Student group to volunteer at Northwest Pet and Companion Fair

The 10th annual Northwest Pet and Companion Fair will be held this weekend at the Portland Expo Center. Portland Animal Welfare for Students (PAWS), a Portland State student group, will be volunteering at the event.

The event will take place this Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Members from PAWS will be assisting with visitor entry, organizing the raffle drawing and helping with cleanup.

In return for their volunteer service, PAWS will receive a booth at the fair where members can spread information about the group’s upcoming projects as well as give helpful pointers on animal care. PAWS will have snakes, lizards and a dog present at their booth for people to learn about.

PAWS co-founder and PSU student Kat Barnum said that the mission of PAWS is “to form an animal community for Portland State students to create affordable education, supplies and resources for pet owners and those who wish to volunteer in the community.”

According to Barnum, PAWS was formed last year as a splinter organization from the pre-veterinary student group. While the pre-vet group focuses almost exclusively on academic content, PAWS acts more as an “animal focus group,” providing the PSU student community with pet events and fundraisers, she said.

PAWS—in partnership with the pre-vet group—also attended last year’s pet fair, running an information booth and meeting other members of the pet community. This year, the group’s main goal is to raise money for an on-campus dog park to be installed behind the Peter W. Stott Center.

Amy Johnson, owner and coordinator of the pet fair, said that the event was started 10 years ago as a way to advocate for pet adoption. While encouraging pet adoption remains the central mission of the show, Johnson said that the fair also promotes responsible pet ownership and helps the local pet industry.

Johnson, who purchased the fair just weeks ago, saved the show from cancellation after the previous owner decided he no longer wished to organize the event.

Johnson had just six weeks to plan and advertise the entire show, but still managed to register over 60 different exhibits, with more being added each day. Aside from PAWS, exhibitors include the National Canine Cancer Foundation, Wild Child Pet Fashions, Darwin’s Natural Pet Products and more.

In the first few years of the show’s existence, the fair attracted about 7,000 visitors, but attendance has since fluctuated. Last year’s fair marked the lowest number of visitors with 2,900. Johnson attributes this low number to the lack of advertising prior to the show, a mistake she has remedied with downtown Portland billboards and a Facebook page devoted to promoting the fair. She predicts that 3,000 to 4,000 people will attend this year’s event.

“It’s kind of a pet social for people who love animals,” Johnson said.

The fair is open to the public, and well-behaved animals are welcome too. Adult tickets cost $7, senior citizens pay $5, and children 12 and under get in for free. Although pets are allowed in the Expo Center, a $1 entrance fee will be charged. However, in lieu of the $1 fee, attendees can bring one can of pet food to donate.

Mothers will receive free admission on Sunday in celebration of Mother’s Day, and Johnson said that there are a number of ticket coupons available. For specific information about locations, times and exhibits, prospective visitors can visit the official website at www.nwpetfair.com. ?