In The News
If Pets Are A Reflection Of Their Owners …
The Chicago Pet Show Is a Reflection Of Our Community, Family, And Love.
WhatsNew:
We've Added A New Venue
Along with Kane County Fairgrounds in St. Charles, IL...we have added the Darien Sportsplex in Darien, IL.
Shelters/Rescues:
A Great Opportunity for Pet Adoption and Rescue Organizations
Our shows are the perfect venue for 501c3 Rescue and Adoption organizations to do three very important things:
- Educate the public about pet ownership responsibility.
- Meet perspective foster and adoption prospects.
- Raise funds for your respective organization.
Sponsors:
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Kane Fairgrounds pet show focuses on adoption, education
By Romi Herron For The Courier-News October 30, 2011 7:42PM
ST. CHARLES — While the Chicago Pet Show offered plenty of retail products for animals already living as pets, it also featured educational and adoption channels to help homeless cats and dogs get a chance at the good life.
The show was Saturday and Sunday at the Kane County Fairgrounds.
“We recently found a home for one dog that had been beaten with a baseball bat,” said Maria Schau, off-site adoption coordinator for TAILS, a non-profit organization. “We couldn’t do what we do without the people rescuing these animals. Thank goodness they are now safe.”
Schau said TAILS takes in animals from a high-kill shelter in Oklahoma. With volunteers who that give the animals care for a two-week period in their own “foster” homes, the dogs and cats are later moved to TAILS’ shelter.
Each week, TAILS takes the animals to area pet stores so customers have a chance to consider adopting them. At her side was a 4-year-old mixed breed, Kato, rescued from the Rockford area.
“Kato is already housebroken, fully vetted, great with other animals and children,” Schaumburg said. “And we’ve had four adoptions today and four yesterday.”
Friends of Strays, based in Princeton, also emphasized the high number of cats available for adoption. With dozens of cat-filled crates stacked against a wall at the event, visitors had a chance to interact with the animals and learn about cat care, expenses and lifestyles.
Kristen Weber, director of Illinois English Bulldog Rescue, spoke with guests about the breed.
“They have health issues like allergies and have heat intolerance, breathing issues,” she said. “We encourage people not to buy dogs from pet stores because puppy mills don’t breed with health intentions, and the dogs can have a lot of problems.”
With her was Maddie, a 10-year old white bulldog available for adoption.
In addition to furry pets, scaly ones were also represented, as Bobby Delaney of Naperville took part in the show to talk to people about reptiles.
“I want to break the negative stereotype people have about reptiles,” he said. “They make great pets with proper care.”
Delaney grew fascinated with iguanas when he was a child and thought of them as miniature dinosaurs, so he said he enjoys teaching children how they can have reptile pets, too. They present fewer allergens, he said, and there are many varieties to enjoy.
Reptile expert Jim Nesci, who had worked with the late Steve Irwin, brought an 8-foot alligator to the event and spoke about the need for passion in pet care. He said potential purchasers should understand how large reptiles can grow and how long they can live.
“I think the biggest mistake I see is they might get a burmese python, and the problem is they can reach 20 feet long,” he said.
“It has to be a passion. If (pet ownership) is only on a whim, then it’s not a good thing to do because that’s when people make mistakes.”
Animal Lovers Flock to Chicago Pet Show at Darien Sportsplex
The event showcased pet services and animal friends looking for a good home.
Whether they were vendors or visitors to the first Chicago Pet Show at the Darien Sportsplex, they all had one thing in common: They shared a love for animals.
Theresa Pechous accompanied boyfriend Marc Hamilton Saturday to the pet show with a specific mission.
“Our border collie passed away and so we came here looking for a dog,” said Hamilton.
Not halfway into the more than 60 vendor booths, Hamilton discovered Rorrie, a rescued shepherd mix whose age was estimated to be between eight and 12 months old.
The couple, along with Hamilton’s mother, lingered for some time over the pooch that had a head resembling a fox and a beguilingly playful disposition.
Rorrie was rescued from an animal shelter in Quincy, MI — underweight by about 12 pounds, she was scheduled to be euthanized, said Marianne Yurko, from A Caring Place in Westmont.
“The shelters there just don’t have the resources,” Yurko explained. “There is one shelter for multiple counties, and it only has 20 runs (one dog is allowed per run). By law, the shelters keep the dogs for 10 days in case an owner claims them, but after that…” Her voice trailed as she shook her head.
Pets Connect! Inc. has successfully placed more than 4,000 pets over the past 11 years, but representative Laurie Beam said some cruelty cases still make her cry.
Beam talked about nine-month-old German Sheperd Inka and her anger that previous owners had allowed the dog to dwindle to almost 30 pounds below a healthy weight.
“Every day those owners ate their meals and didn’t feed Inka,” said Beam, explaining that Inka's restricted diet had occurred over a long period of time. “Why they didn’t just take her to a shelter, I don’t know.”
Animal neglect is a sobering thought, and while many rescues at the event had similar stories, the general mood was one of hope as they brought some of their biggest stars looking for good families.
More than 40 dogs were adopted during the first four hours of the event, said event organizer Peggy Ruh.
Ruh also wanted to teach the importance of a variety of animals and so she arranged for a petting zoo with goats, chickens, ducks and miniature ponies as well as presenters showcasing crocodiles, boa constrictors and lizards.
Some families came with the intent of purchasing products or learning about services for pets rather than adopting.
