The Pug Dog Club of Greater New York at Meet the Breeds
On February 7th and 8th, we attended the “nation’s largest educational dog extravaganza,” AKC’s Meet the Breeds at the Jacob K. Javits Center in NYC. Our club was well represented with volunteers on both days to educate the public. There were over 150 breeds on display alphabetically on the convention floor. It was super cold outside, but things heated up quickly inside as Saturday shattered previous attendance records with 22,000 people in attendance.
Despite the PETA billboards outside the venue boycotting and actively protesting brachycephalic breeds, our beloved pugs were among the most popular breeds at the event. The giant signs outside of the venue were condemning the promotion of brachycephalic breeds like bulldogs, frenchies and pugs, claiming severe breathing difficulties, health issues, and premature deaths. Yet the pug booth was one of the most active booths at Meet the Breeds. People crowded around the tables for a glimpse of our adorable pugs. The public showed a keen interest in learning about our breed. We received lots of questions about owning pugs, what they’re like, and their health concerns. We gave them honest answers and spoke about responsible breeding. We also had several inquiries for breeders. We referred first-time pug owners to our website and also suggested fostering first.
It was very clear by witnessing the public’s reaction to our beloved pugs that they are a special breed. The photos were nonstop. The booth tables had to be moved back into position several times from the pressure of the crowd leaning in. There were squeals of joy and requests to pet every pug. Our pugs were dressed with such adorable style that they were simply irresistible. They had fancy hats, neckties, dresses, pearls, and even handbags. At one point, a man cried tears of joy when he got to hold Missy Kardashian. He stated that he had watched her grow up on social media since she was a puppy.
Overall, the event was a big success for pugs everywhere. Thank you to Judith Pepin for coordinating and running the Pug booth. We hope to return again next year and bring more educational materials to help the public understand more about our beloved breed.
