Furry friends welcome at Pet Expo

Times Reporter

 

The second annual Pet Expo is being held at the Civic Centre next weekend, and pet owners are encouraged to bring their pets down and check things out. 

“As long as they have some sort of proof of current vaccination they can definitely bring their pets on in,” said Melissa David of Quality Dog Grooming, one of the organizers. 

Last year David and Melissa Crispin-Piche of Tail Waggers Dog Walking Service paired up to bring Strathmore’s first Pet Expo. It was an immediate success with over 760 people attending. 

There will be a few changes this year due to feedback from last year. 

“What we did at the end of the expo is we had feedback sheets for everyone who attended and all our exhibitors as to what they would like to see different this year. Our two biggest comments were more agriculture stuff for the farm kids and the farming community, and more space,” said David. 

She said they were a little bit cramped in from trying to do just a little too much last year. So this year they have taken out a few of the things from last year, just to allow for more space, and then added some agriculture to it. 

“One thing that people are excited for this year is the Strathmore Vet Clinic now has a lady that does rehabilitation for injured animals, and its kind of the first of it’s kind in Strathmore. They’re going to be showcasing some of their stuff,” said David. 

As with last year non-perishable food donations are being accepted to donate to the food bank. Donations are also going to be collected to donate to Beagle Paws, which is a non-profit charity that rescues beagles and promotes them as family pets, while helping to prevent abuse and neglect. 

“We’re going to try to make a paws-way, so it’s kind of our version of a hallway. Admission is free but we will be selling paws for $2 each…you write your name on it, and then we’re going to try and fill the whole entire hallway of the Civic Centre,” said David. 

The doors open for the Pet Expo on April 21 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., and April 27 is already booked for next year’s expo.