Pet Fair to Raise Funds for Four-Legged Friends

Hundreds of people—and their furry friends—are expected to converge on Hubbard Park Saturday for the city’s third annual Pet Fair. The event, sponsored by the Meriden Rotary Club, benefits the Meriden Humane Society, the city’s no-kill animal shelter.

The day begins with a road race at 9:30 a.m. To register, visit www.­petfair.­meride­nrotary.­org. The cost to enter is $25 in advance or $30 on the day of the race. Registration starts at 8 a.m.

The fair itself runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and features a dog trick contest, an owner/pet look-alike contest, raffles, face painting, bounce houses and many local vendors. Admission is free, but guests are asked to bring pet food or supplies to help “stuff a truck” sponsored by the Meriden police and fire departments. The items collected will be donated to the humane society.

Animal demonstrations include:

• Police K-9 Unit
• Frisbee Dogs
• Agility
• Dancing Dogs

Pet services include:

• Nail Clipping
• Microchip Clinic
• Pet Reiki
• Pet Massage
• Pet Psychic

Attendees (including the four-legged kind) are invited to take part in a Pet Walk around the park at 11:30 a.m. Registration starts at 10 a.m., and the cost to participate is $15 for one dog, $20 for two. (Dogs must be on a leash at all times—during the Pet Walk and throughout the Pet Fair.)

The Meriden Humane Society will use its Pet Fair bounty to spay and neuter its animals. “Every dime goes to that,” said Marlena DiBianco, director of the shelter. And it’s really needed. “It’s a revolving door here,” DiBianco said.

According to City Councilor Brian Daniels, one of the event organizers, last year’s Pet Fair netted about $4,000 for the MHS. He expects to bring in even more this year due to some new attractions. This is the first year that the Meriden Rotary Club has partnered with Chaz & AJ on 99.1 WPLR radio and with Teresa LaBarbera of WTNH-TV. 

“We are optimistic that we will exceed last year's numbers,” Daniels said.