Did you know that there are currently over 800,000 pets in Singapore? It’s no wonder that Pet Expo was such a huge success over the years! The largest pet fair in Singapore returned for its fifth edition from 6 to 8 April 2018, promising a fun-filled weekend of pawisitive art and wellness – it certainly delivered.
For the uninitiated, Pet Expo started in 2014 as a platform for members of pet communities to congregate, share their experiences, gather insights on pet ownership, and network with other pet owners at the event. Visitors will find the best deals on the latest products and supplies, and a host of educational talks, workshops, contests, and competitions that will undoubtedly tug on the heartstrings of both pet owners and enthusiasts alike.
The 2018 edition saw artistes Paul Foster and Vanessa Vanderstraaten, as well as ethical pet store Good Dog People creating art and dog fashion; with proceeds going to animal welfare groups. Charity organisations supporting the event included the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Save Our Street Dogs (SOSD), and the Cat Welfare Society.
The free pet health check by the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) makes a welcome return from previous years, with licensed veterinarians from private clinics providing free check-ups for both pre-registered and walk-in guests. There were also several pet health seminars conducted by industry professionals, including Weight Management for Your Pets by Dr Ong Wei Jun, and Pet Health Care by Animal Ark.
Pet owners who just wanted to shop at the Pet Expo (no shame there, you’re not alone!) had no lack of options. With the ability to choose from a wide array of exhibitors from booths, trucks, and the on-ground flea – it was practically the paw-rents who were puppy-eyed wandering through the varieties of pet food, treats, accessories, clothes, toys, supplements, and electronics! Even those who ended up not making any purchases were surely entertained by the terrific names some of the brands had: Faux Paw, Fuwry, and Howlistic Life, just to name a few.
Throughout the day, the hall space was lined up with competitions and activities such as the ArtsyFartsy Pawgent Show, Bunny In Me, and the Temptation Breed Races. No time was a bad time to be at the Pet Expo, with something to do from start to end! The first visitors who came before 3pm on the first day even had the rare opportunity to witness first-hand the Grooming Examination and Competition by the Singapore Kernel Club.
The paw-rents who visited were proud of their fur-babies, and were not at all shy to flaunt it – their pets turned up dressed in all manners of clothing and trinkets. Even those who came in au naturel walked out all dressed and dapper!
Of course, there were those who came down just to spend a lazy weekend afternoon with their beloved companions. Fortunately, the hall space was big enough to accommodate everyone and their pets. There’s no excuse for anyone in attendance to dither, as there were Dog Yoga sessions available for both pets and owners!
If you weren’t able to make it for this year’s, fret not – there’s always next year!
How do I know? Maybe a little birdie told me…
For more information on Pet Expo’s past programmes, check out their official website at https://petexposg.com/.
Photos by Danish Lukawski of the DANAMIC Team.
