Pet Expo 2009
By RACHAEL GRAY
rgray@gctelegram.com
The second annual Pet Expo Oct. 17 gave pet owners a chance to show off their four-legged friends and raise money for the Finney County Humane Society.
Mostly dogs and dog owners made their rounds at the expo, which featured booths with pet related merchandise and information. The Humane Society brought cats eligible for adoption, and a few people brought rabbits.
The morning started with the Dog Jog, a two-mile walking route for dogs and owners.
Debbie Galliart walked with her Pembroke Corgi, Peanut.
“The walk was excellent. We had beautiful weather, and it was just awesome,” Galliart said.
Brad Nading/Telegram - Tabitha makes a leap over an obstacle while holding a tennis ball in its mouth Oct. 17 in the Finney County Fairgrounds west pavilion. The run was part of a fly ball demonstration by the Ware Team, Wichita, during the Pet Expo.
Galliart got Peanut a year ago when he was a puppy.
Galliart said Oct. 17 was her first time at the Pet Expo and she “definitely planned to come back next year.”
Throughout the day, pet owners participated in an obedience obstacle course, watched animal demonstrations and some took part in a costume contest.
Smash Paws, a flyball team from Wichita, performed flyball demonstrations. Flyball is a dog sport event with four dogs on a team. Mary Martin, Smash Paws team member, described the sport as being similar to a swim team relay.
Each dog sprints down a line and hops over the jumps. At the end of the line is a box spring-loaded with tennis balls. The dogs press on the box spring and a ball pops out.
The dog retrieves the ball then turns and runs back. The next dog cannot leave until the previous has crossed the starting line.
Members of Smash Paws worked with dogs and dog owners so they could try out basic flyball lessons.
Gary Plumb and his Basset hound, Freddy, gave flyball a shot.
“He did pretty good,” Plumb said. “He did knock over the third jump once.”
Lexi Peterson, 11, manned a booth on the outer edge of the dog demonstration area. She sold dog sweaters and dog treats she had made.
Peterson said she started making sweaters because Missy, her part-Chihuahua mix, was always cold.
Peterson cuts the patterns then sews the sweater on a sewing machine. She said the whole process takes her an hour for each sweater.
Peterson learned sewing from a church group and started to make dog sweaters with friends. From there, she decided to try and sell her designs. Peterson said she makes the sweaters for small and medium-sized dogs.
Missy, the part Chihuahua mix, often models the sweaters, Peterson said.
Like many pets, Missy started out as someone else’s.
“She was my mom’s birthday present. But now she’s pretty much mine,” Peterson said.
Proceeds from sponsors, booths and other fundraising at this year’s event will help pay for medical treatment for sick and injured shelter animals, and transportation costs involved in transferring animals to rescue organizations and no-kill shelters that extend the lives of adoptable animals.
Nancy Garhart, from the Finney County Humane Society, ran a booth with information about the Humane Society and the progress of the new animal shelter.
Garhart said the shelter is nearly completed, with a move-in date likely sometime before the end of the year. It will offer more room for the animals at the corner of Fleming Street and Terminal Avenue, south of Fulton Street.
Filed under: Pet Health
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