Global Pet Expo 2015: My Suitcase Statistics And Other Notable Numbers

by Amy Tokic

Published: March 13th, 2015

global pet expo 2015 my suitcase statistics and other notable numbers

Sure, it’s the biggest pet trade show in North America, but what PetGuide readers really want to know is what free swag I got and how much I could actually fit in my suitcase!

After three exhausting (but toasty warm) days at the 2015 Global Pet Expo in Florida, I’ve returned armed with a ton of cool, new pet products, lots of interesting (and inappropriate) anecdotes, a wack-load of new friends and a suitcase packed to capacity with goodies and samples.

For those of you who might not be aware, Global Pet Expo is the place to be if you’re a pet retailer. Companies from around the world showcase their products and introduce upcoming trends for the year ahead. Just a few of cool products I saw were chicken harnesses and leashes, cannabis supplements for dogs, doggy rain boots and pet herbal teas. I’ll go into my top Global Pet Expo “steals” in a special upcoming video.

One of the awesome perks of belonging to the press at these kinds of events is the free pass to delectable PR breakfasts, lunches, dinners and cocktail parties. After you’ve had a taste of the usual fried fare at the conference kiosks, you learn to plan your day around these special meal times. And it was during the American Pet Products Association’s (APPA) media luncheon where the pet press learns of the latest industry spending numbers (and noms on a delicious meal). It turns out that 2014 was a banner year for the pet industry – overall spending exceeded $58 billion! Now that’s a lot of kibble!

We’re spending more on pet services such as grooming, boarding, walking, training, daycare and even spa days – this segment saw the highest level of growth in 2014. As in years past, pet parents spend the most food ($22.26 billion), followed by supplies and over-the-counter (OTC) medications ($13.75 billion) and vet services ($15.04 billion).

While all of these numbers speak volumes as to the growing trend of pets being viewed as part of the family, I also wanted to share some Global Pet Expo numbers of my own. Sure, these figures aren’t as important to the continued health of the country’s economy, but they are pretty interesting (and funny, if I do say so!). As Editor of PetGuide.com, it’s not only my job to scarf down free food, but also meet with pet industry experts and manufacturers, learn about new products coming to market, collect press kits for future use on the site… and swipe as much free swag and samples as my suitcase can possible hold! And it’s not until I get home and unpack that I actually see what goodies were scored.

Without further ado, here are my super-important facts and figures from the 2015 Global Pet Expo show… about what I could fit into my suitcase to bring home (along with some fun-to-know facts).

General Show Basics

Global Pet Expo Event: March 4-6, 2015, Orange County Convention Center (Orlando, FL)

Global Pet Expo Conference Size: over 300,000 square feet

Exhibitors: 1,051

Miles walked: about 25.8 (the MapMyWalk app wasn’t working properly, so I can’t be 100 percent sure. Next year, I’m investing in a pedometer.)

Tradeshow walking shoes: 1 pair (Skechers BREATHE EASY Memory Foam Shoes)

Blisters on feet: 7 (Memory foam my ass! I have yet to find a pair of shoes for the trade room floor that don’t leave me in pain at the end of the day)

Band-Aids used: 34

Outlet mall amazing deals: 3 (I had to go to Florida to get Ugg boots for the Canadian winter – go figure)

Adoptable puppies petted: 20 (Some exhibitors feature dogs from Florida Little Dog Rescue. I was late to almost every meeting I had because I couldn’t resist their cute little faces when I walked by. Must. Pet. All. Dogs!)

Shenanigans had (that can be shared with polite society): at least 10… that I can talk about. Just a few include strong margaritas, pee-your-pants-funny dinners at Tommy Bahamas, an amorous cockroach, inappropriate chicken fondling with prestigious vet and author Dr. Marty Becker, sticky mustaches, pirate eye patches, grand theft pet products (video to follow), and a fancy shark fascinator.

