Friendly faces at the Manitoba Pet Expo

St. Norbert

I am blessed with a recognizable face, but it always surprises when someone stops me to say “Hi.”

Most of the time it’s from conversations we’ve had in the shop, but occasionally from my photo above this column. That’s always so cool, people saying they read my words and enjoy them, thanking me for sharing my thoughts and observations.

This happened recently, at the Manitoba Pet Expo. Hosted by the Boston Terrier & Pug Rescue, this annual event is held at the St. Norbert Arena. This year, the event was delayed a month as the arena had been commandeered as a satellite of the Humane Society for holding animals that were relocated due to the wildfires at the time the Expo had been scheduled. Luckily, that emergency was not long lived. The event went ahead on July 6.

The Expo brings together a wide variety of pet related organizations: retail stores like ours, rescue groups, advocacy groups, industry associations, craftspeople, petting farms/displays and others that want to be where the people that love pets choose to come.

The person that recognized me from my byline photo at the Expo was Linda Toews, who runs The Dishcloth Damsel. Linda is a lovely woman who raises money for pet charities by knitting and selling items, including dishcloths. I have to say, at home we are down to the last few cloths that my mother-in-law Sydney had knit before she passed, so I had to buy a bunch.

At this event, funds raised by Linda were donated to the Boston Terrier & Pug Rescue, but at other events other groups benefit, like at the St. Norbert Farmers Market, she donated to Popcorn and Binkies Small Animal Rescue. She chooses organizations that can use that little bit extra, and I just love that idea. If you want to see where she will be, Google her, or search The Dishcloth Damsel on Facebook. Thanks for your efforts, Linda.

For me, the Expo is a time to meet up with people I haven’t seen in a while, or new people that are looking for answer in this ever advancing world of natural pet nutrition. Over the last 15 years, it is remarkable to see the change in reception when the words “raw food” are mentioned. It has gone from looks of fear, revulsion and dismay 15 years ago to now people saying “Yeah, I know I really should be feeding my pet better, and I know lots of people that are doing it, how do I go about making it happen?” Every opportunity that I have to talk to some one and share information with them about balanced diet of clean, fresh foods, it just makes my day.

Another big shout out to the countless volunteers with the Boston Terrier & Pug Rescue for an amazing event, executed flawlessly and just so much fun. It’s hard work making things look easy. Well done all.