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Everything Pets Expo brings pets and their
people together.Dr. Doolittle wasn't the only one "talking to the animals" this past weekend at the Duke Energy Convention Center at the Everything Pets Expo, a pet-centric trade show offering education, entertainment and equipment.
Animal Communicator Donetta Zimmerman was there doing animal psychic readings, there were agility demonstrations with dogs running obstacle courses, discussions about the suitability of exotic animals for pets and "Ultimate Air Dogs" competing to see who could leap the furthest into a pool. Attendees were taught how to make home-baked treats, "makeovers" turned dogs from "dingy to dazzling" and representatives of The Late Show with David Letterman were there to audition local house pets for upcoming "Stupid Pet Tricks" segments.
"We're having a great time," said Angela Cooney of Bethel who was attending with husband, Anthony and their children Livie, 5, and Max, 2. She was holding Max up so he could gently stroke the nose of one of the Cincinnati Police Department's Mounted Patrol Squad horses. This was the family's second visit to the show.
"This is a great event," she said. "We came a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it, so now we're back. The main thing we wanted to see were the 'Fly Dogs.' They are pretty amazing and it seems like a lot of fun. Our Border Collie, Zellie is 4 months old now and really likes Frisbees and jumping, so we're thinking about getting her into something like that."
Anthony Cooney believes that it is good for kids to interact with pets. The family owns three dogs, three horses and three cats. "It helps to build character," he said. "It teaches them responsibility and makes them happier throughout their lives."
Pam Elliot and Jeane Doan of Guilford, Ind. were all smiles as they perused the aisles tightly holding the leashes of Lily, Rosie and Cassidy, three friendly and fluffy Japanese Chin dogs. They were here to volunteer time working at the West Chester based "Lucky Chin" rescue group booth.
"It's great to see all of these pet people together at one time," said Elliott, straightening the squirming Lily's colorful bandana. Self-professed "dog people," they also own two Boxers.
"When the doorbell rings at our house it is pretty exciting," Doan said, chuckling, "All you hear is barking and us yelling, 'Shut up, shut up, stop, stop...stop!'"
Over at the "Bird Fever" exotic bird store booth fourth-grader Elizabeth Stevens, 9, of Springdale was cradling Cocoa, a white Umbrella Cockatoo. She was attending the expo with her Aunt, Sylvia Bain of Green Township.
"I love animals," she said, grinning and complying as her feathery pal stretched out a wing indicating that was where she'd like to be rubbed.
"I don't have a lot of pets right now, just a Bearded Dragon named Spike and Miranda, who is a Hound mix."
What the little girl likes most about pets is, "Even if I want to be alone I can still be with them and talk to them. They always listen, you know?"
Stevens believes that kindness matters. "It's important to always take good care of them," she said. "What you do for them may come back to you; because someday you may be need to be taken care of yourself."