Official Office-Type Stuff

Press Kits: 30 lbs. (I put all of the kits on my bathroom scale to weigh them, in batches of three. Now I get to file them away. Good times)

USB sticks: 18 (You can never go wrong with USB sticks. Plus, once the next show rolls around and I get a new batch, I give the old ones to people in the office to use.)

Pens: 15

Pens around when I need one: 0

Sticky note pads: 4 (I always grab them when I see them at shows. I go through them like clean pairs of underwear.)

Business cards exchanged: 70 (So many new friends to text at 4 a.m. – woo hoo!)

Pet Swag

Stuff to review: 3… with more to be shipped to the office. (I was restricted by suitcase size, but I did manage to squeeze in a Clickit Sport Harness from SleepyPod; a Can Toy treat dispenser; and a KRUUSE ActivityMat all the way from Denmark!)

Pet stuff: 12 (Oscar is one spoiled dog. He’s got 2 new hats from Rubie’s Costumes, 2 B’seen collar nightlights, a “See Me” slip-on reflective collar from Corky’s collars, a super-cute Posy handmade squeaky toy from Oo Ma Loo, and 2 packs of Rock Your Fur wipes.)

Grooming/Air Freshening products: 5 (When you have pets, you can never get enough of these products)

Poop bags: 130 (I am stocked up for the Zombie apocalypse, thanks to The Original Poopbag peeps – plus, they threw in a fancy hydrant dispenser made out of corn!)

Food: 27 sample packets and a 2 lbs box (I visited The Honest Kitchen on the last day of the show. I don’t think they wanted to ship it back, so they let me steal a bunch. I had to get creative hiding this stash in my suitcase, but totally worth it.)

Treats: 17 (These run the gamut, from Whimzees alligators, to Chewysaurus Liver T-Rex Treats, to Kitty Kush Catnip that comes with a built-in grinder.)

Miscellaneous Items

T-Shirts: 2 (That are perfect for sleeping in)

Kickstarter products ordered: 1 (My “ Puppies are Dicks” book arrived! I got it mailed to my U.S. hotel room because shipping to Canada is way too expensive.)

Human swag: 2 (this doesn’t include food/drinks. I brought home a WiFi TP-Link that I have no idea how to use and a hard-cover signed copy of my friend Nikki Moustaki’s book “The Bird Market of Paris.”)

Reusable bags: 10 (These come in handy for groceries and shopping in general. I especially love the one I got from Dog is Good – very swanky!)

What the ?!? swag: 5 (These are items that I’m not too sure what their purpose is. It includes something that I think is a hamster Flexi leash… but I’m not sure.)

Final Count

Weight of suitcase: 50 lbs. (I had to partake in some mad-dash scrambling to make it under the weight limit.)

Weight of carry-on: 30 lbs. (This is a testament to the durability of my computer bag and the strength of the airline steward who had to lift it up into the overhead compartment. Well done, sir… and thanks for so nice about it.)

Total weight of press kits, swag and other items: 80 lbs. (I need to bring an extra suitcase next time… or a Sherpa.)

I’m still getting over my show lag, as it takes a few days to get back to my regularly scheduled work routine. But I can’t wait until the 2016 Global Pet Expo – and I’m going to bring an extra suitcase, just in case.

Amy Tokic

Amy Tokic, Editor of PetGuide.com, is a passionate animal lover and proud pet parent of Oscar, a Shih Tzu/Chihuahua cross, and Zed, a Japanese Chin. Her love of animals began in kindergarten, when she brought her stuffed dog Snoopy into class with her every day. Now, she writes about her adventures in pet ownership and tirelessly researches products, news and health related issues she can share with other animal enthusiasts. In her free time, Amy loves perusing used book and record stores, obsessing over the latest pet products available and chasing squirrels with wild abandon (a habit attributed to spending too much time with her pooches).

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Working Dog Gets Stolen and Dropped in a Shelter 700 Miles From Home

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Use of "home-grown" meat draws ire from followers and falls on the heels of last year's negative press.

