For those of you in my neck of the woods (I’m from Maine, by the way), the 6th Annual New England Pet Expo is kicking off this weekend. It will be held at the Aleppo Shriners Auditorium in Wilmington, Massachusetts. The goal of the show is to educate pet parents in New England about all the resources available to them in their local area. It also serves as a great platform for non-profit organizations to reach out for support from community members.
The show is only open on Saturday, September 19th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to discover lots of information that will benefit their furry family members. From adoption to training and education to pet supplies, this expo has a little bit of everything. There will be over 100 reputable companies and organizations on hand sharing tools and information to help pet parents take better care of their animals.
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There will be agility demonstrations, a pet talent contest, a costume contest, and pet/owner musical chairs happening throughout the day. There will also be a few special guests and information about adoption events coming up in the New England states. Speaking of adoption, there will be dozens of rescue groups at the event and a mega-adoption event will be happening at the expo as well.
The New England Pet Expo is also offering discounted vaccinations, heartworm and flea preventatives, and microchipping. Rabies vaccinations will not be provided at this year’s expo. Other activities on the agenda include live entertainment, obedience demonstrations, and author readings and book signings. Pet owners who go to the event will have opportunities to learn about pet care, pet grooming, pet behavior and training, different types of pets/breeds, traveling with a pet, veterinarian FAQs, and volunteerism.
Pets are welcome at the event, but they must be current on all age-appropriate shots, unless you plan on having their shots updated while at the expo. A rabies tag with the year stamped on it is an acceptable form of proof of vaccinations, and you can also bring blood titer results if you don’t immunize your dogs or cats annually. Dogs are required to be on a fixed lead or a locked retractable leash that is no longer than 6 feet at all times. If your female pet is in heat she cannot attend, and you’ll also be required to sign a pet waiver upon entrance to the expo.
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Some of the exhibitors that will be on hand include All Paws Pet Talk Radio, Angell Animal Medical Center, Banfield Pet Hospital, Boston Poop 911, Jungle Bob, Petfinder.com, Pinups for Pit Bulls, and Shorty Rossi “The Pit Boss” and his dog Hercules. Admission to the expo is free, as is parking.
The New England Pet Expo is produced by Amazing Expos, a St. Louis, Missouri based company. 360 Sports & Syngrass is providing turf for pets to do their business on, and DogPoopBags.com is donating all the bags for the event. Likewise, Boston Poop 911 is providing the cleanup for all the waste. With an interesting line-up of activities, a long list of exhibitors and sponsors, and tons of fun for four-legged and two-legged attendees, it sounds like this Expo is going to be a great time!
If you can’t make this pet expo, there may be one coming to your area soon. Amazing Expos has events planned in Virginia, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Ohio, and many other states in the next couple of months. Check out their website for more details. Pet expos are a great way to get information about the latest trends in pet technology, products, health, and training.