Pet enthusiasts of all kinds can find something to do in Calgary this weekend, with both the Reptile Expo and Calgary Cat Show taking place Saturday and Sunday.
The Western Canadian Reptile Expo returned this year at the Acadia Recreation Centre, running April 18-19 and offering interactive experiences with exotic animals, as well as knowledgeable breeders and vendors.
Greg West, one of the event’s promoters, said the expo is great for reptile enthusiasts and hobbyists, but also for curious newcomers, and is expected to draw crowds of up to 10,000 people.
“These are great experiences for anybody who’s never seen, never interacted with reptiles,” he said. “We’ve got an interactive aspect of the show. It’s very educational.”
Visitors meet a boa at the Western Canadian Reptile Expo at the Acadia Recreation Centre on Saturday.
Many of the booths are trusted breeders and other vendors, as well as exotic animal rescues and sanctuaries, all of whom have expertise they’re happy to share with attendees.
“It’s nice to be able to educate people about proper care, how these animals are a little more misunderstood and can make amazing pets,” West said. “A big part of growing our hobby is dispelling all those myths.”
For him, some of the event’s highlights are the exotic animals that attendees can interact with, including sloths, kangaroos, porcupines and a Burmese python.
“We’ve got restricted species here with people who have proper permits, so you can see some of the things that you might not see, other than maybe in zoos,” he said.
Visitors get up close with a baby kangaroo from Cobb’s Exotic Animal Rescue during the Western Canadian Reptile Expo at the Acadia Recreation Centre on Saturday.
McKenzi Watson, co-owner of Manitoba-based sanctuary Prairie Exotics, was stationed at a booth featuring a variety of reptiles that had been surrendered, including an 18-year-old Burmese python named Popcorn.
Many of the animals ended up in Prairie Exotics’ care either because someone moved somewhere with different restrictions for exotic pets, or because the owners didn’t fully understand what they were getting into.
“I’d say 98 per cent of what we do is education,” Watson said, adding that, when looking into an exotic pet, it’s important to understand things like the animal’s expected size and lifespan, behaviour and care needs before making the commitment.
“They’re not just toys,” she said, “Your average person shouldn’t own an alligator or even a Burmese python. Sometimes a bearded dragon is even a good fit for some people, versus maybe something like a corn snake or ball python.”
Cobb’s Exotic Animal Rescue’s Ashley Orsted introduces the Hiscock family to a two-toed sloth during the Western Canadian Reptile Expo.
Nicole Hiscock and sons Nathan and Marcus were visiting the expo for the first time Saturday, guided by Hiscock’s brother, a former reptile breeder and vendor at expos in Toronto.
“I’m just looking forward to seeing what they have here, and seeing all the different types of reptiles and insects,” Hiscock said.
Her brother, Mitchell Whyte, said his goal was to expose the boys to the world of reptiles, and dispel some of the misconceptions.
“There’s a huge stigma in the pet industry toward what snakes and what reptiles are prone to doing,” he said. “It’s nice to expose the kids to it, to know, ‘Here’s what they’re really like.’”
For those who prefer furrier friends, the Calgary Cat Show is taking place Saturday and Sunday at the Southland Leisure Centre, with more than 100 participating cats and kittens and nine International Cat Association judges from around the world.
Sharon Wong holds her Bengal kitten Nico, which won best in show in the kitten classification during the Calgary Cat Show at the Southland Leisure Centre on Saturday.
Vancouver resident Sharon Wong travelled to Calgary to show her seven-month-old Bengal cat, Nico, who won top prize in the kitten category on Saturday afternoon.
“We competed in Vancouver Island last week,” Wong said, noting this weekend was Nico’s second ever show, though Wong has had other show cats in the past.
Bengals aren’t difficult to keep well groomed, she said, so most of the work is in their training.
“Bengals need attention,” she said. “We need to handle them every day to make sure they’re good to show and very nice to handle.”
Most breeds have very specific breed standards, said Robert Seliskar, one of the show’s judges, but there’s also a category for household pets, which are judged on how well groomed they are and their temperament.
Rob Seliskar judges during the Calgary Cat Show at the Southland Leisure Centre on Saturday.
Seliskar is from Florida, but said he enjoys coming to judge the Calgary show, despite the colder weather.
“It’s one of the few shows that I really, really look forward to,” he said. “The exhibitors and the spectators are respectful … And when people treat you nice when you come to do the show, that makes it easier.”
ddekuyper@postmedia.com