The aroma of churros and dog poop guided us to the family fun at the Phoenix Pet Expo at the University of Phoenix Stadium. The littles were impressed with the scale of the building and number of well-behaved pets before we even entered the gates. Once we did, we were corralled down a long winding ramp, since no dogs were allowed on the escalators, naturally. My dog, N.A.S.H.A., is a bit of a nut case, so I borrowed a better-behaved client's dog, instead.
Parking and admission were free. Sweet! Once inside, we were overwhelmed by the scale of the event. There were over 200 vendors and rescue groups in attendance.
Our borrowed pooch was a bit of a snob about the drooly community water bowls and wading pools, but it was nice that these things were provided. They even had several designated potty areas, complete with real grass, waste bags, and trash cans.
We made some new friends.
The littles had the opportunity to meet some exotic pets, too, including a boa constrictor, which they weren't shy at all about petting. When your mom is a pet sitter and you get to take care of all sorts of animals, you get pretty brave at a young age.
The booths had a lot going on to attract us to their wares and causes. We learned about some new and amazing products that I'll share with you soon. Po, my six-year-old son, brought one dollar from his piggy bank and agonized about what to spend it on. He finally decided that he and his sister would donate it for a chance to spin the Pet Club wheel of fortune to win some treats for the pooches in their lives.
Porter won some Nylabone NutriDent dental chews, and Cam won some Natural Balance Tillman's Treats.
The littles' favorite activity was the "For the Love of My Pet" booth, which had many free activities for them to participate in. The kids each created their own dog puppets with help from Owen Burgess, author of For the Love of My Pet.
We all enjoyed watching demonstrations in agility, flyball, and dock diving.
There was just so much to do at the Phoenix Pet Expo! Though we resisted adopting a new family member, the event would have been a wonderful setting in which to do so, with so many animals in need of homes. If you are an animal lover or are looking for a free day of fun for your kids, I would highly recommend attending next year's Phoenix Pet Expo. Just watching the pets in attendance stroll by was a treat in itself!