ALLENTOWN, Pa. – With freezing temperatures keeping many people indoors, a popular event focused on pets in Lehigh County is drawing families in from the cold all weekend long.
69 News Reporter Sydney Kay gives us a look into the Lehigh Valley Pet Expo in Allentown.
Inside the Agri-plex at the Allentown Fairgrounds, or inside a tunnel, you’ll find lots of four-legged friends for the Lehigh Valley Pet Expo.
“All dogs can learn new tricks, and I just love to promote that with everybody,” said Gail Mirabella, the Owner and President of “The Dynamo Dogs.”
Six-year-old Mia and owner Gail make up part of The Dynamo Dogs.
Calling themselves an entertainment group of mismatched mutts, they travel all around the country.
“A lot of dogs come to me either totally obsessed with toys, have too much energy, that’s where I get a lot of my dogs from like rescue groups, and then I just see what they like to do I don’t force them to do anything they don’t want to do,” said Mirabella.
If you’re looking for a larger snout, Piggy Villa has you covered with Archie.
They promote awareness and education about potbelly pigs that need to be rescued.
“It’s very challenging, it’s like having a toddler in your house. They can become very destructive. You have to have the right yard, you have to have the right vet care,” said Priscilla Merta, a volunteer with the Tri-County PotBelly Pig Club and Piggy Villa.
Family Pet Shows has been putting on the expo for more than 25 years, exposing thousands of people to all different types of animals and supporting rescues and organizations like Rainforest Reptile Shows.
General Curator Michael Ralbovsky will help conquer fears like mine of holding Peanut Butter, an American alligator!
“He was seized in Long island. Somebody had him there illegally,” said Ralbovsky.
He says their main mission is respecting the animals and sharing that through their programs.
“When they get to see an alligator or a larger snake, or a tortoise even, something like that, their eyes light up and there’s that little blink of, ‘Wow,’” he said.
The Lehigh Valley Pet Expo takes place Friday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., reopening on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday at 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.