By Luke Voogt
Hamlyn Heights’ Susie Blair was just days old when she became a dog-lover.
“It all started with my first dog, King,” she said.
“My parents got my brother a puppy so he could cope with a new baby sister. But the moment I came home, the puppy and I bonded and he kind of got left out.”
The kelpie-corgi cross lived to almost 15 years and inspired Susie to become a dog trainer and walker, she said.
Now she and new pooch pal, Cooper, who she adopted in 2017, are promoting the 2020 Geelong Pet Expo at Elcho Park, Lara, on March 15.
Before the adoption, Forever Friends rescued Cooper from a “pet hoarder”, who had kept him on a tether to prevent him escaping and chasing cows next-door, according to Susie.
“He rescued me too,” she said. “I’ve been through a bit of a journey with depression and just coming home to his smile makes my day. He’s always ready with a cuddle and [to be] goofy.”
Susie said the expo would feature pet-related business stalls, tips and activities including tail-wagging, food-tossing and best-dressed competitions.
The expo will raise money for several different animal charities making a “positive impact” in Geelong, Susie said.
About 3000 people attended the inaugural Geelong Pet Expo in 2016 before Susie put the event on the back-burner.
“I got quite burnt out from that one because at the time I was setting up my business. But I never gave up on it being something that I wanted to do.”
More details: Search Geelong Pet Expo on Facebook and Instagram.