Once-Abused Dog Celebrates First Christmas With Vet Who Saved Him

A puppy who survived a terrible beating has celebrated his ‘first proper’ Christmas with a veterinarian nurse who provided a loving furever home for him.A whippet named Terry was only 12 weeks old when he was viciously attacked by his owner and left with severe trauma injuries after he urinated inside. The injured pup was taken to the Hull PDSA Animal Hospital in East Yorks, England, where he was treated by the veterinary nurse Rachel Coombes. During the initial exam, the hospital’s staff discovered that Terry had a bruised eye and lips. The pup was also missing three of his upper incisors, and another tooth was broken.For nurse Coombes, this was love at first sight! She told her colleagues that if Terry survived, she would adopt him, and that’s exactly what she did.Although Terry celebrated Christmas with Rachel and her son Stanley last year, this year was their ‘first proper’ Christmas together since Terry is now fully settled in with the family.“I just felt a connection as soon as he was brought in as he was in such a state we actually thought initially that he hadn’t made it,” said nurse Rachel according to Talker. “Then when we spotted gentle breathing I did say ‘if he survives this I’m going to give him home’ which is exactly what I did.”From that moment on, Terry’s life changed completely! “He hasn’t looked back since - he loves life and is having the best of life right now.” According to his new owner, Terry likes to run around the garden and enjoys going to the beach. The pooch has also formed a strong bond with Rachel’s son, Stanley, and is always by his side. “Last year, we got him around Christmas, but it was such a hectic time for him, and he was learning to settle then.” But this year, the family planned a festive celebration for Terry and did everything to make him feel special during the holiday season. Due to the suspicious nature of Terry’s injuries, RSPCA Inspector Laura Barber was asked to investigate. The inspector said that despite the severity of his injuries and his overall state, Terry had put his head on her and was so trusting. “He was in such a sad state and was really quiet and withdrawn when he was with people. He was so lovable, and it is great to see he has a home he deserves with such a lovely family.”“I know Terry will have the best first proper Christmas with his lovely new family and one he thoroughly deserves,” the inspector added. Terry’s extensive injuries were enough to build a case against his former owner. After appearing in court and admitting to causing unnecessary suffering to a dog, the person was handed a five-year ban on keeping animals. Emily Lomas, an animal care assistant at RSPCA’s Hull branch, said she was thrilled when she learned that Rachel had adopted Terry. “He was very traumatized and overwhelmed when he came to us, we had to really show him there was nothing to be scared of and that he was now safe. We took him to the socialization room, and I remember him falling asleep on my legs,” said Lomas.“We were all thrilled when he was adopted and knew he was going to a special home,” she added.Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

New Study Reveals Dogs Can Sniff Out Neurodegenerative Diseases

We all know that doggos have incredible noses and a superb sense of smell. It is tens of thousands of times stronger than our own. This makes us wonder – what secrets can such a sense of smell unveil? Many scientists consider the canine sense of smell a great potential to enhance human lives thanks to its accuracy. And that is exactly what was unveiled in a recent study published in “bioRxiv”, by researchers Samuel V. Johnston and Lisa Holt from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Thanks to their efforts, and the incredible abilities of doggos, it was revealed that our four-legged friends have the potential to detect neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s. Parkinson’s disease is a terrible condition, affecting primarily seniors. What is even worse is that this disease has many difficulties in diagnosis, which prevents doctors from accurately identifying the disease in the early stages. But the breakthrough study could change all that! Thanks to doggos and their powerful noses, we could be on the brink of completely changing the way Parkinson’s is diagnosed. “Dogs have an extraordinary olfactory capability, which far exceeds that of humans. Dogs’ sense of smell seems to be the main sense, allowing them to not only gather both current and historical information about their surrounding environment, but also to find the source of the smell, which is crucial for locating food, danger, or partners for reproduction.”  writes Agata Kusiak, from the Institute of Animal Sciences, Warsaw University. “Dogs can be trained by humans to use their olfactory abilities in a variety of fields, with a detection limit often much lower than that of sophisticated laboratory instruments.”Utilizing this remarkable sense of smell, scientists trained 23 dogs of different breeds and backgrounds, to successfully differentiate between samples of both Parkinson’s-positive individuals and Parkinson’s-negative individuals. The results were more than successful, with the dogs showcasing 86% sensitivity and 89% specificity in distinguishing the samples. In many ways, this is a revolutionary study and opens new doors and new possibilities in medical diagnostics. What is even better, it offers new hope for the timely detection of Parkinson’s disease. However, it is important to note that the study is still in relative infancy, and is still awaiting peer review. But the potential here is incredible. If validated, the study could help improve patient outcomes, and help with early diagnosis of this troubling disease.

