Fun at the Pet Expo

Psst!!! Bring back something fun for me!

   This weekend was the Pet Expo at the The Overland Park International Trade Center. I attended last year with both dogs, but it was SO crowded that Aki didn't enjoy it completely, so this year, she snoozed at home while Tay and I hit the town. Tay is very okay with crowds! But he did look a little bummed to be leaving his buddy at home:

He perked up as soon as he walked into the Trade Center, though! He got to walk on carpeting, try out the elevators, and see tons of other dogs and people, not to mention shop booth after booth of doggy delights, sample treats of all varieties, and ogle a bunch of rescued parrots, whom he wanted to eat.

   His favorite thing at the whole expo? These empty cages. He was just SURE that there must be an animal in ONE of them! He raced back and forth, sniffing and checking them all, even standing on them for a top-down check. His goofy tail-hawk was wagging the whole time.

    The best part of the show—for me—was scoring a huge bag full of different dry & wet cat foods from a few brands, to try with her persnickety highness. Back at home, I piled more foods on the dining room table for Gyp to sample, then we all settled in together on the couch.

Zzzzzzzzzz.......

Home Sweet Home

   Well, SOMEONE seems to be settling right into her new foster home, doesn't she? Lil' Scooter looks so happy in these photos David shared with me. She is one lucky pup. (And of course her big sister, Swifty is, too!) 

   Here's another happy MSIR alumni... Miss Polly, whom I transported from the airport last year. She always had a great smile, but how happy and content does she look here? The man who adopted her last year posted this in the Great KC Pet Expo's Facebook page and I happened to catch it. I sent him a note and he said that they are "stone-cold crazy about her." And suddenly my smile was as big as Polly's.  :)

   Joahnna, another MSIR volunteer, created this slideshow of recent adoptees. And though my guys aren't that recent, they still made an appearance. Love to see dogs find their happy new homes, especially when you just know that it was meant to be. I feel that way about my sweet, spoiled pups.

Near-Ultimate Stay

   Only a few minutes after entering the Pet Expo with Ginny and Sheryl, they announced the "Ultimate Stay" competition. You put your dog in the ring and tell them to stay, back up, and watch while volunteers tease the dogs by bouncing tennis balls in front of them, dropping food, and just generally being extremely distracting. I thought Aki could do it...

Taylor watches from the sidelines (there's no way he'd ignore pieces of sausage being dropped in front of him!)

I told Aki to "wait."

And Aki waited.

...And thought about calling for a pizza.

Then we were asked to back up again. Only 4 dogs left!

   Aki finally got bored and caved, so she came in 4th. (You could read her face right before she moved: "Is this all there is? C'mon, seriously? SERIOUSLY? Give me a break. I'm outta here." She wasn't a bit interested in the distractions—which is why I knew she would do well. But she couldn't resist boredom. Better luck next year! Thanks to Ginny for taking the photos (and also for holding Taylor)!

Back to the Future... I mean, the Pet Expo

   I met Ginny and her mom, Sheryl, at the Overland Park international trade center today and we checked out the Pet Expo together. (I was supposed to be volunteering for MSIR at the expo at the American Royal all weekend, but that event was cancelled... and we didn't have a booth at this new expo. Maybe next year!) So I dragged my Shibas along. And I say "dragged" because neither was in a great mood to put up with all the people, dogs, noise and chaos. But they did alright overall.

   I entered Aki in a "stay" competition against about a dozen other dogs. The rules are simple: put your dog in a sit or down and step backward, telling them to stay. Then some volunteers walk between you and your dog, tempting them by bouncing tennis balls, dropping treats, etc. Aki did well (I think she was 4th place overall), but an Australian Shepherd took the prize.

Check this out: my dogs drive a Delorean on the weekends!

   For some reason, the original DeLorean from Back to the Future was there, and we were allowed to sit in it for photos. Aki was mad at Taylor for hogging the driver's seat. Then it was Ginny and Sheryl's turn...

   Aki says, "Whoa, that's the biggest Shiba I've ever seen!" Actually, it was an Akita named Jackson. He howled just like Taylor.

   This expo was put on by a totally different group than last year, so it was starting from scratch: very good, but I'm sure will be even better next year! The organizer did a fantastic job and was SUPER friendly! We really liked her.

   On the way home, this happened: my tire blew about a mile away. I made it limp slowly into the driveway and called AAA. I'm having seriously bad CARma lately: had two flats last week (slow leaks that I haven't fixed yet), and now this, which needs a patch. This is when I hate cars.

   But on the bright side, when I picked up my mail, I apparently can save $88,500 by purchasing a $19 magazine subscription. I'd be stupid NOT to! That will pay for MANY new tires. Thank you, Alert Diver Magazine!

KC Pet Expo weekend!

Aki, Taylor & I volunteered to work in the MSIR (Midwest Shiba Inu Rescue) booth at the expo downtown. The dogs LOVE riding in the car! (Remember this image; it's a good contrast to the last one at the end of this post.) Oh boy!!!

Hey! Halfway Home Pet Adoptions made a large banner with my artwork. Cool!!!

We were reunited with Polly, the little 14-month-old shiba that we picked up from the Gardner airport. She was still looking for a home (as was Titan, a black & tan male).

I've never seen Polly not smile. Happiest dog ever:

...except when her manic puppy energy gets Aki riled up, that is:

Kathy's niece & nephew helped out on Sunday. They are awesome kids, & so great with the dogs!!!

Taylor, always a whore for bellyrubs:

Aki likes to chew on Taylor...

...but protests a kiss on the face!

The dogs were great, putting up with hundreds of people stopping to pet them. By this point on Sunday they were really getting worn out, so they greeted everyone from this cozy bed:

...or just watched the legs walk by...

Across from our booth were Pug Rescue & Saluki Rescue. Look at the mugs on these pugs! Like grumpy old men melting into the chair:
The Humane Society & many other smaller rescue organizations had booths. The goal for the weekend was 500 adoptions at the Expo. Still waiting to hear if the goal was met, but both Polly & Titan look like they will soon be in new, permanent homes!

Nice to know I'm not the only one who spoils my dogs. Here's proof:

Flyball trials: almost too fast for my camera!

I don't know who designed these shirts for Boston Terrier rescue,
but they are NICE.

This photo says it all. We are tired.

Saturday afternoon when we got home, I let the dogs into the backyard & went inside to change clothes so I could mow the lawn. By the time I got outside, both dogs were curled up into little shiba-balls and were fast asleep in the middle of the yard. I started mowing, getting closer & closer, and finally realized that I was going to have to physically move the dogs so I could finish mowing. Their ears didn't even twitch from the noise.