Sometimes dog’s aren’t just man’s best friend—they can be a woman’s best friend, too.

That’s how Chicago Pet Show organizer Peggy Ruh feels about her 7-year-old dog, Maddie.

The love Ruh has for her own pets served as inspiration for the show, which will make its Darien debut at the Sportsplex on Sept. 10 and 11. 

The show will host its second round at the Kane County Fairgrounds in St. Charles on Oct. 29 and 30.

Ruh said she decided to expand the show to the second location in Darien so people who live closer to Chicago would have an easier time meeting pets up for adoption, getting tips on caring for existing pets and picking up a few treats along the way.

“My wish is for everyone to find a pet they love as much as I love mine,” Ruh said.

Run by Chicago Home Shows, the Chicago Pet Show will feature hundreds of rescue animals from local shelters. Last year, more than 6,000 people visited and 100 dogs were adopted during the two-day show. 

Pet lovers with a favorite shelter can get a coupon for $1 off the $7 adult admission from that rescue group. Half the proceeds from each ticket sale go to the rescue group of the attendee’s choice.

If your family’s in the mood for merely looking rather than buying, children will have the chance to get up close and personal with farm animals at the petting zoo.

This year people will also get a chance to see reptile expert Jim Nesci perform at 11 a.m. on Sept. 11 with snakes, turtles, lizards and two of his famous alligators, Lucky and Bubba. Nesci has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Regis & Kelly, and the Today Show, and famously worked with the late Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin.

People can also bring their own pets, as long as they pre-register them with proof of rabies shots, Ruh said. The show will introduce pet owners to services such as dog-walkers and even people who will clean up yards from pet messes.

Part of Ruh’s inspiration for featuring all of the pet services came from her other dog, a Cavalier King Charles named Frankie 2 Paws. 

Frankie 2 Paws is paralyzed and requires a lot of extra care. Ruh found herself running all around the area trying to find what she needed to make him comfortable.

“I wanted to create a networking unit so we can all help each other,” she said.

She said she also hopes to introduce potential pet owners to the joys of adopting from a shelter.

“These animals are not broken,” she said of shelter animals. “They’re perfectly cool pets and they’re often more socially adjusted [than animals from a store].” 

The Chicago Pet Show is scheduled to take place at the Darien Sportsplex, 451 Plainfield Rd., from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sept. 10 and 11.

The second show will take place at the Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 Randall Rd., St. Charles, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 29 and 30. Admission is $7 for adults, and free for senior citizens and children 18 and younger with a parent. 

For more information, visit www.chicagopetshow.com.