I don’t know how many vendors were at the event, but I’d guess close to a hundred. Caramel popcorn, jewelry, pet shampoos, pet doors, toys and treats, and a host of other products were on display. Not everything that was there was for pets, but with that being said, there were an awfully lot of pet vendors there. My favorite non pet vendor was the Rum Cake stand. Yes, cake made with rum, and yes, chocolate cake made with rum. I didn’t know how the two would match, but thanks to their free samples, I figured out they match really well. If you ever have the chance to try Rum Cake, don’t pass it up.
The most innovative vendor I saw was the one advertising dog kisses for $1.00 each. Now that’s innovative! To be able to take something like dog licking and turn it into a business is just simply genius in my opinion! I have to ask myself “Why don’t I think of all the good ideas like that?”
Oh, and let us not forget the piggies! Called Piggy Villa, this was a demonstration done by potbellied pigs. Yes, I know, pretty different, but they did a lot of the same types of tricks you would expect a dog to do, but at a much slower pace. The pigs that were doing the tricks while I was watching didn’t seem like they’re having a super great day, and they weren’t easily persuaded to do the hard tricks, but it was still neat to watch. Apparently, forgive my ignorance here, pot bellied pigs are considered a house pet in some homes. I don’t think you’ll ever find one in my house, actually I know you won’t, but hey, each to his own.
I didn’t stay for longer than a few hours, and so I missed a lot of what happened throughout the time I wasn’t there, like the Neverland K9 Training Demonstration, Obedience and Trick Demonstrations, Canine Good Citizen Testing, and apparently a lot more. I did have plenty to do and see while I was there, though, and I don’t regret going.
This event was hosted and run by Family Pet Shows, out of Long Island, New York. This is only one of the six annual shows that they run, spread throughout Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts. Karen and Dennis have been doing this for over 25 years, and they do a great job of bringing pets lovers of all ages together for a few days of fun and entertainment. More information and the specifics on each event can be found on their website www.familypetshows.com, so if you ever have a longing to attend an event like this, make sure to check them out.