63rd Annual Pet Parade

Posted on May 20, 2010 by David Casas 
Filed under Blog · Tagged: , , , , ,

Well it was certainly one of the best Pet Parades in a long time, and pristine weather to boot.  We surely enjoyed the riding on the Mayor’s car, with our Chocolate Lab … Coco.  There were hundreds of people lining the street, and even more in the parade.  This is one of those Mayberry moments.  Truly a slice of mom and apple pie.

Below are highlights from a recent article in the Los Altos Town Crier …

Creatures of the world united in downtown Los Altos Saturday as thousands of them – two-legged, four-legged, eight-legged, no-legged and winged – thronged Main and State streets for the 63rd annual Kiwanis Club Pet Parade.

It was as if a huge pet store came alive, with families and their pets showing off one another on the sunny spring morning. Animals of all shapes and sizes walked, trotted, wheeled and slithered as visitors – local and out-of-towners – lined the streets, cheering, waving and clapping.

From the tiniest hermit crabs and furry spiders to lean greyhounds and majestic horses, visitors got their fill of the domesticated wildlife.

Not all pets wanted to march, however.

Tucker, a 4-year-old Golden Retriever, sat patiently, tail wagging and tongue lolling, while his master, Spencer Richmond, 8, watched the parade from the sidelines.

The canines stole the show – with a variety of popular breeds represented, including pocket Chihuahuas, rambunctious Terriers and Pomeranians, frisky Golden and Labrador Retrievers, staid St. Bernards, stately Greyhounds, German Shepherds, Pugs and Dachshunds.

Spectators enjoyed the procession of guinea pigs, cats, goats, rabbits, chickens, lizards, rats and canaries.

To the delight of onlookers, many owners outfitted their pets in cute and clever costumes. They paraded their pets in decorated baskets, wagons, strollers and cages. Some dogs wore outfits to match their owners’, while others sat daintily in their owners’ pockets watching curiously.

Lively, foot-tapping tunes from the South Bay Jazz Society, performing in its horse-drawn wagon, and Ye Olde Towne Band, playing from its motorized gazebo bandstand, provided the soundtrack, entertaining participants and onlookers alike.

Approximately 5,000 people attended, according to Lucy Carlton, parade director and former Los Altos police chief.  “Everyone has a great time,” Carlton said. “That’s what community is all about.”

  • Share/Bookmark

Comments

Leave a Reply