On October 17 & 18th, 2009 the American Kennel Club® (AKC) and Cat Fanciers’ Association® (CFA) hosted 36,000 people over two days at Meet the Breeds™ presented by PetPartners, Inc., in New York City.  With the participation of nearly 200 dog clubs and cat councils and the support of over 100 vendors and 16 sponsors, the event was an unqualified success, featuring more than 115,000 square feet of dog and cat festivities.

Meet the Breeds showcased the joys of pet ownership to an audience of dog and cat lovers who were eager to learn about the diversity of breeds and responsible pet ownership in a welcoming and positive setting.  This family-friendly event also educated children of all ages –including local Girl, Boy and Cub Scout troops–and helped them create lasting memories with dogs and cats.

The vendor booths offered every imaginable product for pets and their owners, five ongoing demonstration rings (featuring law enforcement K9s, grooming, agility, obedience and an interactive 'Cat Idol' showcase and more) entertained attendees all day long and complemented the main attraction: nearly 200 individually decorated breed booths where the public interacted with dogs, cats, puppies and kittens and learned about their history and unique attributes directly from the experts.

The event also hosted a few "boldface names" including fashion designer Michael Kors and famed columnist Cindy Adams who brought along her dogs Jazzy and Juicy to greet the huge crowds at the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America’s booth. Whoopi Goldberg, co-host on "The View" and Mario Lopez, host of "Extra" also attended to tape segments for their respective programs. Read More...

• Custom Breed Banners — Get Yours Now!
• Play the Meet the Breeds Game from ZooToo
• Visit the Official Meet the Breed Blog