When: February 10th, 2018
Where: Piers 92 and 94, New York, NY
From Akitas to Xoloitzcuintlis and everything in between, AKC Meet the Breeds is brought to you by exclusive pet care sponsor Purina® Pro Plan®. The eighth annual event gives dog lovers the unique opportunity to meet and play with more than 100 different breeds in booths individually decorated to depict each breed’s country of origin, historical purpose/function, and attributes as a family pet, all while learning about responsible dog ownership and which breeds may be right for them. This year, cats make their triumphant return to the AKC Meet the Breeds® event with The International Cat Association® (TICA®), giving animal lovers the unique opportunity to meet and play with 35-40 different cat breeds. Event sponsors include AKC Pet Insurance, Motel 6, and Pet Brands.
New York, NY – The Westminster Kennel Club and American Kennel Club (AKC®) present Meet & Compete, featuring the 5th Annual Masters Agility Championship at Westminster and AKC Meet the Breeds®, brought to you by Purina® Pro Plan®. The joint event returns to New York City on Saturday, February 10th at Piers 92 and 94. After a successful return to AKC Meet the Breeds® last year, The International Cat Association® (TICA®) brings cats back to the 2018 event, giving animal lovers the unique opportunity to meet and play with hundreds of adorable dogs and cats while learning about responsible pet ownership. Attendees also get the chance to see the nation’s top canine competitors race against the clock over an obstacle course at the 5thAnnual Masters Agility Championship.
“We’re always excited to bring AKC Meet the Breeds to the New York City public as part of Meet & Compete,” said AKC Executive Secretary Gina DiNardo. “We’re thrilled that TICA is joining us again, bringing attendees a fantastic lineup of dog and cat breeds to meet while learning about responsible pet ownership and what breed fits their family and lifestyle.”
“The Masters Agility Championship at Westminster and AKC Meet the Breeds® have proven to be a great fit together, and we’re pleased to again join forces with the American Kennel Club,” said Seán W. McCarthy, President of the Westminster Kennel Club. “Meet & Compete continues to be a successful event, and we’re glad to bring it back to the public for the fourth year.”
This AKC Meet the Breeds® will be TICA’s fifth time participating in the event, and they will have ongoing exciting cat agility demonstrations for the public. TICA is the world’s largest genetic registry of pedigreed cats and the largest registry of household pet cats and kittens. The organization currently recognizes 71 cat breeds.
“AKC Meet the Breeds® gives New Yorkers the chance to step into the jungle and play with a Bengal cat and see a Mastiff dog in a medieval castle,” said TICA President Fate Mays. “We’re very happy to be a part of such a wonderful event that allows animal lovers to meet various dog and cat breeds up close, and learn about them straight from the experts.”
The 2018 event marks the ninth AKC Meet the Breeds® and the fourth year that the event is part of the exciting Westminster Week roster. One daytime ticket will grant event-goers access to both AKC Meet the Breeds® and the Masters Agility Championship at Westminster. Attendees will be able to interact with nearly 200 breeds of dogs and cats in elaborately decorated booths that depict fun elements from the breed’s history and talk to experts about each breed, as well as see the exciting Agility competition taking place in Pier 94.
The agility competition takes place all day (Preliminary rounds 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. / Finals 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.) in Pier 94, with the finals being televised on FOX Sports 1 Sunday, February 11 from 8-10 p.m. ET. AKC Meet the Breeds® will take place in Piers 92 & 94 from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.
In addition to Meet & Compete on Saturday, February 10th, Westminster Week events include the iconic 142nd Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on Monday and Tuesday, February 12-13 and the 3rd Annual Masters Obedience Championship at Westminster on Monday, February 12. All events are presented by Purina® Pro Plan®, which is dedicated to helping dogs of all activity levels excel through performance nutrition and expert resources.
To purchase tickets for Meet & Compete and find additional information about the event, visit www.westminsterkennelclub.org.
MEDIA CONTACT
| Brandi Hunter | Publicity |
|---|---|
| American Kennel Club | Westminster Kennel Club |
| 212-696-8220 | 212-213-3212 |
| brandi.hunter@akc.org | gail@westminsterkennelclub.com |