Check Out Giant Dogs On the Free 2024 Calendar of the Portland USACE

Who knew that calendars featuring gigantic cats could be such a hit! Last year, the Pacific Northwest-based U.S. military personnel issued their own calendars which featured enormous kitties that oversaw construction projects making a seemingly ordinary calendar - a ton of fun. Needless to say, their hilarious (and completely free) calendar went viral, so they wanted to repeat last year’s success. This year, however, the Portland branch of the US Army Corps of Engineers, which is based in Oregon, decided to “branch out”, and their new yearly 2024 calendar will feature gigantic doggos as well. This was a logical follow-up to their viral social media campaign of the previous year, when kittens stole the show. The personnel of this military branch handles tough civil works in the whole of Oregon and southwestern Washington, so a bit of lighthearted humor really goes a long way for them. Their staff got the idea of superimposing photos of cats and dogs into quality landscape photos of the most important public infrastructure projects that the teams were involved with. The idea was an instant hit. And now, their 2024 calendars in both cat and dog editions can be freely downloaded in a PDF format, allowing quick and easy printing. You can find the dog calendar here and the cat calendar here.“This product was created to tell the story of our district and what we do in a way that’s actually enjoyable for the average member of the public,” Portland district spokesman Chris Gaylord said. Mr. Gaylord further said that the whole project was their effort to portray an otherwise rough and industrial work in a more entertaining light. And it is also a way for the workers to get some steam off as well. After all, they are busy throughout the year, operating more than 700 dams and 12,000 miles of inland waterways. “It was really so inspiring to see how much joy this little product brought to people all over the world,” Gaylord said, after their first calendar “won over the internet”, getting an incredible 530,000 downloads on their website. To make matters even more memorable, the photos of the pets are from the employees themselves! Gaylord received almost 750 photos from 150 workers. Choosing just a few to include in the calendar was no easy task. But to make everyone satisfied, a page at the end of the calendar includes a grid with most of the pets that did not make it onto the big pages. What do you think – which pooch of the month is your fave?

Should My Dog Wear a Winter Coat?

As the temperatures drop and winter approaches, many pet parents face a common question: Should my dog wear a winter coat? It’s a valid question! After all, we bundle up before heading out into the ice and snow. Why shouldn’t our dogs? This article will explore the considerations, benefits, and potential downsides of winter coats for dogs. Plus, we’ll share the coats we use to keep our pups warm and cozy. Let’s get started… Do All Dogs Need a Coat in Winter? The short answer is no. Not all dogs need a winter coat to stay comfortable in the colder temperatures. In fact, some dogs will be more comfortable without a winter coat. That leaves us with one more question – how do you know if your dog will need a coat this season? Here are a few factors to consider: Breed & Coat LengthWhat breed or breed mix is your dog? Some dogs, like the Alaskan Malamute, Siberian Husky, and Keeshond, were specifically bred to handle the colder temperatures. These dogs have thick double coats, including a water-resistant guard coat and a plush, warm undercoat. If you own one of these dogs, you may see them relaxing outside, happily napping in a snowbank. They thrive in cooler weather but struggle when the temperatures climb. On the other end of the spectrum, some dogs were bred to live in warmer climates. These dogs have short coats, offering little protection from the winter cold. Age Your dog’s age could make them more sensitive to changes in temperature, both heat and cold. If you have a young puppy or a senior dog, they may need a little extra care and attention. Not only do they feel cold faster, but the low temperatures could worsen the discomfort of a senior dog’s arthritis or other joint problems. Even if your dog once thrived in cold temperatures, they may struggle in their older years.Disease or Illness If your dog is currently living with a disease or illness, it can compromise their ability to regulate their body temperature effectively. Your dog’s condition can impact many aspects of their well-being. It may weaken their immune system, causing dehydration or interfering with proper circulation. Contact your veterinarian if you’re unsure whether your dog’s illness could impact their ability to handle the cold. Activity LevelAre you heading outside to hang out in your yard, or are you planning to engage in something more active like a hike or skijoring? As your dog’s muscles are engaged and working, they are producing heat that raises the body temperature. If your dog occasionally needs a light jacket, they may not need one during heavy activity. On the other hand, if your dog is usually okay when you’re going for a walk, they may need a light jacket or sweater if they are going to be standing around.