Maha Abbate and her children Firas and Sabrina own three cats and a dog.
“We’re pet lovers. We wanted to check out the products,” Abbate said. “There are great organic products here with nothing artificial in them.”
Earthborn Holistic products specialist Kevin Maduscha explained that ingredients for their dog and cat foods are purchased from local farmers and made fresh with expiration dates visible on the front of the packages.
The Canine Butcher Shop line of natural products is distributed by DD Industries and 25 percent of sales are given back to animal charities.
And there are even alternatives for dogs with special dietary needs.
Greeting visitors outside the Darien Sportsplex was a bright yellow canine catering truck manned by Tracy Werner and Donna Santucci of Fido to go! displaying gluten-free “Gormutt” doggie treats in an enticing ice-cream truck style.
“The majority of dogs are okay eating grains and glutens,” Werner said, “but this gives a healthy option.”
Ruh said that higher grade food results in less animal waste products and while it might be more expensive to buy it saves money in the long run as the pets have fewer health issues.
The next pet show takes place October 29 and 30 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Kane County Fairgrounds in St. Charles.
More information can be found at www.chicagopetshow.com.
For immediate release: Contact: Peggy Ruh, Full House Productions, Inc.
630-385-4000 Ext. 13
Cold Blooded Creatures with Jim Nesci
The Chicago Pet Show will be at the Darien Sportsplex, September 10th and 11th. Hours are Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm. The Chicago Pet show helps Pet Rescues and Shelters find homes for abandoned kittens/cats and puppies/dogs. There will also be an array of pet products and services available to attendees pets and The Mini Zoo Crew, a petting zoo for children.
This year, the show has some snappy and cold blooded friends.
Jim Nesci is an experienced expert in the reptile industry. He is the pioneer of Reptile Education programs and parties. He has owned and worked with reptiles his entire life, starting as a young boy, fascinated with dinosaurs.
Jim and his group of reptiles have appeared on The Oprah Show, Animal Planet, The Tonight Show, HGTV, Regis & Kelly and The Today Show. Locally, they have appeared on Eric & Kathy, 190 North, Don & Roma, Wild Chicago and Early Edition. Jim has also guest lectured at The Shedd Aquarium, Lincoln Park Zoo, The Field Museum and The Academy of Sciences.
He has performed with Jim Fowler, animal expert from “Wild Kingdom”, at “Friends for Conservation” and The Today Show.
Jim Nesci has worked most famously with Steve Irwin, The Crocodile Hunter from Australia. They first worked together and met at The Oprah Show in Chicago. Jim was then invited to Los Angeles to work at the premiere of Steve’s movie, “Croc Hunter, Collision Course”.
He was very impressed with Jim’s cutting edge work with crocodilian behavior.
Steve always called Jim “Bubba’s Dad”.
Are you ready to see alligators, snakes, lizards and a tortoise? Jim wills his audiences to explore the world of reptiles with his guidance and expertise. There is so much to be learned about why they are on the planet. The reptiles Jim brings to a presentation are all user-friendly. This is a one of a kind hands-on experience.
At his performance coming to the Darien Show Jim will be bringing in Monitor Lizards, Pythons, Tortoises, Lucky the Gator from the Chicago Sewer System as well as the star of the show Bubba the Gator!
Cold Blooded Creatures offers participants the opportunity to access the latest information about reptiles. Jim addresses the relationship between reptiles and dinosaurs. Children and adults are treated to many unknown facts about this misunderstood group of creatures.
During all of Jim’s reptile programs, respect and safety for the animals and participants takes front stage. Jim teaches the proper way to handle his animals with attention to detail that assures a positive learning environment. Jim’s message to conserve and protect reptiles provides the focus for Jim’s show. When you attend a show, you’ll really understand the importance of reptiles in the natural world.
Jim is highly experienced in working with special needs children.
Jim appears at the Chicago Pet Show in Darien Sunday, September 11, 2011 from 11AM to 12 Noon. At his appearance, Jim will bring Monitor Lizards, Pythons, Tortoises, ‘Lucky’ the alligator saved from the Chicago sewer system, and star of the show, ‘Bubba the Gator.’
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CALL JIM TODAY FOR AN INTERVIEW AT:
815-485-9370 OR 708-471-1031
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For Immediate release
John Neron, 630-385-4000
Kane County Pet Show For All Animals – Icky Ones Too
With 25 years, over 150 home shows as background, and a love of pets, Peggy Ruh and her staff have ventured forth to announce the production of the Chicago Pet Show at the Kane County Fairgrounds in St. Charles Saturday, Oct. 29 and Sunday, Oct., 30, 2011. This year the Chicago Pet Show is expanding to the Darien area at the Darien Sportsplex
Sept 10 & 11, 2011.
Agility demonstrations and obedience training in the center area on Saturday and Sunday. Fun games and socializing for your pets being demonstrated by the Greater Chicago Cavalier Rescue on both Saturday and Sunday. Pet owners may join in on the games when preregistered and with proof of rabies shots.
Two new logos with 2011 dates attached
Frequently asked questions
IS THIS OUR FIRST SHOW?
FIRST SHOW: This is our first pet show at Darien IL . We’ve been producing The Home Shows 25 years. This is our second show in Kane County Fairgrounds. Our first year was terrific. Not to sound snippy, but a show producer doesn’t last 25 years without knowing the ropes. And, contrary to some opinions, 1st year shows do very well.
