Central Ohio Home and Garden Show Hosts Free Puppy Yoga, On-site Adoptions

Visitors to the Central Ohio Home and Garden Show can stretch, snap puppy selfies and potentially leave with a new family member when a free puppy yoga session and on-site adoptions arrive at the Ohio Expo Center. The shelter-run Puppy Playpen will bring adoptable dogs to the show and a featured puppy yoga class will be offered as a free, first-come, first-served experience.

The show runs Feb. 14–22, 2026, with the Puppy Playpen staffed by the Franklin County Dog Shelter & Adoption Center every day except Feb. 16 and Feb. 17. The free puppy yoga session is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 20, from 5–6 p.m. on the Home Stage in the Bricker Building; attendees should sign up onsite, bring a mat and leave their personal dogs at home. Peace Yoga By Cheryl will lead the session; Cheryl Huntzinger is listed as a certified instructor and a Columbus teacher since 2013. The class is open to all ages and all fitness levels.

Shelter leaders and organizers are positioning the event as a low-barrier way to connect adoptable dogs with new homes. Hamill said, “Everybody that comes is excited to see the puppies, but everybody's taking selfies and they're having a good time. The puppies are getting adopted. Overall, with the support and the help, it's a win-win for everybody. It really brings the community together; brings animal lovers together. Some people come for the yoga and then leave with a puppy.” Hamill also described the scene as “a little bit of yoga with a lot of puppies, who provide yoga help with snuggling and falling asleep on the mats.”

Practical benefits for adopters are concrete: the pets the shelter brings will already be spayed or neutered, microchipped and up to date on vaccines, and Dispatch coverage states the Central Ohio Home & Garden Show will pay for the adoptions to encourage placements. Organizers have also said the show is covering the costs of the class and donating funds to the shelter; sources did not spell out the precise accounting, so attendees who want full details may wish to confirm with show staff or the shelter.

For yogis who prefer a canine-free practice, Peace Yoga By Cheryl will also lead a paid garden yoga session on Sunday, Feb. 22, from 9:30–10:30 a.m.; that class carries a $20 registration fee, which is typically directed to the Community Pet Pantry for pet food assistance. Those who cannot adopt but want to help can donate to the Community Pet Pantry or support the Franklin County Dog Shelter through its wish list and giving channels.

This week’s programming mixes flora and fauna for a feel-good indoor experience that blends stress relief with community service. Bring a mat, bring your smile and be ready for puppy-assisted relaxation, whether you come for the poses, the pups, or the possibility of bringing one home.