Fill a Fire Truck Pet Expo looks to build upon success of 2023 event

After a successful inaugural event last year, the Fill a Fire Truck Pet Expo: Unleashing Hope for Washington County Pet Rescues is returning.

The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Bentleyville Volunteer Fire Department Social Hall, 908 Main St.

The pet expo will be hosted by Discover Pet Health Poochtique and Spaw and Bentleyville VFD.

“We invite the pet rescues from Washington County to come and participate,” said Sharee Kalchthaler, owner of Discover Pet Health Poochtique and Spaw. “They’re able to bring animals that are up for adoption. They’re able to hand out information about what they do and try to get more volunteers. They can sell items to raise some funds.”

Pet rescues scheduled to attend include Angel Ridge Animal Rescue, Pet Search, Bridge to Home Animal Rescue and Marie Exotics Reptile Rescue.

Kalchthaler said the rescues post a list of items they need on social media, which are donated to fill the truck, and include dog food, paper towels, liquid bleach, dog shampoo, dish soap, blankets, towels, bed sheets, dog beds, heat and UV bulbs, Reptibark, snake bedding, fresh fruits and vegetables, dog safe rock salt and bags to collect dog waste. Cash donations also are welcome.

“People bring the items that the pet rescues are looking for and they fill the fire truck with those items,” she said.

Kalchthaler said the 2023 event resulted in a full fire truck of donated goods.

“It was amazing,” she said. “We’re hoping to get the word out a little bit more this year and get them more funds and more items that they need. All of the rescues and the response team got over $300 each from half the take and the Chinese auction and probably thousands of dollars worth of items … These rescues and first response teams put a lot of heart and soul into it and donate their time. These animals really need all the support they can get.”

A variety of activities are scheduled throughout the day.

A canine first-aid/CPR class will be presented by Tall Oaks Canine Safety from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at a cost of $60 per person.

Marodi Media will be taking Valentine’s Day pet photos for $15 for two digital images. And free caricature drawings will be available from noon to 2 p.m.

Also available will be free dog training tips, animal safety and rescue demonstrations by the Bentleyville VFD, various presentations by the Washington County Animal Response Team and the demonstration of the pet O2 mask by Ambulance and Chair EMS.

Among vendors attending will be Scoop Dog Canine Creamery, Follow Our Lead and Color My World Milk + Honey. KJ’s Rollin Kitchen will be serving food in the parking lot. Discover Pet Health will offer a “barkery” (bakery for dogs) and “barkcuterie” spread for the dogs, as well as doggie beer samples – froths made of different vitamins for the canines.

“We have a keg of beer for them,” Kalchthaler said.

Pets are welcome, but must be restrained on a non-retractable leash or in a carrier.