By Anne Das
Around 3,000 visitors gathered at Ipoh Stables Market on Sunday, October 4, for a day filled with animals, exciting activities and family fun. Horse rides, alpaca encounters and entertaining dog performances were among the attractions, giving children and adults plenty to enjoy.
Mitavite Asia and its pet division, MAPets, organised their first World Animal Family Day to celebrate World Animal Day 2026. The free event was held in collaboration with Ipoh Stables Market and Perak Turf Club, bringing families together for a day of fun, learning and responsible animal care.
Visitors began arriving from 11am, gradually filling the spacious grounds. Families explored the stalls, enjoyed refreshments and stopped to meet the many animals. Children were particularly excited by the petting experiences, with parents joining in the fun.
Alpacas strolling around the grounds attracted plenty of attention. Rabbits, reptiles and other animals added to the variety, giving visitors opportunities to interact with different creatures.
Horse riding was among the busiest attractions, with children happily waiting for their turn in the saddle. The activity was conducted by Persatuan Ekuestrian Negeri Perak.
Another crowd favourite was the K9 demonstration by Eagleland K9, a society that helps owners train their dogs. The performance showcased canine discipline and behaviour, while one particularly stylish Rottweiler, sporting sunglasses, certainly stood out from the pack.
There was an educational side to the festivities, too. Professional trainers and animal care experts shared practical advice on dog behaviour and responsible pet ownership.
Talks about snakes and veterinary sharing sessions by PTC Vet Clinic gave visitors useful insights into animal care.
For children, the hands-on experiences made learning enjoyable. Adults also had opportunities to pick up practical information about caring for their pets.
Animal welfare was another important part of the celebration. PapanSouls and Noah’s Ark Ipoh brought along dogs and cats looking for loving homes.
Their adoption booths attracted considerable interest, with visitors stopping to meet the animals and learn about their welfare work.
MAPets brought together nine participating vendors, including D Pets Kingdom, Eagleland K9, Reptile Den, Shas Rabbitry, CK Rabbitry, Snake Master, Hygrow Farm Ville, Zahara Garden and Joe Dog Training.
Five pet food brands, AP&C, Mr Vet, Bite of Wild, SmartHeart and OneV, also joined the celebration, adding to the variety of products and services available to visitors.
Yap Chee Hong, Person-in-Charge of MAPets, said the event was created to encourage compassion and responsible pet ownership.
“Spending time with animals is a wonderful way for children to learn. By feeding, gently touching and caring for animals, they begin to understand what animals need and how they feel,” he said.
The event’s theme, See the World Through Their Eyes, encouraged children and adults to better understand animals, their needs and the importance of treating them with kindness.
Following the encouraging turnout, MAPets plans to make World Animal Family Day an annual event, with more activities planned for next year.
For those unfamiliar with MAPets, it is the pet division of Gopeng-based Mitavite Asia, a company with over 25 years of experience in equine products and services.
MAPets caters to dogs, cats and small animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs, offering pet food, hay, nutritional supplements and animal care products at its retail outlet in Ipoh Stables Market.
Find them or get in touch: –
📍 Manja Lane, Ipoh Stables Market, Perak Turf Club.
🕙 Opening Hours: Daily, 10am to 10pm
📞 Contact: 012-527 1900
🌐 Website: www.happypetsma.com
