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By Evan Brandt ebrandt@21st-centurymedia.com @PottstownNews on Twitter
POTTSTOWN >> Alpacas, kittens, guinea pigs, snakes and dogs — oh so many dogs — gathered Saturday in Memorial Park for the 10th Annual Pottstown Pet Fair.
They brought their humans along too.
Oh, and this being Pottstown, there was of course at least one chicken.
But don’t worry Licensing and Inspection Department — we can assure you it was not an “illegal chicken,” visiting, as it was, from Gilbertsville.
Her name was Hildi, and she was a silky whose feath
ers lived up to their name.
Billed as “one of the largest free pet fairs in Pennsylvania,” the boast would get no argument from Bill Caldwell of Norristown, who brings his greyhound Bossy every year.
“We come up every year. It really is a good pet fair,” said Caldwell. “Personally, I think it’s one of the best pet fairs around.”
The fair featured crafts, pet products and unique animal
purveyors, such as Silvermoon Alpacas of Boyertown, as well as dog license registration, a blessing of the animals’ ceremony and a K-9 demonstration.
There was also a dedication of a new garden in Memorial Park dedicated to the memory of Bill “the Cat Guy” Sharon, Pottstown booster and tireless animal advocate.
Sharon, a fixture on the Pottstown Holiday Historic Homes tour, also helped to found and organize the pet fair in its early years. He died in 2018. In addition to pet food
promotions, those walking on two legs could choose from Lily’s Grill/Pottstown United Brewing, Bucktown Grille, Stairway to Veggin and Taco Time.
Children’s activities from the Pottstown Children’s Discovery Center, raffle prizes and gift baskets rounded out the day.
Primary sponsors included Chris Rowe, State Farm Insurance Agent, The Real Estate Professionals, Mobilization for Animals, Noah’s Pet Motel, Pottstown Wal-Mart Supercenter and the Pottstown Parks and Recreation Department.