Held annually at the Wisconsin Exposition Center at State Fair Park on the Saturday before the Super Bowl, this year’s Great Lakes Pet Expo will begin this Saturday, February 2, at 10 a.m. and will continue until 5 p.m. And just as it has been every year since the Great Lakes Pet Expo began seven years ago, the Alliance of Wisconsin Animal Rehoming Efforts, or AWARE, is again one of the event’s generous sponsors!
Admission to the event is free for children under 12 years old. The entry fee for an adult is $6.00, but anyone who donates a can of dog food to support Feeding America will receive a dollar off the cost of admission. All of the proceeds generated by this yearly event are re-invested into the animal welfare community and pay for things such as affordable spay/neuter clinics, veterinary treatments, and public education programs.
This year’s Great Lakes Pet Expo will have at least 275 booths for people to visit which is at least 40 more booths than the event had last year. In addition to hosting hundreds of vendors and animal service providers, this year’s event has a full schedule of activities and entertainment for you to enjoy which you can view by clicking here.
In addition to some guests and activities that may be recognizable from past Great Lakes Pet Expos, this year’s event will be attended by Hector, one of Michael Vick’s rehabilitated fighting dogs, and Hector’s brother, Wallace, a national disc canine champion! Local celebrity, MacGyver, will also be on hand to thank all of his supporters for their help with bringing him home. You’ll even have the chance to meet, kiss, and be photographed with Bubba, a fully trained nine foot-long alligator, who has appeared on television with Oprah, Regis and Kelly, and Jay Leno along with his trainer, Jim Nesci.
Tinker, the mini horse, and his buddy, Eclipse, will perform a song and dance with their trainer, Carol, again this year. During this year’s performance, you’ll have the chance to see their new co-star, Ta-Lu-Lah, ride Tinker and Eclipse and be amazed by the tricks the little dog performs.
Unlike years past, you’ll have the chance to speed date in the Puppy Playground located in the facility’s West Hall. If a particular pup catches your eye, you can see if the two of you are “meant to be together” by spending some time with him or her in a private area. If things go well, you can submit an adoption application on site.
As if all of that isn’t enough, you’ll also have the chance to enter raffles for donated, featured products in the expo’s Product Showcase and Raffle Area. If you are interested in winning some money instead of select products, you can purchase one of the 500 tennis balls that will be sold by the Brew City Bruisers as part of a 50/50 Raffle. The Shar Pei Rescue will receive half of the money that is raised by this raffle and one lucky winner whose ball is selected by a special needs dog on the main stage at 2:45pm will win the other half!
So, make plans to have tons of fun and try your hand at winning some money, a featured product, or both this Saturday beginning at 10am! And don’t forget to donate a can of dog food to receive a dollar off the cost of your admission!
Comments