Guinness World Records Reviews Bobi’s 'World's Oldest Dog' Title

A Portuguese dog named Bobi made news last year when Guinness World Records crowned him as the world’s oldest dog. Bobi was 31 years and 165 days old when he died at his home last October.However, Guinness World Records has now suspended Bobi’s title after complaints made by veterinarians and professionals questioning the legitimacy of his age.Bobi, who was a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo, was also declared the world’s oldest dog ever, breaking a nearly century-old record held by an Australian cattle dog, named Bluey, who died in 1939 at the age of 29 years and 5 months. The average life expectancy of a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo is 12 to 14 years.A spokesperson for the Guinness World Records explained that the review into Bobi’s record is ongoing and it includes looking over the evidence again, looking for new evidence, and talking to experts and all those linked to the original application. “While our review is ongoing we have decided to temporarily pause both the record titles for oldest dog living and (oldest dog) ever just until all of our findings are in place and have been communicated,” said the spokesperson, according to CBS News.Several skeptics pointed out that Bobi’s feet appear to be of different color in photos of him as a puppy and in recent pictures of him in his old age. A Lisbon vet, Miguel Figuereido said last year that Bobi doesn’t really look like a very old dog with mobility problems and an old dog muscle mass. Additionally, an investigation by Wired discovered that Bobi had been formally registered on Portugal’s pet database in July 2022. Leonel Costa, the dog’s owner, registered Bobi as being born in 1992, but there hasn’t been any proof, other than the owner’s word. According to Portuguese law, dogs born before 2008 didn’t have to be registered until October 2020. The Portuguese database for dogs, cats, and other pets also told Wired that they weren’t contacted by Guinness World Records to verify the information. Many other veterinarians and canine experts have questioned Bobi’s true age in correspondence to the Guinness World Records. A veterinarian and council member of the Royal Colledge of Veterinary Surgeons, Danny Chambers, told the Guardian, “Not a single one of my veterinary colleagues believe Bobi was actually 31 years old.”Guinness World Records insists that the suspension is temporary while the review is ongoing.Bobi spent his whole life living with the Costa family in the village of Conqueiros, in Portugal. The pooch, who was allegedly born on May 11, 1992, escaped death in his first days of life. Bobi, along with three other puppies, was born in a woodshed belonging to the Costa family. But, because they already owned many animals, the parents decided to get rid of the newborn puppies.One puppy - Bobi - was unintentionally left behind and discovered days later. Bobi’s owner, Leonel Costa, who was eight, and his sister persuaded their parents to keep the pup, and so he remained living with the family.Leonel Costa defended Bobi’s title saying that “an elite within the veterinary world…tried to give people an idea that Bobi’s life story was not true.”Costa believes this happened because he attributed Bobi’s longevity to a varied diet of human foods, rather than pet food. He said this goes against the recommendations of many veterinarians. “Everything would be different if we had said he (Bobi) ate pet food for three decades,” said Costa, adding that they’d provided everything Guinness World Records requested to validate Bobi’s age. Bobi has never been chained up or put on a leash and used to roam the woods around the village until he got too old to move much. He spent his golden years lounging in the yard with the family cats. Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

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