The Pompeyo Family dogs perform during Saturday’s Allen County Fair.
Richard Parrish | The Lima News
LIMA — Season 12 “America’s Got Talent” performers, The Pompeyo Family – Jorge, his wife Natalya and their two children Isabella, 7, and Katerina, 13 – delighted audiences during the Allen County Fair Saturday with their Pompeyo Family Dogs performance.
“We absolutely love what we do … We started about 15 years ago with one dog. I gave it as a present to my husband. We used to be daredevils and in the entertainment business. I was [an] aerial gymnast, and my husband [did] the tightrope, high-wire walking [and] motorcycle daredevil,” said Natalya Pompeyo in a rolling accent reflecting her Kazakh roots. “We’ve been traveling all our lives,” she said.
Jorge Pompeyo, who is from Colombia, met her when they both performed in the circus.
“When we got married, we wanted to do something different that would involve all of the family,” she said.
The family has rescued many dogs from shelters and continues to keep the dogs active, just like their owners.
“The dog does not need to sit on the couch and watch TV … When we started rescuing the dogs and training them, they went outside to do all kinds of tricks with the kids.”
Integrating each dog’s individual talent, combined with “patience, love and treats” they have mastered the art of teaching old dogs new tricks.
She described her appearance on “America’s Got Talent,” as “the greatest experience ever.”
“Simon absolutely loved our act, and we absolutely loved being there. To go through that experience it just was incredible,” she said.
The work they do is rewarding.
“We can do [a] short act, like what we did on ‘America’s Got Talent,’ or we can do like what we’re doing here at the fair, a 20–25-minute professional show.” But importantly, she notes, “We educate people … We always send [the] message that if people have a chance, go to the shelter, and adopt a dog from there. They say it could be the best companion, the best superstar for them,” Natalya Pompeyo said.
Her favorite part of performing is pleasing the crowd. Of all the many people they met in during their travels and performances, some visitors who come to their show leave a lasting impression, reassuring them that their family is making a real difference by adding to the world in a positive way. One such person was Jaxon during the Allen County Fair.
“Every show, people laugh, and they smile, and they have the greatest reaction. They stand up and clap. That’s what we’re here for,” she said. “Yesterday we met this special boy in the audience. His name was Jaxon. He has a disability and was like a miracle baby. He is in a wheelchair. He was so excited. The smile on his face when he sees or interacts with the dogs; he spreads so much love. We are happy he came to our show … This makes it worth what we do.”
When not performing, the Pompano children enjoyed the Allen County Fair by learning more about horses, rabbits, goats, bugs and kangaroos and also competed in this year’s kids’ fishing derby.
Reach Shannon Bohle at 567-242-0399, by email at [email protected] or on Twitter @Bohle_LimaNews.
