— Meet the Breeds Wows Record Crowds at Javits —
New York, NY– Last month the American Kennel Club and Cat Fanciers’ Association hosted the second edition of Meet the Breeds presented by Pet Partners, Inc., Your Partner in Pet Healthcare. Attended by more than 39,000 people in the tri-state area, the world’s largest showcase of dogs and cats was a resounding success, with participation from 200 dog and cat breed booths, more than 100 vendors and 21 sponsors.
Our breed clubs outdid themselves with booths decorated to depict the history and characteristics of each breed. Congratulations to the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America and their “Queen Elizabeth” for winning Best Booth in Show award. As the focal point of Meet the Breeds, the breed booths showcased the diversity of AKC dogs and drove home the importance of doing your research before adding a pet to the family.
In addition to the breeds, attendees were also introduced to other aspects of the dog and cat world through fun games and giveaways for kids; demonstrations that included dog and cat agility, flyball and a Cat Fashion Show; and vendors selling unique dog and cat items. We also held the local presentations for three of the 2010 AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE) recipients – “Wyatt” (Service Dog), “Rufus” (Therapy Dog) and “Cassius” (Search and Rescue) – in the demo ring for thousands to enjoy.
The extensive media coverage that Meet the Breeds received emphasizes the appeal of its hands-on, family-friendly format and focus on responsible dog ownership. Articles appeared in newspapers from New York to Los Angeles and Calgary to Orlando, in national outlets like Fox & Friends and the New York Times, and on early morning TV segments during the event itself. In all, we reached hundreds of millions via media, highlighting the wonderful world of purebred dogs and cats.
Meet the Breeds was a team effort and a number of people deserve thanks.
Dennis Sprung’s vision helped this event grow in its second year, solidifying its place as one of the world’s greatest showcases. Michael Canalizo handled venue logistics and facilitated our move into a larger space, while Gina DiNardo coordinated breed club and staff participation and served as spokesperson during our media appearances. AKC staff from both the New York and Raleigh offices ran the event by manning the ticket booths, assisting breed club volunteers, answering questions from the public, organizing vendors, emceeing the demo ring and greeting kids as Bailey the Beagle. Thank you.
Our biggest thanks go out to our breed clubs. Without your support, this event would not even be a possibility. Your patience, dedication and creativity in greeting the public and providing an experience for them like no other underscores the commitment you show every day to your breed and the sport of purebred dogs. Our thanks go as well to the stars of the show – the dogs – that endured and enjoyed thousands of pets, hugs, kisses and photo sessions, all to help us promote the love of purebred dogs. Thank you for your participation, and we hope to see all of you next year.
If you didn’t make it to the 2010 event, we hope that you can join us in the future, as Meet the Breeds is truly an experience not to be missed. Stay tuned to www.meetthebreeds.com to be the first to hear about any developing details.
West Coast residents will have the chance to attend their own version next month at AKC Meet the Breeds® during the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship. Stop by to see our wonderful club volunteers and dogs in action with the public!
Sincerely,
Ron Menaker
Chairman
November Chairman’s Report