No shortage of pets and info at annual expo
A 130-pound Great Dane walked his human through the sea of booths. They joined a crowd with a man walking his miniature pony and woman holding a bag of crickets for her possum’s lunch. They were all walking back to their stations, preparing for the guests that were waiting to meet these animals.
More than 85 species of canines, felines, reptiles, fish and other animals took over the OC Fair & Event Center on Friday for the annual America’s family Pet Expo.
The World Pet Assn. collaborates with local animal rescues each year to teach guests about their complex creatures.
When establishing the expo, the pet association wanted to create a space for the public to thoroughly learn about pet care. Many shelter directors involved in the expo take in animals from owners who underestimated their pet’s needs.
“People will get certain animals because they’re cool but they don’t do their homework on the animal,” Wonders of Wildlife, Inc. founder Cheryl Rendes said.
Wonders of Wildlife, Inc. and other organizations also participate in the expo to exhibit exotic animals. While the unusual creatures are not for adoption, the animal experts educate guests on how to prevent the species from becoming extinct.
Children huddled around Rendes’ booth to watch her fox slumber. Further across her station was the reptile room where visitors held turtles in their hands and snakes around their shoulders.
Guests who want to adopt an animal at the fair fill out a shelter’s questionnaire. These questions on the size of their home and personal references determine if they are a match for a particular pet.
“If you’re looking for a fish, we’ll have an expert show you the right aquarium for that fish and how to care for the fish,” the pet association’s Vice President of Sales Dave Williams said. “This lets people decide if they can care for the animal based on its specific needs.”
Vendors of leashes, grooming products and pet food set up their booths alongside the expo’s furry friends.
Animal lovers gathered to not only meet the enthusiastic creatures, but to also enjoy activities at the expo. This includes pony rides, pig races, face painting, a petting zoo and a human-sized hamster wheel and a cat agility course.
The cat room buzzed as spectators witnessed the fuzzy felines jumping through the hoops and barrels of the course. The dog-lovers found the action outside the cat room more to their taste. Dog rescues had their kennels set up with eager Chihuahuas, huskies, bulldogs and other canine friends ready to make human friends.
The World Pet Assn. is in its 26th year of hosting the gathering. In its early years, the event was held in Pomona. The expo moved to OC Fair & Event Center in later years to be closer to the shelters they invite and has stayed put for about a decade.
Visitors may not bring in their own pets into the expo, which will continue to run 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on April 11 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on April 12 at the OC Fairgrounds.