By JUNE SULLIVAN
People seem to fit into two categories these days. No, not Met fans vs. Yankee fans. We're talking about people whose baseball hats, T-shirts, and greeting cards boast "I Love My Cat" or "I'm My Dog's Best Friend."
These feline and canine lovers have their own special rivalry. And they will be joined by other major-league pet lovers as they walk around the bases of what has been billed the biggest pet expo in the Northeast - The Long Island Pet Expo - when it returns to the Nassau Coliseum Nov. 9-12. In fact, pet lovers who own pink poodles or soft angora cats will be just spitting distance from those who coddle their parrot, horse, rabbit, snake, lizard, or tropical fish.
"Our expo will transform the Nassau Coliseum into the area's largest collection of pets, pet products and pet services under one roof," says the show's promoter, Rick Stuts of Expositions, Inc. He emphasizes that whether visitors are already proud major-league pet owners or are just about to pick up the bat, no visitor will strike out at this expo.
"For those who already own pets," he says, "we will have all kinds of pet products and services - basically anything pet owners need from medical, to grooming, to toys, to basic foods - like a pet smorgasbord."
However, those looking for a pet will also find responsible breeders, rescue groups, adoption agencies and humane societies who can help them choose the right pet, Mr. Stuts says.
"Our screening of pet agencies helps eliminate unwanted pet situations down the road," he suggests. "We don't allow any (puppy mills); that is, any breeding farms that pump out litter after litter just for the purpose of selling them. This creates a lot of unwanted pets. Responsible expo breeders also go through their own screening process to make sure that the family is right for the dog before they will allow their pups to be placed. To them, it's not just a question of who can write the fattest check."
Mr. Stuts adds that adoption agencies, as well as breeders, go through a rigid screening process when they place an animal.
"They don't want someone to turn around six months from now, see a puppy that has grown into a 90-pound animal who is eating their couch, and decide that they no longer want it anymore," says Mr. Stuts.
One agency at the expo will be Metropolitan Maltese. The company's owners suggest that visitors stop by "Metro Malts" at Booth 240 at the expo.
"A beautiful dog we placed was once a tangle of matted, gray fur," the owners say. "He was cowering in a cage at a local shelter. 'Bogie' had nearly run out of chances when we took him in. He supposedly had a behavior problem, but what he really had was a hearing problem - he was deaf.
"Bogie required special techniques, just like humans who are hearing impaired, to learn what was required of him. Metro Malts placed him with a couple that gave him lots of love and patient direction. He's now a confident, lovely dog. His new human companions believe he has brought so much to their lives, they are truly the lucky ones."
Expo visitors at the Coliseum can expect to hear more such Olympics-style stories like Bogie's. But there will be lots of action drama as well - if not always up to the excitement level of "bat throwing," at least up to that of record-breaking high-jumping.
Indeed, organizers of the pet expo have put out the word that the "Classic K-9's" are returning as a main attraction this year. According to Ken Scarnegie of The North American Dog Racing Association, this year, the K-9 team will be conducting the Year 2000 K-9 Games ... or the "Olympics" for dogs.
"There will be more than five K-9 performances each day. A triathlon of dog sports, for example, will include Grand Prix obstacle-course raing, barrel racing, relay racing, flyball, world record K-9 high jumping and more." Mr. Scarnegie adds that every show is different. "Expect to see every size, shape and color of canine competitor, as an international field of dogs converge on the show. Also joining the show is an all-star cast of canines from the ESPN Sports Incredible Dog Challenge."
In addition, organizers say the Y2K-9 games will include an "amazing" canine competitor, "Devo," a little Whippet from Chicago, "who is staking claim to become the next world-record high-jumper. Devo has successfully cleared 60-inch jumps during practice, and we will be documenting his high-jumps at the expo for the Guinness Book of World Records," says Mr. Scarnegie.
From the opposite dugout, cat lovers of Long Island will get their time at bat as well and enjoy special cat-breed demonstrations. The Long Island Parrot Society Bird Show will also participate, as will companies that offer pet greeting cards and clothing, and, of course, for little leaguers, a petting zoo and pony rides. Atlantis Marine World and the Long Island Aquarium will showcase marine-life exhibits.
Expect a fun-filled day for the whole family, say expo promoters. "Bring your family, friends, mother, father, kids and mother-in-law, but don't bring your pets. We'll have plenty of them for you to see," they add.
The show will be Nov. 9-12 at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Hempstead Tpke., Uniondale.. Hours are 4:30-10:30 P.M. Thursday, 10 A.M.-10:30 P.M. Friday and Saturday, and Noon-6:30 P.M. Sunday. Admission is $8 for adults, $3 for children under 12.
"Wear comfortable shoes, have fun and take advantage of the hundreds of show specials," Mr. Stuts says. For more information, call (516) 889-6000.
