Hundreds of Animals Find Forever Homes at 21st Annual America's Family Pet Expo

MONROVIA, Calif., April 27 /PRNewswire/ -- The 21st annual America's Family Pet Expo, hosted by the World Pet Association (WPA) and presented by IAMS/Eukanuba – P&G Pet Care, returned to the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, Calif., April 16-18. Drawing a crowd of more than 37,000 people, the show featured more than 1,000 animals, shopping, pet experts and entertainment from acts such as Popovich Comedy Pet Theater and Splash Dogs. The show also offered equine entertainment and attractions for the first time, with performers including the Painted Ladies Rodeo and Valley View Vaulters headlining the equine arena.  

As a part of WPA's platform to promote responsible pet care, all of the show space reserved for animal breeds, nonprofit organizations, adoption agencies and hobbyist groups was either donated or offered at a reduced price on behalf of WPA to ensure consumers had access to a wide variety of breeds and experts. Throughout the three-day event, America's Family Pet Expo was responsible for the adoption of 668 animals from local animal shelters, which broke the show's previous adoption record of 560 animals. Adoption numbers included 538 dogs, 105 cats, one rooster, 21 rats, one mouse and two rabbits placed into new homes.

"WPA's goal each year is to make America's Family Pet Expo a fun and educational event that consumers of all ages can enjoy, but we're also dedicated to making an impact on the community through teaching consumers about responsible pet care, said Doug Poindexter, president, World Pet Association. "We're delighted to report a record number of pet adoptions this year and hope the number continues to increase for years to come."

In addition to helping pet adoption agencies find homes for hundreds of animals, America's Family Pet Expo also helps nonprofit organizations educate the community on their platforms. The Long Beach volunteer organization, BARK (Beach Animals Reading With Kids), which encourages children to increase their reading skills and self-confidence by reading aloud to certified therapy dogs, noted an increase in community volunteers by 50 percent after exhibiting at the pet expo for the past two years. Just two days after this year's show, the organization was already contacted by a school and four new dog owners who are interested in participating in the program.

The group's website, ReadingDogs.org, also saw an increase in traffic immediately after the show.

"Volunteers at BARK enjoy being a part of America's Family Pet Expo each year because WPA donates booth space to our organization, giving us the invaluable opportunity to connect with potential volunteers and share our passion for animals, kids and reading with the local community," said Josie Gavieres, founder, BARK.

IAMS/Eukanuba – P&G Pet Care was the show's presenting sponsor, while PetSource.org sponsored the pet adoption building and was the sponsor of the Dog Breed Booths. Entertainment sponsors included Odor-No-More™/E.T. Horn, IAMS/ Eukanuba – P&G Pet Care, Canidae Pet Foods, Dog Fancy / Cat Fancy, KAYTEE, Super Pet and Jarden Animal Solutions. Avoderm Natural, Bowtie, Inc., Grizzly Pet Products, Jefferspet.com, Natural Balance Pet Foods, Inc., The Pet Care Trust, PIJAC, Marineland, Nutro Products, Inc., Instant Ocean, Petco Animal Supplies, Inc., PetSmart, Purr & Simple, Seachem Laboratories / Jurassi Pet, SVC-West, LLC, and Tetra were also sponsors of the event.

For more information or to schedule an interview with a WPA representative, please call Formula at (310) 578-7050.

ABOUT THE WORLD PET ASSOCIATION

The World Pet Association (WPA), formerly the World Wide Pet Industry Association, is the oldest industry organization promoting responsible growth and development of the companion pet and related products and services.  As society's "humanization" of pets grows stronger, WPA knows it is important to inform and educate the general public to ensure safe and healthy lifestyles for our animal friends. WPA plays host to America's Family Pet Expo, the largest consumer show in the world, hosted annually in Costa Mesa, Calif. The organization also holds SuperZoo (www.superzoo.org), an annual pet industry trade show that showcases a comprehensive collection of exhibits and offers a variety of informative educational seminars known as SuperZoo University.  In addition, WPA has developed a Web site for both the industry and the consumer called PetSource.org (www.petsource.org).  This new Web site is a one-stop resource for information on pets of all kinds.  WPA also offers Pet Industry Briefs, a free weekly e-newsletter containing vital industry information at your fingertips. For more information on WPA or to sign up for Pet Industry Briefs, please visit www.worldpetassociation.org.

SOURCE World Pet Association