Contact: World Pet Association (800) 999-7295

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The World Pet Association Positively Impacted Communities through Americas Family Pet Expo
The Oldest Nonprofit Organization in the Pet Industry Facilitated Pet Adoptions, Raised Funds, and Provided Animal Education through its Annual Show for Families and Pet Enthusiasts.
MONROVIA, Calif. - The World Pet Association finished another successful year of entertaining families and educating the public on pet care through Americas Family Pet Expo, held April 15-17 in Orange County, California, and July 8-10 in Puyallup, Washington. Known for its notable history of placing animals in forever homes and educating people on responsible pet care, this year Americas Family Pet Expo provided homes to 908 animals, raised $1251 for the Pets in the Classroom grant program, and offered a new opportunity for instructive insight through the Aquatic Experience exhibit. At Americas Family Pet Expo in Puyallup, Washington, the World Pet Association donated 45 booth spaces to local shelters and rescue organizations, which resulted in the adoption of 226 animals. The adopted pets at this inaugural event included 133 dogs, 55 cats, seven ferrets, 14 goats and 17 birds. Pet adoption sponsor VCA Animal Hospitals provided certificates for a free first exam at its hospitals to ensure each adoptee joins their forever family with a healthy start. Combined with adoption numbers from the April event in Orange County, California, Americas Family Pet Expo donated 179 booths and helped facilitate 908 adoptions this year, equaling more than 7,308 animal adoptions since 1996. In addition to donating booth spaces to local shelters and rescue organizations, the World Pet Association also donated booth space to the Pet Care Trust. The Pet Care Trust hosted a Betta Fish Toss to raise funds for their Pets in the Classroom program, a grant program supporting responsible pet care in schools by providing direct, no-hassle grants to teachers to purchase or maintain pets in the classroom. The booth raised $1251 for the Pets in the Classroom program and the money was donated in the name of Hikari USA. Amongst the many educational opportunities Americas Family Pet Expo provided, the World Pet Association introduced a new educational exhibit to this years Expos called the Aquatic Experience, an innovative exhibit of 1,000 gallons filled with fish from different regions of the world. The Aquatic Experience featured a touch tank to encourage hands-on education as well as examples of how to incorporate aquaria in the home. Businesses that sponsored the Aquatic Experience included: Aqueon, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, CaribSea Inc, Clifford W Estes Company, Cobalt International, Hikari Sales U.S.A., Inc., Instant Ocean, Marineland, Quality Marine, Segrest Farms, Terrascapes, Tetra, Tetrafauna, The Pond Store, and The Volunteer Docents. ABOUT THE WORLD PET ASSOCIATION The World Pet Association (WPA), formerly the World Wide Pet Industry Association, is the oldest industry organization promoting responsible growth and development of the companion pet and related products and services. As societys humanization of pets grows stronger, WPA knows it is important to inform and educate the general public to ensure safe and healthy lifestyles for our animal friends. WPA plays host to Americas Family Pet Expo, the worlds largest pet and pet products expo, hosted annually in Costa Mesa, Calif., and Puyallup, Washington. The organization also holds SuperZoo (www.superzoo.org), an annual pet industry trade show that showcases a comprehensive collection of exhibits and offers a variety of informative educational seminars known as SuperZoo University. WPA also offers Pet Industry Briefs, a free weekly e-newsletter providing vital industry information at your fingertips. For more information on WPA or to sign up for Pet Industry Briefs, please visit www.worldpetassociation.org.