26th Annual Pet Parade: Human Cats, Lion Dogs

— by Emma Heikkinen —

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“Is that a lion?” asked a participant, pointing at a Great Dane wearing a lion’s mane costume, waiting in line to register for the 26th Annual Pet Parade. The parade took place on May 28, and registration began at 10 in the morning, closing at approximately 10:45. After registering, each pet was photographed in a booth, trained to sit in place and look at the camera by a green squeaky toy. Participants lined up from the edge of the cafeteria building to the high school, waiting patiently for the parade to begin among bleats, quacks, and barks.

Animals and owners began walking down the road at 11, led by the Children’s House honorary mayoral candidates, holding campaign signs high. Newt the newt, one of the candidates, waved vigorously throughout the entire parade. One

Participants looped around town, enjoying the attention from a large clump of audience members gathered around Enzo’s and Teezer’s. In the end, animals and kids ended up in the Village Green, gathering in front of the stage. Kaleidoscope Director Amber Paulsen led the awards ceremony.

Categories and winners this year included Largest Dog, Best Group, Most Talented, Friendliest, Best Smile, Best Protector, Most Drool, Best Costume, An Island Original, Most Colorful, Best Build, Best Camper, Best Moves, Fastest Pet on the Net, Best Fed, Healthiest Pet, Best Behaved, Owner-Pet Look Alike, Oddest Pet, Judges’ Choice, Adult Category Winner, and Star of the Show.

Category contestants made their way up onto the stage to win a trophy or a ribbon. Winners include a guinea pig, who won Friendliest, a Golden Retriever named Sunny, who won Best Protector, and a Great Dane named Gatsby, who won Largest Dog. Others include the “Quacking Quackeroos”, who won Best Group, a bunny, who won An Island Original, a ballerina black lab, who won Most Colorful, the Children’s House mice, who won Judges’ Choice, and Hudson the Golden Retriever, who won Star of the Show. Oddest Pet was won by a smiling duo of participants, one dressed in a cat costume and crawling on the stage, led by a leash. Following the event, participants and audience members listened to music from the stage and wandered the Farmer’s Market.