World's Largest Gathering of Cats and Dogs Returns to New York City on November 19th and 20th

May 22, 2011 - PRLog -- New York, NY – Attention all pet lovers, it will be raining cats and dogs once again this November when the American Kennel Club® (AKC) returns to the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City on November 19 and 20 to host the third annual AKC Meet the Breeds® event.

The 2011 event promises to be bigger and offer even more canine and feline fun for the entire family.  This year, the AKC will join forces with The International Cat Association (TICA), the world’s largest genetic registry of purebred cats, to showcase even more breeds of cats and expand the event space to 160,000 square feet to accommodate enhanced breed booths and activities for spectators.
   
Sponsored by PetPartners, Inc. a leading pet healthcare provider, AKC Meet the Breeds is the world’s largest showcase of dogs and cats and offers pet lovers a unique opportunity to play with some of the country’s rarest dog and cat breeds while educating themselves about responsible pet ownership and choosing the right pet for their lifestyle.  

“The AKC is happy to once again offer the public the opportunity to play with and literally ‘meet’ thousands of dogs and cats, including some of the rarest breeds most people have only read about,” said AKC Meet the Breeds Spokesperson and AKC Assistant Vice President Gina DiNardo.  “AKC Meet the Breeds will allow animal lovers to play with a 200 pound Mastiff dog that is larger than most New York City kitchens and pet a hairless Xolo puppy all while learning about the characteristics of more than 160 dog breeds.“

"We are excited to join forces with the AKC this year and offer animal lovers in the tri-state area the rare opportunity to meet more than 50 breeds of cats including the Bengal, the most popular breed in TICA’s world, during the 2011 AKC Meet the Breeds event,” said TICA President Vickie Fisher.  “This year kids can pretend they’re in the wild and pet a Toyger cat that resembles a tiger but has the same sweet nature as a domestic kitten or play with a Cymric cat, the bunny rabbit of the feline world.”

•   More than 210 dog and cat breed booths individually decorated that allow doggie devotees and feline fans to interact with dogs, cats, puppies and kittens and learn about their history and unique attributes directly from the experts.
•   Top experts in every pet-related field including breeding, training, grooming, nutrition and first aid. Get to know some of the cat and dog specialists who will be available to answer your questions and help you identify the best breed for you.
•   More than 100 vendors selling unique dog and cat items so you can spoil your favorite Fido or Fluffy.  Every imaginable canine and feline product will be available just in time for your holiday shopping.
•   Demonstration rings allow attendees to watch dogs race against the clock in the fast-paced sport of Agility, see dogs show off their Rally, Flyball, and Frisbee skills, observe simulated hunting tests and view law enforcement K9s in action.
•   Games and giveaways at vendor booths including free samples and activities for kids.

Get social with the AKC and TICA!  Join AKC on Facebook and Twitter and TICA on Facebook and Twitter.

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The International Cat Association, Inc. (TICA) was organized during 1979, is the world's largest genetic registry of pedigreed cats, largest registry of household pet cats and kittens, and one of the world's largest sanctioning bodies for cat shows. TICA currently recognizes more than 54 breeds of cats. Wherever you are, you’re in TICA’s world. A world of fabulous felines…fun...and friendships. To learn more about TICA visit http://www.tica.org.