The Long Island Pet Expo welcomed animal enthusiasts of all kinds to experience a wide array of furry, feathered, and scaled companions. Organized by Family Pet Shows and hosted on the Grant Campus since 2009, this annual event has become a beloved tradition for visitors, offering a large variety of vendors and activities tailored to entertain both pets and humans.
An estimated 10,000 people, accompanied by 1,000 pets streamed into the Suffolk Arena on March 2 and 3, to take in the carnival-like atmosphere. “We try to get a few more interactive things depending on the show,” said the expo’s organizer Karen Garetano of Family Pet Shows. “This year, we have a sanctioned championship cat show which breeders can enter; a lure course where your dog can participate and run around after a lure; and we also have a dog derby here where the smaller dogs can race.”
The Pet Expo also delighted spectators with captivating demonstrations and showcases featuring trained dogs, rabbits, and reptiles. Attendees were also able to enjoy a full-fledged petting zoo, replete with chickens, donkeys, and pony rides.
“We just looked at the birds of prey. Really, that’s why we came here. We went right to that,” said Michael Borghese, who attended the expo with his 3-year-old long-haired dachshund, Max. “He likes the rabbits and seeing the other dogs as well.”
In addition to the demos and close to 90 vendors selling pet products, the expo featured pet adoption organizations. “The biggest thing is getting interest not only for adopters, but we’re looking for fosters. If we have more foster homes, we can bring more dogs up and save more lives.” said Lynn Pozmanter, program director of Last Chance Rescue. She went on to say, “The crisis down south in the shelters is nothing like they’ve ever seen before. They’re always asking for help. And if they don’t get help, they’re having to euthanize dogs. So, fosters are the lifeblood of our rescue.”
Regardless of what brings a person or a pet to the expo, they can, above all, expect to have fun. “Of course, there are people who come here because we have vendors selling great products. Then you have families come who just want to see what’s going on,” Garetano says, “We want them all — especially the families and the kids — to have a good time.”
Family Pet Show’s Pet Expo continues to underscore the bond between humans and animals and foster a sense of camaraderie within the pet-loving community. Family Pet Shows Pet Expo’s next stop was the Philadelphia area, before returning to Long Island for an outdoor expo at Tanner Park in Copiague.
