the pet product industry has grown exponentially, outpacing the toy and candy industries with nearly $36 billion spent on pets annually in the US. In continuing our successful partnership with the AKC, we look forward to meeting the growing global demand for 'blue ribbon' dog products that reflect the quality and prestige long associated with the AKC's 122-year history," said 4Kids Entertainment chairman and CEO Alfred R Kahn.

Since joining forces in 2003, 4Kids Entertainment and the American Kennel Club have been at the forefront of the burgeoning pet product industry thanks to their comprehensive focus on building the AKC into a premiere retail dog brand.

4Kids has successfully established the AKC as the "best in breed" in pet products by brokering multi-year deals with such industry leaders as JAKKS Pacific (toys and treats), designer Barry Kieselstein-Cord (luxury dog accessories and jewelry), Oster Professional Products (dog grooming), Sherpa's Pet Trading Company (dog carriers) and Flexi-Mat (dog beds).

This renewed partnership will enable 4Kids and the AKC to continue participating in the pet industry boom with plans to expand the AKC brand into such categories as pet cleaning products, pet safety products and collectible art work.

"Our organisation has long prided itself on providing the true gold standard in dog care. That's why we are pleased to extend our agreement with 4Kids Entertainment, a leading force in children's and family licensing and entertainment. Given the ever-growing pet product industry, our unique relationship with 4Kids creates more opportunities to provide dog lovers worldwide with quality products as well as promote public awareness and appreciation of the wonderful world of purebred dogs," added American Kennel Club director of brand development Gail Miller.

4Kids Entertainment also serves as the exclusive worldwide merchandise licensing agent for the Cat Fanciers' Association, the world's largest registry of pedigreed cats dedicated to the protection, care and education of responsible ownership for the 90.5 million owned cats in the US alone.