Bring along your canine, feline, finned and feathered friends for a pug-and-play fest, beginning tomorrow

Thumbelina, the beauty queen of 2007, has her trousseau ready for this year's fashion show, too. "I had bought a number of clothes for her, including a frock and a bikini, but now I have decided on a pretty white wedding dress. It is the typical fairytale dress one wears at a churchu00a0wedding.


Front stroke: At a previous pet fair

I also got two pairs of shoes to matchu00a0-- she'll wear the one that's more comfortable," beams Renu, as her three-year-old mini Pekinese, who is registered for the Dog and Cat Fashion Show at the fourth India International Pet Trade Fair, looks on like a lamb. She's gearing up for a tough fight, because the fair, this year, has drawn a long line of beast beauties.

Dogs at the catwalk
Apart from the fashion show which is slated for the final day, the first day will see a Dog Obedience Show, in which the contestants will be judged on how well they respond to commands like stay, climb, jump and get up. At the Breed Dog Championship the next day, pets will be scored on physical features, posture, coat quality, health and well-being, among other criteria. "The show this year is much better, and more elaborate, with 100+ stalls. We're expecting a footfall of over a lakh. And apart from retail seminars on merchandising, one can consult the doctors who'll be visiting," urges Rutaksha Rawat, event manager and spokesperson. She adds that part of the ticket earnings will be shared with Paws, an NGO working with animals. "An underlining segment this time is the gardening and landscaping section, which will illustrate the inextricable bond between pets and nature, and how it can't be ignored. Our goal is to make a better garden around them," she explains.