Pet Fest offers half-price shots, fun

***image4***Pet owners who braved the rain Saturday to attend the Seventh Annual Pet Fest 2005 at the Pulaski Veterinary Clinic saved a combined total of almost $5,000.

“We are basically celebrating National Pet Week in recognition of the military pet,” said Spc. Kacie A. Crotchett, 51st Medical Detachment Pulaski Veterinary Clinic animal care specialist and Pet Fest 2005 coordinator. “We just wanted to celebrate the pets that bring joy to our lives every day.”
The draw of the vet clinic’s celebration of National Pet Week was the half-price vaccinations.

“Drew (a 3-year-old German shepherd) was due for her shots, and I wanted to get her vaccinations for half price,” said Senior Airman Julian I. Lopez, 86th Maintenance Squadron Precision, Measurement and Equipment Laboratory Calibration technician, who saved $26 on three shots at his first Pet Fest. “I’m going downrange later this year, and I wanted to make sure she was updated on everything.”

Besides the reduced vaccinations, the Pet Fest offered children’s activities such as face painting, bouncy castle and Doodles the Clown. Contests included Dog Jog, Look-Alike, Most Obedient Pet, Best Trick and Costume Contest.

Senior Airman Dawn A. Dye, 435th Logistics Readiness Squadron transportation management clerk, and her 11-month-old Yorkshire, Missy, won first place in the Look-Alike contest and took second for Best Costume. Airman Dye, who also has a 10-month-old pure breed Yorkshire named Max, said her dogs’ shots were up-to-date so they had a different reason for coming.

“Missy and Max like to talk with other dogs, but they don’t really get a chance,” she said. “Going to a function like this, they get to go out and see the other dogs and they really like that.”

Leah D. Lattaie is from England, and she also liked the fact that her two dogs and two children were able to celebrate the Pet Fest together. She also really liked having her dogs get their baths at the fest.

“It’s lovely that I got them washed here as well,” said Mrs. Lattaie. “It’s a real chore trying to do it at home so it’s lovely to actually get them done by somebody else.”

National Pet Week was founded in 1981 by the American Veterinary Medical Association to promote responsible pet ownership and public awareness of veterinary medicine, and celebrate the human-animal bond.