Had A Pawtastic Time at the Novi Pet Expo And YOU Will too!

This is DEFINITELY the month of the Pet Expo! A week ago I was lucky enough to attend the Miami-Ft.Lauderdale Pet Expo and Friday I attended the:

The Novi Pet Expo began yesterday and is taking place today until 8pm and tomorrow from 11am til 5pm! Well-behaved canine citizens are welcome with proof of current vaccination status—but NO retractable leashes, please!

 Admission $10.00 Adults, Children 6-12, $5.00

 5 and Under, Free!

Parking is $5.00

  Saturday 10 am-8 pm, Sunday, 11am-5 pm 
For an Expo Schedule
click here
(times are subject to change!)

I was lucky enough to have two free tickets given to me for featuring the Expo on my blog a few weeks ago but even if I wasn't comped tickets, it is well worth the price of admission!

The Novi Pet Expo is MUCH larger than the one I attended in Florida last week. When my husband and I first arrived I stopped to say hi to a couple of the volunteers from Michigan Humane:

Then I was greeted by the BIGGEST "Pet Superstore" imaginable!

You could find virtually anything and everything at the Super Store as well as at the booths set up around the Expo.

My pal from  Purina wasn't there but I met some new furiends from Purina that WERE there! (Purina was one of the sponsors).

There were all sorts of animals there from reptiles to parrots, horses and cows!!!

As my husband and I made our way around the venue, we were greeted by one of my "bonus daughters", Marla,  who happens to work for a local rescue here in Michigan called "Almost Home".  She was with Lauren, (the daughter of the owner of Almost Home, who also works for the rescue. I had blogged about Lauren and her mother in 2011, you can read the entire post here ) 

Lauren and my "Bonus" Daughter, Marla

Me, Marla and my husband, Lenny

There were a large number of rescues present at the Expo, most were dog-centric, but we DID see a number of cats that were available for adoption. (I didn't allow myself to linger long at their cages, because I just can't handle not being able to take them ALL home!)

Wait til you see the adorable kittens featured below, I stumbled into the photo op of the century!

 The Tabby on the left was vigorously/relentlessly grooming the black kitty on the right and the black kitty wasn't phased in the least!  Even with all of the nipping and bunny kicking that took place, the black kitty accepted the "lovin", and seemed to relish every second of it!

It was seriously the CUTEST EVER!!

I immensely enjoyed walking around and meeting and speaking with some of the vendors that were there. A few of the booths were already decked out for Christmas:

 Speaking of Christmas. If you live in Michigan and are looking for gifts for the pet lovers in your family, the Novi Pet Expo is DEFINITELY the place to go! Here are a a few of my favorite vendors:

The above items are items that I purchased from Small Paws, Jewelry for Pet People a division of:

From their Etsy Shop:

River Wolfe Art Jewelry is know for high quality handmade jewelry. Many of our beads are handmade with great attention to detail and design. We're known to many Animal Rescue Organizations, Dog and Cat Organizations and Animal Lovers for our Small Paws line of Pet Themed Jewelry, you'll find other designs that incorporate Love, Hope, Peace and Whimsy throughout our store as well. 

Had  lovely time speaking with the owner at her booth!

We make jewelry that reflects who you are.

We've been making and selling polymer clay jewelry for over 10 years, our main venues are art festivals in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, New York and Pennsylvania.

As I made my way around the Expo there were even MORE items that I fell in love with! Below are some delectable oils that I purchased from  MadgeandGert.com

They also make all natural soy candles that they make right here in Michigan! I was in complete ecstasy when I was sniffing their myriad of scents! Many of them smelled good enough to eat! I bought a Almond Cherry candle that is to die for!

I thought it was brilliant for a candle/oil artisan to be present at a Pet Expo. Pet people are often paranoid that their homes smell like pets and are often seeking a way to disguise the fact that pets reside in the home.

Last but DEFINITELY NOT LEAST I ran into my old buddy Deb, from:

Who I first featured on this blog back in January of 2012!!  It was like "old home" day seeing her again! We embraced like long lost buds and made plans to reconnect in early 2015. Deb makes unique, HIGH QUALITY, "upscale apparel for pet parents!" Her designs are amazing, you should check them out, they make great gifts for the holidays, but trust me, you WILL see her again in early 2015!!!

