22nd Annual America's Family Pet Expo Facilitates the Adoption of 682 Animals From Southern California Shelters and Rescue Organizations

MONROVIA, Calif., April 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The 22nd annual America's Family Pet Expo, hosted by the World Pet Association (WPA), returned to the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, Calif., April 15-17. The pet expo featured stage shows, educational experiences with more than 1,000 animals, shopping, pet experts and family-friendly entertainment.

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Additionally, America's Family Pet Expo donated 134 booth spaces to local shelters and rescue organizations, which resulted in the adoption of 682 animals, breaking last year's record of 668 animals. The number of adopted pets included 563 dogs, 88 cats, 12 rats, seven guinea pigs, seven chinchillas and five rabbits placed into new homes. Pet adoption sponsor VCA Animal Hospitals provided certificates for a free first exam at its hospitals to ensure each adoptee joins their forever family with a healthy start. Including 2011's adoption numbers, America's Family Pet Expo has helped more than 7,082 animals find forever homes since 1996.

"This year's America's Family Pet Expo was a great success, not only because we once again achieve another year  of record-breaking  adoptions, but because we continued the World Pet Association's mission of  educating consumers, about responsible pet care and bringing a pet into your family that complements your lifestyle," said Doug Poindexter, president, World Pet Association. "We are looking forward to returning to Orange County next year and continue to be a bridge in the community helping even more pets find forever homes."

America's Family Pet Expo featured family-friendly entertainment from acts such as Jump! The Ultimate Dog Show, Police and Search Dog Demonstrations, Splash Dogs, and Joe Krathwohl's Free Flight Bird Show.

New to this year's event was the Aquatic Experience, an innovative exhibit of 1,000 gallons filled with fish from different regions of the world donated by Segrest Farms, the world's largest wholesale, ornamental fish distributor. The Aquatic experience featured a touch tank to encourage hands-on education as well as examples of how to incorporate aquaria in the home.  

Sponsors of the 2011 America's Family Pet Expo included: VCA Animal Hospitals, Odor-No-More, and Canidae All Natural Pet Food. Bronze sponsors included MarineLand, Instant Ocean, Natural Balance, Pijac, The Pet Care Trust, Toyota, Kaytee, Super Pet, Tetra and Tetra Fauna. Additional sponsors included Grizzly Pet Products, Inc., Petco, Shell Vacation Clubs, Banfield Pet Hospital, Dog Fancy/Cat Fancy, Aqueon, Hikari, PetSmart, Jefferspet.com, Seachem, Central Aquatics and Pacific Monarch Resorts, Inc.

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 world's largest pet and pet products expo, hosted annually in Costa Mesa, Calif., and beginning in July 2011 in Puyallup, Washington 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.  WPA also offers Pet Industry Briefs, a free weekly e-newsletter providing 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