ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Walking into the Agri-Plex at the Allentown Fairgrounds, it would be understandable if you were overwhelmed.
Dancing dogs, painting pigs, party parrots, silly snakes and lovable llamas dominate the building floor, filling two huge rooms with an array of domestic and wild animals with countless vendors offering up specialty treats, training sessions, and boatloads of information about rescues and rehabilitation efforts.
It’s a veritable zoo this weekend, with the Lehigh Valley Pet Expo bringing a wide assortment of animals and experts under one roof for education and appreciation.
“It’s more about the excitement of pets — we get almost 1,000 people bringing their pets to the show, so that makes it interesting, because you can see all different types of animals — we have birds, we have the dog arena, the lure course where dogs can run, our rainforest reptiles show, and more."Lehigh Valley Pet Expo show promoter Dennis Garetano
Show promoter Dennis Garetano said this weekend’s event is the 12th year for the expo.
“What we talk about, our main goal, is responsible pet ownership,” Garetano said.
“We have vendors selling products of all different types, and we have demonstrations for education and entertainment.”
And while you’ll find plenty of rescue booths and clubs and associations, what you won’t see is salesmen.
Garetano said he’d much rather see people look into saving an animal who doesn’t have a home than buying from a breeder, as there are plenty of animals in need.
“It’s more about the excitement of pets — we get almost 1,000 people bringing their pets to the show, so that makes it interesting, because you can see all different types of animals — we have birds, we have the dog arena, the lure course where dogs can run, our rain forest reptiles show, and more,” Garetano said.
Party parrots and slithery snakes
Parties by Parrots owner Gerry Burch started his small business 16 years ago, and he keeps it going “for the love of the birds.”
“I love to make people smile. We are open to the public; you’re able to hold any kind of birds you want. I have all kinds, from the smallest to the biggest macaws. We have rare birds, exotic birds, from three weeks old to ten years.”
Burch said he trusts his birds with everyone, including infants. In fact, you can cradle some of his birds just like babies. Visitors at the expo can drop $10 and spend some time petting and bonding with his crew this weekend.
“I train with love and affection, never treat training,” Burch said. “All my birds do these tricks because they love doing it. It’s awesome; it’s all about the love in my house.”
With several shows scheduled throughout the weekend, one of the biggest draws for kids is the Rainforest Reptiles Show, led by curator and herpetologist Michael Ralbovsky.
“We're educating people about the wildlife and about the animals in the rain forest. And we've been doing it for years and years and years. So it's a big thing to if kids can touch an animal like that and feel it and get used to it, then they're going to be more apt to be good stewards of our environment,” Ralbovsky said.
“It’s very beneficial to people, and it helps our mental health and things like that – it’s no different than a seeing eye dog or another animal like that that always helps people."
Throughout his show, he invites participants, mainly children, up to hold Stella the Burmese python, who is a bit of star considering that it's her year in the Chinese zodiac. There are also lizards, turtles, frogs.
And while some would skip past the reptiles, Ralbovsky encourages people to give them the same care and respect as their furrier friends, as physical engagement creates a bond with that creature, and improves our own mental health.
“It’s very beneficial to people, and it helps our mental health and things like that – it’s no different from a seeing eye dog or another animal like that always helps people." Ralbovsky said.
Alpaca pals
Sitting over in the corner relaxing as they wait to take their turn in the spotlight, a pair of alpacas calmly soak up the love and attention as people pass by their little enclosure.
They’re at the expo with Beyond Imagination Alpacas, a group which includes several owner/operators at an alpaca farm.
“We have two alpacas. They’re both female; the darker one is two, and the older one is nine,” Tucci said.
“Their fleece is four times warmer than sheep’s wool, so we don’t need a real heavy sweater to be just as warm as you would with a sheep’s wool sweater. Alpacas are hypoallergenic, so you don’t have an itchy, scratchy sweater.”
Tucci also pointed out that alpacas do not have hooves, rather, they have two toes with toenails. And they do in fact, enjoy mani/pedis.
“They are a little skittish,” Tucci said. “But these guys, if they trust you, you know… They have an attitude of a cat: if you have food, they’re going to love you to death until it’s gone, and then they’ll walk away.”
And as for spitting, yes, they do that when afraid, but overall, they’re an intriguing and adorable animal which draws plenty of attention, especially when they’re featured in this weekend’s Alpacas 101 presentation.
Daredevil dogs
If you’re interested in checking out a cheeky performance by a band of fluffy, funny friends, you can’t miss the Dynamo Dogs show.
Dynamo Dogs trainer Allysa Grubbs described the spectacle as “an action-packed show where we’re going to have the dogs running course, barrel racing, doing tricks, playing Frisbee, and it’s just a lot of fun.”
“We love to put smiles on people’s faces, and just have a good time,” Grubbs said.
When it comes to preparing the pups for their big performances, each one is a little different, Grubbs said.
“Some dogs need a lot more confidence, so it takes a little more time to get them ready for the show. Other dogs, you can have ready in just a couple months,” Grubbs said, adding she usually frames training as a game, as “it’s more fun for the dogs,” and they tend to really grasp the idea better.
You can see if on display as Grubbs and her group balance, dance, spin, and enthrall the crowd.
Pigcassos!
Those looking to relax can swing by PiggyVilla and visit owner Priscilla Merta and her band of potbelly pigs.
“So we're here to show people what they actually look and feel like, and see how smart they are. They can do a ton of tricks. They can sit and shake and spin. They can bow. They could do the obstacle course here at PiggyVilla, too,” Merta said.
But one of the most important things she does is educate people about potbelly pigs. Merta said it’s a common misconception that there are “teacup pigs,” a breed which doesn’t grow beyond the size of a cat or small dog.
But that isn’t true, and it often leads to people giving up their pig when they can no longer house it, or they find their locality doesn’t allow pigs.
Potbellies are trainable, they tend to get along with many other animals, and can be housebroken. Problems sometimes arise when they get bored, and “they can get a little mischievous,” Merta said.
They’re also talented artists.
“We have Pigcassos here too: So you pick three colors, you pick a pig, and they'll paint the picture for you, and then you get to take it home, and we give you a little picture of the pig that painted the picture for you,” Merta said.
The perfect pets
And before you hit the road, make sure to take a turn through Barnes Yard Petting, a mini petting zoo featuring goats, zebu cows, a sassy llama, and more.
“It’s our third year back, and we love being out here,” owner Marie Barnes said.
“They’re all home-raised animals. We started with a lot of recuse stuff, and we’ve gone into some breed conservation work, and everything that we have now is born and bred right on our farm.”
While just about everyone lights up with joy at the opportunity to feed a furry friend, Barnes said that the star of the show is usually a llama – “People love the llamas, the llamas are always a big one,” she said.
For those who love a good animal friend, make some time to check out the Lehigh Valley Pet Expo this weekend, especially if you’re looking to educate your own young’uns about animals.
“The kids are the best part about it,” Garetano said.
“Kids light up when they see a different animal, and it’s just like, ‘Oh my gosh!’ That’s the best part of the show.”
The Lehigh Valley Pet Expo runs through Sunday, Feb. 2, 2024. For further details on vendors and performers, visit the expo website.
