Pet owners from across the region are invited to take part in this year’s Pet Fair, hosted by the Central Pennsylvania Humane Society.
The event is scheduled to take place on Sunday, September 18 at Legion Park in Hollidaysburg from noon to 3 p.m.
The fair will feature entertainment, information, food and music. Fair organizers said the event will be “fun for the entire family,” especially with the addition this year of a special “pet psychic” for entertainment purposes only.
The fair will include a pet show, silly pet trick competition, breed rescue information booths, an “Ask the Vet” area staffed by Ellen Dziedzicki, DVM, pet sitting service providers, pet supply retailers, other area humane agencies and shelters, a state dog warden, a special bake sale of homemade goods, valuable door prizes, a 50/50 and chicken barbecue from DelGrosso’s.
Chicken barbecue dinners are $7 each and must be ordered and paid for in advance. The dinners include chicken, barbecue beans and the “famous” DelGrosso potato salad. Dinner tickets can be purchased at Thompson Pharmacy, Chris’ Hallmark, VIP Pet & Aquarium, Baronner’s Farm Market, Rustic Furniture, the CPHS shelter and CPHS Thrift Shop.
Other food such as hot dogs, sloppy joes, chips and soft drinks will also be available for purchase on site.
Of special interest this year will be the sale of the first-ever “CPHS Picture Perfect Pet” 2006 calendar featuring area pets. The full-color calendars will sell for $7 each and will be $5 for CPHS members.
Twelve pet owners have earned top honors in the first annual calendar contest, and CPHS officials said the effort has resulted in the single largest fundraising event in recent memory with pet owners collecting and donating over $15,000 in their efforts to land their pet photos on the calendar.
The top 12 fundraising pet owners will each have their pet featured on a calendar month, and two Tyrone residents were included in the list of the top 12 fund raisers. Ann Dillon of Tyrone collected enough money for her dog EmmiLou to be featured on a calendar month. Phyliss Walk of Tyrone also collected enough money for her dog Daisy Mae to be featured.
The Pet Fair will involve special appearances by local media celebrities such as Steve “Frogman” Kelsey and other local media personalities.
Fairgoers are encouraged to bring their pets; however, dogs must be on leashes or restrained in a comfortable fashion, cats should be in appropriate carriers. All animals are invited to enter the “pet show” competition, which will feature prize ribbons awarded in numerous categories.
Entry forms are found in the Pet Fair pamphlets found at local veterinary offices, some area retailers and the CPHS shelter and Thrift Shop. Registration for the pet show begins at 11:30 a.m.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the homeless animals at the Central Pennsylvania Humane Society shelter located at 1837 E. Pleasant Valley Blvd. in Altoona.
The event will be held rain or shine, according to CPHS officials. For more information call 942-5402 or 942-2477. Please note the shelter will be closed to the public on the day of the event so employees may attend.
Animal adoptions are extremely important to CPHS. The organization works hard to match individuals and/or families with the right pet.
CPHS has a thorough adoption application and follow-up for the state required spayed/neuter program. It cares about the animals’ happiness and well being within the human environment.
CPHS is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. and on Friday from 12:30-7 p.m.
