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Pet expo brings out animal lovers and ‘best friends’
By ELISE McKEOWN SKOLNICK
NILES
Many visitors to the Northeast Ohio Pet Expo had tails and four legs.
“It’s actually an event [people] can bring their ‘best friends’ to and have a good time,” said Judy Henninger, coordinator.
Many of Saturday’s participants did bring a dog — or two.
Ashley Rook of Niles brought her year-old Pomeranian-terrier mix, Peaches, to the expo. They both attended last year’s event, as well.
“I just like to walk around,” Rook said. “She loves being here, and we see all the different things that people set up, like the different treats. Last year she got a bunch of different treats to try.”
Rook also likes seeing the other animals at the event, especially the cats.
Animal lovers had plenty to see.
There was a petting zoo complete with goats, chicks, ducks, a llama, a rabbit and puppies. Santa posed for pictures with pets. And an animal communicator was on hand for one-on-one and group seminars.
Raymond Cataline and Jami Caldwell of Hubbard chose to dress up their 1-year-old golden retriever, Mango, for a photo session. Mango good-naturedly posed for the pictures while wearing a Santa coat, boots and hat. A white beard wouldn’t stay in place.
Caldwell said that was her favorite part of the event.
“I like to see all the different things that they have and the gift baskets they hand out,” Caldwell added.
Cataline said he likes to see all the various dogs.
More than 50 vendors participated in the second annual event sponsored by FFR Promotions of Niles. Included were veterinarian, cremation and boarding services, shopping opportunities and animal-welfare organizations.
Heather Merritt, director of Birds in Flight Sanctuary of Howland, participated in the event to get the word out about the nonprofit organization and to raise money for it.
The sanctuary serves birds that have been injured in the wild. The goal is to provide surgery, medicine or whatever else is needed “to get them back out into the wild and set them free again, because that’s where they belong,” Merritt said.
Last year, the sanctuary took in 837 birds. They released 93 percent of them back into the wild.
“So, for us to feed that many and take care of that many, we need the donations to come in,” Merritt said.
At the expo, she collected donations and sold book markers and buttons. Participants also could pay to have a picture taken with a wild bird, such as a red-tailed hawk or a Harris hawk.
The event continues from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. A pet fashion show will be at 1 p.m.