Animals took over City Park on Wednesday for the Bowling Green Parks and Recreation Department’s 63rd annual pet show.

A variety of animals were present, including dogs, cats, hedgehogs, a snake and even a donkey, at Needle Hall.

Pet owners could register their pet for a variety of categories such as Most Unusual Pet or Cutest Boy Dog.

Typically, the pet show gets around 100 to 120 visitors and 20 to 30 animals. Ivan Kovacevic, the recreation coordinator for the BG Parks and Recreation Department, said he thought the turnout was about the same as normal but there was more diversity in animals this year than some other years.

Kovacevic said there were even some new pets that they hadn’t seen before and didn’t expect, including a donkey and a miniature pony.

“As I was setting up for the event, I saw a trailer pulling up which is a little bit different,” Kovacevic said. “Just good to see the diversity.”

The large diversity of pets allowed viewers to learn something new about animals they may not have seen before. Susy Sadoff Obee and Karen Rader have been judging the pet show for a few years and both said this year they got to see animals they hadn’t seen before which taught them something new.

“You see different types of animals and how things that traditionally don’t seem like pets are pets,” Sadoff Obee said. “Everything can be a pet and all the people that were here I think they recognize that, that just love of animals.”

Many of the animals at the pet show were rescued in some way which both Sadoff Obee and Rader said they think is important for the public to see in hopes of spreading awareness about rescuing pets, especially those that aren’t traditional pets.

“This event means a lot to me because it gets people together and I think it’s a way to learn to really love different pets,” Sadoff Obee said.

The pet show is designed for people of all ages and allows people to share information about the pets that they love. Sadoff Obee said she thinks being able to show their pets gives some confidence for those who don’t feel super comfortable talking in public, especially the kids.

“You’re talking about the pet that they love and some are really shy, but it seems to bring out, animals bring out confidence for some of these kids,” Sadoff Obee said.

Animals also bring a lot of joy to kids, especially the unexpected ones. Kaylee Bishop, who brought her pet donkey and miniature pony, said bringing farm animals to the pet show gets a lot of fun reactions, especially from the kids.

“I just like the reactions, like a lot of people aren’t really familiar with farm animals, especially a donkey,” Bishop said. “I love that the little kids, like they are so happy for them, their face lights up and everything.”