A pup-tacular show is coming to the Florida Strawberry Festival TECO Expo Hall this Saturday that is sure to be a howling good time for the entire family.
Puppy Pals Comedic Stunt Dog Show will have two shows, one at 2 p.m. and one at 7 p.m. on June 12 at the TECO Expo Hall, 2301 W. Oak Ave. Doors will open an hour early for a Puppy Palooza Pre-Show Party. This unique comedic stunt dog show was seen on America’s Got Talent this past year and was a quarter finalist in the competition.
“I’ve loved animals since I was very, very little,”Wesley Williams, owner, operator and presenter of Puppy Pals Comedic Stunt Dog Show, said. “When I was five or six years old I begged my mom to buy a petting zoo on Craigslist. We always had animals growing up. I actually trained and now have the world record for riding the tallest unicycle. For a while that was my focus, but my love for animals always made me think about having an act with a pet. I ended up having a dog and he learned a bunch of tricks really quickly. Then I added another one and the same thing happened. Then another. It became a passion project of mine, but I never really thought it would become such a success.”
The show features a variety of pups, most of whom are rescue dogs, and merges comedy and canines in a hilarious comedic event. The pups will perform spectacular stunts and breathtaking feats like climbing a ladder, jumping rope and even a backflip. Led by Williams, the show is a comedic performance that lasts nearly two hours.
The stars of the show are Cash, who was Williams’ first puppy from the group, Jetta the Jet, a small fireball that was rescued when her elderly owners couldn’t handle her energy level, Gizmo, a pup born to wreak havoc who came to Williams after being returned from a third failed home that couldn’t handle his energy level and Rudy, a pup that was originally from a “Pick of the Litter” breeding program but was left without a home after having serious medical issues.
Williams said that he trains all of his animals via positive reinforcement so the dogs are given treats and encouraged to do the types of tricks they are naturally drawn too. Many of his pups had been returned time and again by former owners who couldn’t handle their energy level. Now they get to play as much as they want while showing off for a crowd.
Williams will be joined by Cassie Kennedy with Ohana Dog Show, a family owned and operated trick and stunt dog show based in Plant City. Comedian Kirk Marsh will also join the event. Marsh uses comedy, juggling, unconventional magic and audience participation to create a hilarious performance.
“I think especially after this year, COVID has taken a huge toll on not only people’s jobs, but on kids and their lives,” Williams said. “Their school year and their ability to socialize with their friends and classmates, all of that was gone. I hope they come out to this family show and can escape for two hours and have a good time.”
Tickets start at $17.50 for adult admission if you order in advance and free children’s tickets can be found at select local businesses or on puppypalsshow.com/tickets. It is encouraged to reserve tickets in advance as a majority of the shows sell out. You can purchase your tickets online or by calling Sarasota Box Office at 941-870-7444.