Joy in a Parade
-Helen Morrison
What a joyous time on June 4…to be immersed in a sunny day, a perfect temperature…and surrounded by excitement. The St. Johnsbury Pet Parade had returned, after two long years of hiatus.
-Helen Morrison
What a joyous time on June 4…to be immersed in a sunny day, a perfect temperature…and surrounded by excitement. The St. Johnsbury Pet Parade had returned, after two long years of hiatus.
The streets were lined with expectant, smiling community members, and visitors from afar. Booths were set up in the Park near Father Lively Center….Milkhouse Ice Cream, a snake display, Kingdom Animal Shelter getting ready for its Bark in the Park fundraiser, Friends of Dog Mountain, Reiki and Aroma Therapy for Pets with Christine Fournier, and many more.
The parade participants and contestants were lining up on Prospect St. Kids were very excited about their pets being in the parade. I had the privilege of helping to line them up.
The parade participants and contestants were lining up on Prospect St. Kids were very excited about their pets being in the parade. I had the privilege of helping to line them up.
A family of humans, each lovingly carrying various sizes of snakes. I was allowed to stroke their cool, smooth, beautiful skin…their tongues flickering out, trying to “see” by tasting the air around them. Beautiful varieties of dogs, dressed up to evoke “Our Heroes, Our pets”. A young girl with a hat full of fake flowers and foliage, she dressed up in a floral dress. I asked her where her pet was…and she informed me that her gecko loved her hat, and was happily snuggled in among the flowers. She wasn’t quite sure if the judges would be able to see, though.
Taken by Anita Price
A fairly large cage on a red wagon, pulled by a mom and her son. In the cage were three ducks, with hero capes on (BatMan? Wonder Woman?), and with little masks on. Every now and then the ducks would be gently lifted out to be snuggled.
Goats of all shapes and sizes…prancing along on their delicate feet…smiling adults and children leading.
Kids with very sweet rats in a cage, though one was riding happily in a little girl’s hoodie, little face peeking out…and a family wagon behind, with their two pet cats.
Goats of all shapes and sizes…prancing along on their delicate feet…smiling adults and children leading.
Kids with very sweet rats in a cage, though one was riding happily in a little girl’s hoodie, little face peeking out…and a family wagon behind, with their two pet cats.
A whole family from N. Haverhill, NH, who had brought their oxen teams….a large adult pair leading, a younger set in their smaller yokes, and several even younger oxen calves in their tiny yokes, learning the skills of the trade…again, all lovingly tended by adults and kids.
Therapy Dogs of Vermont in their own vehicle. I am not sure how many…but maybe 100 entries…all delighted to honor their beloved pets on a sunny spring day, cool and crisp…that perfect kind of Vermont day.
Therapy Dogs of Vermont in their own vehicle. I am not sure how many…but maybe 100 entries…all delighted to honor their beloved pets on a sunny spring day, cool and crisp…that perfect kind of Vermont day.
Taken by Michelle St. Cyr of Pupperazzi Pet Photos
And Kingdom Animal Shelter’s Bark in the Park…where maybe 800 tennis balls were put out on the grass, each with the name of a donor in it…and a sweet black lab, Mia, and her human, Jess…Mia picking the seven winning balls for seven lucky people, cash prizes, cat delights, dog delights. See a video of Mia in action here.
And here we were again, finally, all able to be together after two long years, to celebrate each other and our love of pets. It was truly one of the joys of finally emerging back into the light.
And here we were again, finally, all able to be together after two long years, to celebrate each other and our love of pets. It was truly one of the joys of finally emerging back into the light.