Pet lovers were offering up ways to care for their furry, feathered and scale-y friends from the cradle to the grave on the weekend.
Goods and services at the Edmonton Pet Expo at Northlands on Saturday and Sunday included animal reiki, horse hypnotherapy and alternatives to urns.
Growing up around horses, Colton Hertzig has always felt a connection to the animals and had been working as a farrier when he decided to expand his business, Horse Eye Services, to include intracellular communication, reiki and hypnosis.
“That connection between horses and animals is very easy and unique in its own way,” Hertzig said. “When you have an animal and they’re giving you the answers, it is its purest form.”
Sandra Kelly, with the Canadian Healing Institute, had practised acupressure, aura reading, chakra analysis and other alternative forms of healing on humans before translating her services to animals. She was told she had to put her dog down and after a lot of crying, she decided to test out her technique.
Pet lovers were offering up ways to care for their furry, feathered and scale-y friends, from the cradle to the grave, at the Expo Centre in Northlands Park on Jan. 30-31, 2016.
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Paige is a four-month-old Shiba Inu from Cintara Kennels of Stony Plain. Shaughn Butts / Edmonton Journal
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Tau is a Ministik Tau Savannah bred by Frank Konanz of Leduc County. Shaughn Butts / Edmonton Journal
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Jezebel is a five-foot-long Hog Island boa constrictor native to Honduras stretched out around the shoulders of Renee Nolting.Shaughn Butts / Edmonton Journal
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A collection of snakes at the First Strike Snake BoothShaughn Butts / Edmonton Journal
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Seanna O'Neill carries her dog Havoc, a Belgian Malinois, off the stage for Dynamo Dogsports after he wouldn't let go of a high jump pole.Shaughn Butts / Edmonton Journal
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Competitors from Dynamo Dogsports ready their dogs taking part in the obstacle course.Shaughn Butts / Edmonton Journal
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Lesley Stafford from Dynamo Dogsports cheers for her Weimaraner, Hickory, as he clears the high jump poles. Shaughn Butts / Edmonton Journal
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Edmonton Humane Society volunteer Daniel Simard lays on the floor with Roxy, who was adopted at the end of the day to a new home. Roxy was wiped out from playing ball all day and looking for a new family. Shaughn Butts / Edmonton Journal
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Torty the Leopard Tortoise, native to Africa, makes his rounds at the Big Al's Aquarium Superstore Booth at the Pet Expo at the Expo Centre. Shaughn Butts / Postmedia News
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Torty the Leopard Tortoise, native to Africa, makes his rounds at the Big Al's Aquarium Superstore Booth.Shaughn Butts / Edmonton Journal
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A Banggai cardinal fish floats around a salt water tank at the Big Al's Aquarium Superstore booth.Shaughn Butts / Edmonton Journal
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Now her 14-year-old dog happily runs around, full of life, she said.
“Animals have amazing healing abilities,” Kelly said.
When Debra Couwenberg’s beloved Devon Rex cat Diva died, she knew she wanted an alternative resting place. That’s how she came up with WhiskerTorium, hand-blown glass works of art that don’t look traditional urns.
“It gives the pet owner a more beautiful alternative to a funeral symbol,” she said.
A portion of the proceeds go towards animals in need, Couwenberg said.
She hopes her business will eventually expand across North America.
