Chris McMahan
Staff Writer
The Southern California Pet Spectacular helped give owners, pets and even non-owners something to enjoy on Feb. 21 and 22 at the Fairplex.
Multiple adoption shelters, groomers and food providers made their way out in what turned into an entertaining weekend.
“Not only are adoptions important, but overall awareness and exposure for the organization is great because it results in adoptions, donations and volunteers as well,” Lena Scalercio of Boxer Rescue Los Angeles said.
The expo was filled with fun events like a talent show and even a question and answer panel with the cast of the Animal Planet show “Tanked.”
It was also a great time to help educate pet owners.
The Inland Valley Humane Society and Boxer Rescue Los Angeles were just two of the many adoption services available that provided ways to adopt an animal.
They also gave opportunities to volunteer or donate to help local strays.
“We’re actually doing a new initiative, it’s called the get to zero program,” Stephanie Mann of the Inland Valley Humane Society, said.
“We’re hoping within five years to end euthanasia in our shelters of adoptable animals.”
Adoption agencies were not the only booths available to the public.
There were also booths for food and care.
Petcurean, from Ontario, Canada, uses locally produced fruits and vegetables in its ingredients for dog and cat food.
“I eat fruits and vegetables and organics,” Petcurean employee Tina Hurley said.
“If my cat eats the same way, it’s been proven the animal’s going to live longer and my personal belief also is that it staves off diseases and cancer as well.”
Not only is health a concern with animals in this country, but so is overpopulation, especially in Southern California.
It is no mystery that a lot of shelters are over-crowded and that many owners do not get their pets spayed or neutered, which leaves an abundant number of strays roaming the streets.
Mann feels that events like the SoCal Pet Spectacular help bring attention to these pressing issues.
“(The expo is) really about forming partnerships and lasting relationships, and informing the community about spaying and neutering and getting their dogs and cats vaccinated,” Mann said.
Another issue that was a theme of the expo was animal abuse, something that the Inland Valley Humane Society has been specializing in preventing since 1949.
“Any sort of case of abuse, we will go out and check it out and collect the animal if need be,” Mann said.
This care is not exclusive to domestic animals either, but also livestock such as chickens and goats.
Long-time pet owner Madelaine Colco, from Menifee, appreciated the learning experience from the expo.
“It’s important to get the community to know as well that although the shelter is a great place to find a pet, that there are also rescue places that needs homes for dogs as well,” Colco said.
Erica Guillen of Corona, who just adopted her first dog, also viewed the expo as an educational and fun event for everyone.
“Expos like this will help pet owners like myself understand how the pets work and how they interact with other animals,” Gullen said.
The next pet expo will be held Saturday at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in Del Mar.
Chris McMahan can be reached at christopher.mcmahan@laverne.edu.
Chris McMahan