Deb and my husband, Lenny

It appears I wasn't the ONLY one who was interested in doing some holiday shopping, while speaking to Deb, I looking across the aisle and who did I see? It  appears that this gentleman was either ordering online or do you think he was checking his list of "Who is naughty and nice?" 

"Santa" checking his iphone?
He didn't even notice
that I took this pic!
"Zooms" are great!

You can meet Santa and everyone else that I mentioned plus many more if you head out to the Novi Pet Expo!!! It is a MUST see event!

WINNER OF THE THREE DOGZ LLC GIVE-AWAY-WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Meet Three Dogz LLC, Featuring Upscale Apparel And More! For Pet Lovers! And A Give-Away!

You know how they say a "good man is hard to find?"

Well, I  have the man, and finding him wasn't nearly as much of a challenge for me as my eternal quest for high quality T-shirts and sweatshirts that showcase the love I have for my furbabies was. That is, until I found Three Dogz, LLC!

I am all about proudly displaying my love for my furbabies but I am choosy about what I will wear. Much of the merchandise I had run into on the web was poorly made,  and came in your basic BORING colors of white, black, blue and red.

Guess what? Those days are gone! Enter Three Dogz LLC,  an Internet-based business which is  owned and operated by Deborah and Joseph LaRocque of Livonia, Michigan (which happens to be about 20 minutes from where I live!) and specializes in selling high-quality products for pet lovers!

Have a passion for dogs, cats or horses? You have found the right place!  When  you visit their website be sure you have a bowl of snacks and a beverage by your side,  because this is NOT a quick-hit-and-run-website. I am certain you will become as smitten and engrossed when viewing their website  as I was.  They have a  vast selection of merchandise that will make YOU wag YOUR tail in sheer delight!

You will find everything from:

T-shirts (some with rhinestone, Zebra print, embroidery, etc.)

Jewelry

Pet Bandanas

Desk sets (including Bone shaped Paper Clips, pens/pencils, mouse pads)

Kids Apparel

Couples Apparel

Gift Wrapping Items

AND MORE!

Did I mention these items are quality? Oh I did? Well listen again, I have yet to find T-shirts or sweatshirts for the pet lover that were of such superb quality.

Are you a hard-to-fit-size? No worries. When I was a Plus Size my frustration level used to be through the ceiling. I would find a T-shirt I liked that was only available in a 1X, that is NOT the case here! Plus Sizes are welcome and abundant here in many of their designs!  Where were these guys when I was a 2X or 3X?

Here is the shirt that I chose:

only mine said:

"Wild About Tabbies"

(and that is not me in the photo!)

I was so blown away with the custom design (all Deborah's designs are created by their own in-house designer and are unique to Three Dogz LLC), you can have YOUR favorite breed featured on your shirt as well (most breeds are available). Your color choices are practically unlimited!

After receiving the  T-shirt I proceeded to order the Pet Parents Pledge Sweatshirt  that is shown above. (I PURCHASED IT because I LOVE THEIR MERCHANDISE, it was NOT given to me) which is the best-fitting, softest,   most unique and  comfortable sweatshirt that I own! My husband mentioned last night that I need to buy more of them because he had never seen me look so good in a sweatshirt! The attention to detail from the paw prints INSIDE of the hood, to the tiny paw prints on the top of the hoodie are the cutest thing I have seen in quite some time! (Many color choices are available!)

I am thrilled to let you know that Deborah has generously offered to GIVE one of my readers a T-shirt of their choice!

How can you win?   NUMBER 1 IS MANDATORY. IF YOU DO NOT COMPLETE NUMBER 1 YOU WILL NOT BE ENTERED. (U.S. and Canada only please)

1) MANDATORY: Visit the Three Dogz LLC website, then come back here and leave a comment telling us which T-shirt design you would like to win if you are chosen by www.random.org as the lucky winner!

2) "like" Three Dogz LLC on Facebook and tell them that Dakota's Den sent you!

3) DEADLINE TO ENTER:  MONDAY, JANUARY 23  at 11pm EASTERN. The winner will be drawn by www.random.org and announced WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25TH

I was not paid for this post. I received  a T-shirt to review.