BAY AREA PET FAIR AND ADOPTATHON
On Saturday and Sunday, October 5 and 6, the place for Bay Woof readers to be is the Bay Area Pet Fair and Adoptathon at Marin Center in San Rafael. In addition to canine sports exhibitions, a mutt-focused dog show, and loads of activities for kids, you will meet folks from local rescue groups and shelters and have the opportunity to adopt your next non-human family member on the spot. Headliner Kyra Sundance will offer her exciting stunt dog demos under the big top. The event is pet-friendly and both admission and parking are absolutely free.
Bay Area Pet Fair and Adoptathon was originally launched by Daniel Gonyea and Sandy Lurins in 2006. In 2011, Michael Levy and Mark Witriol, owners of Pet Food Express (PFE), took over production of the event. That year, 431 dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, birds, etc. found new homes during the weekend event. Last year that number rose to 581 and organizers are betting on even more happy pets and people finding each other at the fair this year. [Ed. Note: Figures are now in for the 2013 event, which saw 690 animals adopted, 465 of them dogs. Great job!]
PFE’s charitable endeavors on behalf of local pets dates back much further than this annual event, however. The company’s online pet finder NorCalPetAdoptions.com has aided in the adoption of 70,000 pets since its inception over 10 years ago. PFE also operates permanent state-of-the-art cat adoption centers in five of its stores, facilitating happy endings for thousands of cats, kittens, and bunnies each year.
PFE’s generosity to the local animal community doesn’t end there. Its Cover Your Canine program raises funds to provide protective K-9 vests, trauma kits, car heat alarms, and retired police dog medical care via groups in Northern California. Through another creative PFE endeavor, My Mutt, you can make a donation to local animal causes and make your favorite canine a poster dog in a PFE store near you. (Full details on all programs are available at petfoodexpress.com.)
Providing free pet food and other supplies to local shelters, rescue groups, and schools is another important part of the company’s mission. Food and litter donations last year alone totaled $376,000. All told, the company’s charitable giving topped $1.5 million dollars in 2012.
We can’t fail to mention that Pet Food Express has been a very generous friend of Bay Woof over the years and is one of our most loyal advertisers. Without PFE, our ability to serve local dogs and their people – bringing you a lively mix of canine news, expert viewpoints, and rescue/shelter highlights in each issue – would surely suffer. Huge thanks to Michael and Mark, for their steadfast support.
Be sure to join us at PFE’s Bay Area Pet Fair and Adoptathon the first weekend in October. For the full schedule of event activities, visit bayareapetfair.org.
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Main article photo by: Corey Stulce
