An Animal Planet star whose parents live in The Villages will be the celebrity guest at Saturday’s For the Love of Animals Expo.
Derrick Campana, from Animal Planet’s “Dodo Heroes” series “Derrick’s Elephant Challenge,” will take part in the charity event at the Wildwood Community Center, located at 6500 Powell Road. The event, put on by the Humane Society/SPCA of Sumter County, also will include the fifth annual Strut Your Mutt Dog Walk.
Campana, whose parents, Debbie and Jim, live in the Village of Glenbrook, will be giving two educational talks on orthotics care for animals. He also will be available at his vendor booth throughout the day.
Doors for the expo open at 9 a.m. and live music will be provided throughout the day by the highly popular Scooter the DJ and the Sonset Band.
The Strut Your Mutt Walk takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will include prizes for Best Dog Costume and Best Pet/Owner Look-alike. Those wishing to participate in the walk can click HERE to register. The cost is $30 with pre-registration and $35 at the event.
The free Love of Animals Expo lasts until 5 p.m. and promises to be a fun-filled day for pet owners, animal lovers and families alike. It will include prizes, food trucks, crafters, pet adoption opportunities, demonstrations, educational talks, contests, animal services vendors and a silent auction, with more than 55 booths to visit. This expo is sponsored by PAWS Animal Hospital and Floral City/Lake Panasoffkee Animal Clinics.
In addition to Campana’s educational talks, several others also will be held. Those include:
- “Prevent Forest Fires” presented by Brad Weller of the Florida Forest Service.
- “When Do You Pick Up a Wild Animal and When Do You Leave It Alone?” presented by Mary Opall, director of the Nature World Wildlife Rescue.
- “Is That a Wolf I See in My Living Room?” presented by Kim Kapes, founder and director of the In Harmony with Nature Wolf Sanctuary.
- “Understanding Dog Psychology Before Training” presented by Tammy Smith of Be the Leader of the Pack.
- “Creepy Crawlers and Your Pet” presented by Dr. Shannon Kennedy of the Floral City Animal Clinic
“Is a Bunny the Right Pet for You?” presented by Terri Friesner of the Gainesville Rabbit Rescue. - “Don’t Treat Your Cat Like a Dog” presented by Celine Petrie, chairman of the board of the Humane Society/SPCA of Sumter County.
- “Let’s Talk Alligators” presented by Robbie Keszey with The Swamp Brothers.
Derrick Campana, whose parents, Debbie and Jim, live in The Villages, provides specialized care to animals all over the world through the use of orthotics and prosthetics that are made by his companies. He will be speaking at Saturday’s For the Love of Animals Expo.
