New ‘Animal Encounters’ programme

The British pet trade fair Pats is expanding its programme to include ‘Animal Encounters’. From 27 to 29 September at the NEC in Birmingham, visitors can gain expert knowledge on animal behaviour, husbandry and animal welfare, whilst experiencing live animals up close.

The new programme has been developed in collaboration with Animal Teach. On each of the three days of the trade fair, the programme will feature four expert-led sessions. These will be led by Naomi Ennis, founder of Animal Teach and a zoologist, along with her team.

The focus is on practical topics that are particularly relevant to professionals in the retail and advisory sectors, such as ‘The behaviour and care of snakes’ – which aims to dispel common myths surrounding reptiles – and ‘Adaptations in animals’ and their significance for responsible animal husbandry and expert product recommendations.

The welfare of small animals is also a key focus, as are ‘continuing professional development and animal welfare’, exploring how regular staff training can contribute to better husbandry conditions and qualified customer advice.

Animal welfare is also set to play a central role in the live experiences: the organisers have announced that the animals used will be selected on each day of the fair based on individual health and behavioural checks.