Pet sounds lots of cat laughs at animal expo
UNLIKE your average modelling contest, a little bit of hair out-of-place or a shaggy cut were an asset.
It wasn't the long lean legs and perfect physique that were being judged, rather obedience and personality, in 'Ireland's Next Top Dog Model' show at the Pet Expo in the RDS.
Pink diamante collars were doing a mean trade at the Pet Expo at Dublin's RDS yesterday as Ireland's public once again proved they were barking mad about their animals.
All the latest doggie fashion was on show as four-legged creatures took to the stages.
For those who like a taste of the exotic, baby Bearded Dragons, were on sale at €50 each in McElheron Reptiles stand. But the most popular exotic pet is the Corn Snake, which dines on frozen rodents, and costs around €180 for a baby snake plus starter kit.
And yes, a number of mothers have turned a little green at the gills at the thoughts to storing them in the freezer. But hiding them away in a lunchbox can generally appease, says stallholder Thomas McElheron.
Thomas Griffiths from Pets at Rest, the man who is vying for the tag of 'Ireland's First Pet Undertaker' with hopes of opening a cemetery in Co Meath, had pet caskets on show, priced €180 for a medium-size.
"Elderly people these days replace family with pets," he said, and after 18-years of company a couple of hundred euro is not a lot to spend.
Sadly, or perhaps thankfully for those of a sensitive disposition, a parrot who turned the air blue with carefully aimed expletives was taking a break from the punters.
'CoCo', the seven-year-old African Grey Parrot, is a foul-mouthed resident of the Kinsealy Pet Shop.
Some of the stands may have looked a little quiet during the afternoon but organisers, with a high rate of pre-bookings for the weekend, were confident over 25,000 people would pass through the exhibition before close of business tomorrow.
Cameron Murray from Glasthule, above, celebrated his 7th birthday with Sultan the royal python snake at the show, while Amadeus the Persian cat from the Cork Cat Club, was hoping for a fish supper, right.
- Louise Hogan
