California’s Pet Food Express Kicks off Statewide Pet Fair Through September

Pet Food Express, a leading California pet retailer, last week kicked off its 13th annual Pet Fair to find forever homes for 7,500 California rescue animals. From Sept. 1-30, Pet Food Express will partner with more than 145 rescues and shelters throughout the state to offer virtual and in-person pet adoptions and host special pet-centric events in all 65 stores, including Gelato Sundae with your Dog, Kitten Yoga and Kids Reading to Kittens. Educational seminars on topics such as Understanding Pet Product Labels, How to Decide Which Pet is Right for You and Sustainability in the Pet Industry will be available 24/7 as pre-recorded videos throughout the month. In addition, Sept. 23 and 24 mark the Pet Fair Celebration Weekend in Pet Food Express’ stores with a special scavenger hunt contest and adoption events for pet lovers to meet and fall in love with, animals from rabbits and doves to dogs and lizards. The Pet Fair website is here.

“The entire Pet Food Express team looks forward to the Pet Fair every year because of the incredible impact we have a hand in making,” said Denyelle Bruno, CEO, Pet Food Express. “This year, we’ve taken a new approach to help us surpass our goal of securing new homes for 7,500 rescued animals. We’re partnering our product vendor sponsors with the more than 145 animal welfare organizations to amplify the exposure for the animals. Through our mix of online efforts and the more than 265 store events including our big Celebration Weekend on Sept. 23 and 24, we’re confident we can do it!”

2023 Pet Food Express Pet Fair by the numbers:

• 30 days of virtual elements and 250+ in-person events; get the schedule – here
• 65 stores throughout California; find a store – here
• 145 shelter and rescue partners
• 12,000-plus pets looking for new homes

Throughout Sept.ember, potential adopters can use Pet Food Express’ Find a Friend search option to filter for location, species or even age as they scroll through and learn about adoptable animals from more than 145 California-based shelters and rescues. Those who adopt receive a special 20 percent off coupon for Pet Food Express as a part of the 20/20 program. Once the coupon is redeemed, the adopting organization receives a $20 donation from Pet Food Express. In 2022, the 20/20 program donated more than $295,000 to rescues and shelters.

IN-STORE PET FAIR DETAILS

Sept. 1-30: In-Store Petcentric + Adoption Events

• All 65 Pet Food Express stores will host petcentric events and a dedicated adoption weekend
• Specific store event details can be found online here
• Sept. 2 & 3, 9 & 10, 16 & 17: Fun, family-friendly events in select stores, such as Gelato Sundae with your Dog, Puppy Yoga and Kids reading to Kittens. Get the schedule here.
• Sept. 23 & 24: Celebration Weekend in all 65 stores
  • Pet adoptions in each store to find forever homes for lizards and dogs to doves and kittens. Event specifics to come.
  • Spot’s Scavenger Hunt
    • Help Spot find supplies for his new forever home for a chance to win one of 10 $500 Pet Food Express gift cards during our Big Celebration Weekend!
    • How to play
      • Grab a Spot from an associate at the register (Prefer cats? Grab Ginger instead)
      • Search for three signs that will be hidden around the store from Sept. 23 – 24 that include a QR Code with a special clue
      • Scan the code to find the clue that will instruct you to take a specific photo with yourself and/or your pet with Spot
      • Once you take all three photos, upload them in one social post to your Instagram or on our Pet Food Express Facebook page (Facebook.com/PetFoodExpress) for a chance to win
      • Include #PFEPetFairEntry and #SpotsScavengerHunt in the caption
      • Winners will be announced on Monday, Sept. 25
  • All Pet Food Express shoppers that attend an in-person Pet Fair event will receive a coupon to get 20 percent off their next in-store and online purchase at Pet Food Express.

VIRTUAL PET FAIR DETAILS
Sept. 1-30: Virtual Pet Adoptions + Educational Seminars

• Search for, virtually meet and adopt rescued animals from 145-plus California rescues: here
• Connect with product vendors, non-profits and more here
• Learn from educational seminars, pre-recorded and with 24/7 access for convenient viewing, including:
  • Chew School with Tasha Valentin-Jucius of Earth Animal
  • Feline Behavior & Training with Micah McKechnie CPDT-KA of the East Bay SPCA
  • Getting Involved in Pet Rescue: Fostering & Volunteering with Samantha Stronge of the San Francisco SPCA
  • How to Decide What Pet is Right For You with Izzy Nidetz of Pasadena Humane
  • Pet Nutrition with Hayley Brandy of JustFoodForDogs, Jessica Aron of Primal and Christopher Langellotti of Weruva
  • Pint Sized Predators: Living with Cats with Amy Vargas of Pet Food Express
  • Sustainability in the Pet Industry with Gwen Cottle of Open Farm
  • The Importance of Dog Training & Where to Start with Nancy Frensley of Berkeley Humane Train the Bay
  • Understanding Pet Product Labels with Samantha Patterson of Pet Food Express
  • Unique Challenges & Joys of Senior Pets with Kristin Hoff of Muttville Senior Dog Rescue
  • Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation with Alex Elias of Peninsula Humane Society and Chris Beard of Lindsay Wildlife Experience

The 2022 Pet Fair found new homes for 7,214 animals throughout California with PFE donating $180,350 to participating shelter and rescue partners.