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Central PA Pets Expo West has something for all animal enthusiasts

Our earth is full of beautiful animals. Some are feathered, some are furry, some are colorful, others are camouflaged, some are large and others are small.

Their differences make them unique and they — in all of their glory — will be celebrated at the upcoming Central PA Pet Expo West.

This May 11 event will be held for the first time in Johnstown at the 1st Summit Arena at the Cambria County War Memorial. It comes off of the heels of the Central PA Pets Expo — which will celebrate its 10th year on October 20. The event draws thousands of visitors and the show’s director is excited to be taking the show to Cambria County for the first time.

“We have been wanting very much to take the show on the road to bring it to the people of Johnstown and the Cambria County area. We have just really wanted to take the show and expand it; to bring it to a larger audience. We found a great location in the War Memorial and are very excited to be bringing it to Johnstown,” said Amy Hanna-Eckenrode, show director and marketing manager at the Altoona Mirror.

The show will be similar to the one that is held annually in Altoona. “We’ll have vendors, about a dozen animal shelters and rescue groups,” said Hanna-Eckenrode.

The event will also showcase Grant Kemmerer from the Wild World of Animals. Kemmerer, who works with and trains animals, is usually along when Jack Hanna is on television. “Grant provides the animals for him. He has a variety of wildlife and sets of wildlife he takes on the road with him,” Hanna-Eckenrode said.

Kemmerer will be bringing wildlife to the Johnstown show. Also coming with unique animals will be “That Guy With the Birds.” Kenny Sprouse, as he is known, will bring distinctive, colorful and exotic parrots with him.

Another well-known name who will be at the event is Shorty Rossi, star of Animal Planet’s “The Pit Boss.” In an email, Rossi said he will be “promoting on our cause of what we do regarding rescue, rehab and home, breed awareness, our new clinic and rescue center” at the expo.

Rossi is hoping his appearance will open the eyes of people about the stigma associated with the pit bull breed. He typically brings his pit bull, Ares, to shows. In the same email Rossi said, “We love people who get to meet Ares and see what this breed is supposed to be and not what the media portrays them as.”

The show will also feature hero dogs, including the Johnstown K-9 Police.

There will be pet care demonstrations and wildlife education. Other special guests, such as Spirit of the Mountain Sled Dogs, will be at the expo.

Carmen Rose from Spirit of the Mountain Sled Dogs said that all of her 17 sled dogs — including Alaskan Malamutes, Alaskan Huskies and Siberian Huskies — are rescue dogs.

“We (she and her husband) have made it our life. People assume this is a hobby, but we basically adjusted our lifestyle to live with all of these dogs. We give these dogs a home and our reward is having them here. They are our heart and where we are they want to be,” Rose said.

She said she will bring about six to eight of her dogs to the expo as well as her long distance sled.

Hanna-Eckenrode, also a lover of dogs who blogs about them, recently wrote a children’s book “Oakley’s Great Cape Escape” and will be signing copies of it at the event.

“He was one of my Golden Retrievers I had for seven years. When I got him he had already been with a breeder for two years and was never socialized. We wanted to help him and brainstormed to take him to the beach — which always makes me feel better. We went to Cape May before season and he got loose and ran away. For 24 hours he was gone. This book is about him being on the loose and has a happy ending. It’s a true story that we made it into a book,” she said.

Whether you are a dog lover, cat lover or exotic animal enthusiast, the event is a wonderful place that brings all who care for animals together to enjoy and celebrate them.

Rossi said, “It brings animal people together under one roof. They get to see what their community offers [that] they may not have been aware of. It opens doors for vendors and rescues promoting what they sell or do.”

If you go

What: Central PA Pets Expo West

When: Saturday, May 11 from noon to 4 p.m.

Where: 1st Summit Arena at the Cambria County War Memorial, Johnstown

Admission: $5 adults; $3 for children 12 and under

More information: Visit the Facebook page Central PA Pets Expo West

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