Thank you to all of the visitors, exhibitors, sponsors, and animals that made the 2013 Pet Expo such an incredible weekend! A very special thank you goes out to the 2013 Pet Expo presenter, The City of Edmonton.
We are excited to see you all again at the next

Edmonton Pet Expo
January 25th & 26th, 2014
Edmonton EXPO Centre

Details on the 2014 Expo will be released as they become available. Please check back for updates on special features, presentations and demonstrations, and all the exciting animal fun!

As always, you can expect to find information, resources, and great tips on how to be a responsible pet owner from industry experts at the Edmonton Pet Expo! Explore the product and service options available to owners and pets all in one convenient place. Give back to your community by supporting one of the local animal-focused charitable organizations, and learn more about the work that they do for animals and the community. Find great activities for kids! And please remember - leave your own pets at home.

An enormous thank you goes to the 2013 Edmonton Pet Expo's presenter, the City of Edmonton. All their tremendous efforts helped make the Show not only a great success, but also a weekend full of learning and fun for our visitors!

The City of Edmonton's Animal Care & Control Centre staff shared all kinds of great information about the benefits of pet licensing while encouraging people to practice responsible pet ownership. New and long time pet owners applied for their licenses on the spot if they needed one. And, Animal Care & Control Officers showed folks the equipment and trucks that they use to transport lost animals to the City's safekeeping shelter. They answered all kinds of questions about animal control, pet licensing and pet behaviour in the city.

Edmonton's Park Rangers and Parks for Paws experts shared their insights on proper off-leash park use and how to use the River Valley Parks safely. More than 83% of dog owners take their dogs to City dog parks. Lots of crucial conversations took place!

The City of Edmonton also sponsored the Pets In the City Stage, a venue that offers show attendees an exceptional opportunity to "Ask the Expert" questions about pets in the city.

We were so excited to have Edmonton's own skateboarding bulldog Buttercup come back! This sweetheart rolled into the Edmonton Pet Expo and demanded the audience's attention as she showed off her skills in front of dazzled attendees to a foot-tapping beat. Kids and parents were enchanted as she cruised the Doggy Demo area with owner Paul King, and one lucky fan even walked away with a Buttercup board!

The self-taught athlete made herself available for kisses, head patting and photo opportunities when she took a break from boarding at her booth.

---

**All photos taken by Stan Mah. Thank you Stan for the beautiful memories you captured on camera!**

---

We were thrilled to have the Alberta Dockdogs Club host the Icebreaker competition at the Expo this year. It was a first for us, and we were not disappointed! Dogs large and small raced off the dock in a frenzy to retrieve their floating toy. The crowd got a splash as each furry contestant dove head-long into the giant pool, and paddled back to the dock where, courtesy of A Dirty Dog Spa and Paws for Life, they were blown dry and brushed down. A huge thanks to both the Alberta Dockdogs and their sponsors, including the Ramada on Kingsway, and Cabela's who made it all possible!

After the success of last year's fundraiser we chose to hold the shopping bag fundraiser to help support all of the rescue associations that participated at the Expo. Thanks to the generous donations of Sobeys, Safeway, Lululemon, and Pet Planet, attendees were welcome to take a beautiful resuable shopping bag and were asked for voluntary donations. We were delighted to have such a warm response; with charitable spirit, some attendees even dished out $20 for a single bag, bringing the total amount raised up to $3, 680! This money was divided among all the participating Animal Rescues at the Expo.

The Animal Cancer Therapy Subsidization Society was our Charity of Choice and held a silent auction at the Expo to raise funds for their very important cause, and also sold raffle tickets.

Capital City Characters also came out for some fun with guests. Children were thrilled to get a high five or their photo taken with one of these mascots.

Back by popular demand, we were ecstatic to have the City of Edmonton: Pets in the City Stage host the Ask the Expert Panel Discussion. This year, we brought together local Veterinarians, Animal Health Technicians, and a behavioralist to answer all pet-related health and medical questions, from proper diet and exercise to vaccinations and pet care. A huge thanks to the Edmonton Veterinarian Emergency Clinic's Dr. Williamson, Hermitage Veterinary Hospital's Dr. Kim Romanufa and Dr. Chandan Maan, the SPCA's Bilinda Wagner, and Glenora Cat Clinic's Angela Hicks-Ewing for making the Panel possible!

Barkin' Mad Dog Sports brought the canine Olympics to the Pet Expo this year with Flyball, a thrilling relay race between two teams of the most fast-footed dogs in the Edmonton area! The four-legged contestants bounded over the jumps on the course to retrieve a ball and raced back to their handlers in the shortest time possible. A huge thank you to the members of Barkin' Mad Dog Sports and their speedy sprinters!

Attendees at the Show were able to cheer on their favourite competitor as agile dogs sprang to capture flying discs in a disc dog demonstration! Some of the air these canines got was truly spectacular! Thanks to Zero Gravity Disc Dogs and their flighty friends!

The races were back this year! Rescued Dachshunds ran against their fellow wieners for the gold! This was definitely a spectacle to take in up close as these tiny athletes raced their way to the finish line! Thank you to the Alberta Dachshund Rescue for bringing back the cutest sport around!

The Edmonton Humane Society's Bilinda Wagner shed some light on dog behavior and body language. Along with fellow behavior consultant Carol MacDonald, Wagner described signs of arousal and aggression, and discussed how to be safe at the dog park and during dog play. With the help of Kricket the Pit Bull, Matilda the Greyhound, Sophie Snapdragon and Guinness the Boston Terrier, the audience learned a lot!

The Edmonton Reptile & Amphibian Society attended, introducing visitors to a wide range of cold-blooded creatures! Several brave folk dared to hold the giant python while others got to learn about the proper handling and care of some of the coolest pets out there!

The Edmonton Pet Parrot Association and Meika's Birdhouse were out in full force with a beautiful display of winged friends. Visitors were able to view the gorgeous colours of memebers' birds and ask questions about caring for these magnificent creatures.

Thistle Hill Farm brought an abundance of classic petting farm favorites from turkeys and chickens to little piglets and goats. They even had a wallaby! Kids were lined up to pet the animals while the critters basked in the attention of all the loving visitors. They also offered pony rides to boys and girls, giving the kids a chance to sit astride a valiant steed or little mare!

The Edmonton Pet Expo featured the Farmers' Market, brought to you by Renegades Castledowns Farmers' Market! This indoor version of everyone's favourite outdoor classic was the perfect place to stop in and see what local vendors had to offer. Fresh local honeys, jerky, dog treats and a multitude of crafty art and accessories were just some of the things you could find. If you missed the Pet Expo Farmers' Market, you can also visit the Renegades Castledowns Farmers' Market every Wednesday from 4pm to 8pm at the Castledowns Recreation Centre located on 153 Avenue and Castledowns Road.