Learn Why Life is Better with Pets at Purina Farms

As so many pet owners already know, there’s a special bond that exists between humans and our furry, four-legged companions. Over 65% of American households own a pet, and according to the National Center for Health Research, pet owners are likely to have lower blood pressure, make fewer visits to the doctor, experience lower rates of depression and exercise more too. Life can literally be better when shared with a pet.

But how much do we really know about the cats and dogs who improve our quality of life each day? At the new Purina Farms Better with Pets Exhibit: Discover Life with Dogs and Cats, you and your kids can are invited to learn more about these animals, so you can better appreciate and understand how pets can help you – and how you can help them too.  

What to Expect at Better with Pets

“The Better with Pets exhibit is a celebration of the powerful mutually beneficial relationship people and pets share,” says Kaite Flamm, Manager of the Event Center at Purina Farms. “The exhibit highlights the many benefits to having a relationship with a pet, and this starts with understanding and appreciating dogs and cats and their unique qualities, which inspire us to live life to the fullest and make every day a better day.”

At Better with Pets, pet owners and animal enthusiasts of all ages will get to explore different animal breeds, learn more about proper pet care and nutrition, hear stories about the many ways in which pets enrich our lives and better understand the role that shelters and rescue groups play in the rescue and adoption process. The exhibit is designed with guests of all ages in mind, and you can even bring the family dog if you like.

“Better with Pets is a mix of interactive and educational activities, for both kids and adults, and with some added extra fun activities for the kids,” says Flamm. “And, it’s great for the whole family – including the dog. The exhibit also encourages a dialogue between parents and children where parents can share valuable information and have thought-provoking conversations with their kids about pets.”     

Better with Pets is divided into four areas: Awe-Inspiring allows people to experience life the way a pet experiences it, Nutrition/Innovation highlights the power of high-quality ingredients and the importance of proper pet care, Well-being emphasizes the mutual emotional, physical, social and mental benefits people and pets receive from their relationships and Companionship teaches valuable lessons about responsible pet ownership.

When you first arrive at the Purina Farms Visitors Center, you’ll identify yourself as either a dog or a cat person, and receive a personal pet ID card to scan at stations throughout the exhibit. Each card features a different breed of dog or cat, and each scan will reveal more information about that particular breed. (Be sure to drop this card in the donation bone at the end of the exhibit to trigger a donation from Purina to the Petfinder Foundation.)

Other hands-on activities that kids especially will enjoy in the Better with Pets exhibit include:

• Find out which dog or cat breed you are most like, and have your image morphed with the image of the breed into a keepsake photo to share with family and friends.
• Place foam blocks together to better understand the elements of a balanced diet and importance of proper pet care and nutrition.
• Check your own vitals and learn how a pet’s temperature and heart rate can provide clues to their emotional well-being.
• Scan a microchip to reunite a lost pet with his owner and search for your perfect adoptable pet on petfinder.com.
• Draw a picture illustrating a special bond you share with a pet (and drop it in a mailbox for a chance at being spotlighted in the exhibit space).
• See a visual representation of the number of pets who enter shelters and rescue groups, and stack pet food cans that represent the millions of pounds of food Purina donates each year.

“Kids have also been loving our giant dog and cat sculptures, life-like dog and cat tongues that help us better understand pets’ food preferences and seeing the world through a pet’s eyes through a sensory experience, as well as a connect four game,” says Flamm.

“Our goal,” she continues, “is that the exhibit and celebrating the relationship people and pets share inspires guests to get active with pets, whether it’s being more involved with their own pets at home or advocating for the dogs and cats in shelters.”

More Family Fun at Purina Farms

While you’re visiting the new Better with Pets exhibit, don’t forget to take advantage of all the other family-friendly fun that Purina Farms has to offer.

Visit the Pet Center’s 20-foot tall, multi-level home for cats to enjoy an eye-level view of the furry felines who call this center home.  

• See the Pro Plan Performance Team, a group composed entirely of rescued dogs turned canine athletes, perform tricks like leaping into the air to catch a frisbee and diving into a heated pool at one of the daily demonstrations in the Incredible Dog Arena.  
• Be sure to explore the Barn and Play Area, where adults and children can view domestic farm animals like sheep, horses, pigs and chickens. Kids can also crawl through barn tunnels, swing on ropes, interact with chicks, piglets and baby rabbits and even try their hand at milking a cow.  

Purina Farms is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (with the final reservation at 1 p.m.) from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Admission is free, but reservations are strongly encouraged by calling (314) 982-3232 or (888) 688-PETS.

“At Purina, every day we commit our hearts and expertise to making a big difference in the lives of people and pets,” says Flamm. “Purina Farms, and especially Better with Pets, brings this dedication to life.”

_{Photos courtesy of Purina Farms}