Weavers Way’s pet fair returns for a second year

Treat your pet (and yourself) to an entertaining pet parade, pet advice sessions, and healthy pet snacks at the Weavers Way Co-op’s Pet-A-Palooza event this weekend.

On Saturday June 2 the co-op’s pet supply store will host the event from noon to 4 p.m. across the intersection of Greene St. and Carpenter Lane in West Mt. Airy. The store is a component of the co-op and carries natural, holistic and organic pet food as well as a variety of pet supplies.

A free “Ask the Trainer” session at 2 p.m. will give basic tips on training a pet. “We have local dog trainers who will do dog training demonstrations,” said Workman, “and there will be an opportunity for a Q&A session. She says the trainers will also present dog agility demonstrations that will give exercise tips to help keep pets in shape.

Entertainment at the event will include “Silly Pet Tricks” performances at 2:30 and at 3 p.m. “The neighborhood dogs will perform whatever tricks are in the repertoire,” said Anne Workman, outreach coordinator for Weavers Way.

After the tricks comes the pet parade. “We usually have about 30 or more dogs who participate in the pet parade. Last year we had birds and snakes – but it’s mostly four-legged pets on leashes.”

Workman says she is most excited to have about six local animal rescue groups at the event that will have pets up for adoption.

“Mt. Airy is a pet loving community,” said Workman, “we want to honor people and their pets.”

Vendors will include pet-sitters, doggy day care, veterinarians, groomers, animal rescue groups and trainers. There will also be sessions on pet wellness and nutrition and visiting pets can sample pet products.

Pet-A-Palooza is a marketing event for Weavers Way’s pet store, which has branched out to offer chicken feed.  Workman says there are more and more chicken owners in Philadelphia. “We have our Philadelphia Backyard Chickens Club that formed within the last year,” said Workman. “It’s an informational committee for urban chicken farmers.”

She says that an increase in chicken feed sales at the store prompted the formation of a club.

A recent pet food recall had Weavers Way shoppers returning various brands of pet food. The recall was based on discovery of ” a very few bags of pet food” that tested positive for salmonella.

“We were told that about four bags out of a few million were affected,” said Rick Spalek, store manager at Weavers Way. “It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

All shoppers are able to return food that they had bought within the last few months and Spalek says the current products in the store are not affected.

For more information about the Weavers Way pet supply store and Pet-A-Palooz contact Anne Workman, outreach coordinator, at 215-843-2350, ext. 118, or via e-mail at outreach@weaversway.coop.