NORWICH – The Chenango Arts Council is proud to present the Popovich Comedy Pet Theater at 7 p.m. on Saturday at the Martin W. Kappel Theater.

Gregory Popovich's comedy pet theater incorporates eight performers and nearly 30 pets rescued from animal shelters across the country in a comedy-theater performance.

Popovich, a fifth-generation circus performer from Russia, established a strong bond with animals at a young age.

"My first babysitter, my first friends was the pets of my mom," said Popovich, whose show includes the participation of 15 dogs and 14 cats. "And for me it was a very natural communicative space, much easier communicative space than with humans believe it or not."

The Chenango SPCA will be present at the performance to offer information on how community members can foster or adopt a rescue pet. Popovich said after the show, if someone from the audience visits a local animal shelter and adopts a pet, he will feel his message has reached his target.