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PAWS Pet Parade 2012
Rains Dog Parade
April 6, 2012

T
he 2012 PAWS Pet Parade may have been the shortest one on record, thanks to rain starting just as the six-legged teams were rounding the first corner at Freemason and First Streets. Even the presence of Channel 12 meteorologist Skip Waters — a perennial judge — couldn’t forestall the precipitation.

No cats in sight but it was raining on the dogs and people. Sue Gill takes shelter under her umbrella in the rain-shortened 2012 Pet Parade.

Although the rains abbreviated things — the parade and awards ceremony were over with in half an hour — $1500 was still raised for the Pamlico Animal Welfare Society and PAWS’ efforts to spay and neuter pets and find homes for abandoned pets.

Grand Marshals for the 2012 parade was the team of Jeremy Munsert of Clayton and his dog, Page, here rounding the first corner. At right is Jackie Schmidt who trained Page and other Great Danes thru the PPAWS “Pets and People Assisting Wounded Warriors” program. Jackie’s also active with (single P) PAWS, the Pamlico Animal Welfare Society, which organizes the parade.

This year the parade showcased the efforts of the similarly named PPAWS or the “People and Pets Assisting Wounded Warriors.” The Grand Marshals of the parade were Jeremy Munsert of the US Army who was injured after his 15-month tour in Iraq, and his dog Page. They are part of the Wounded Warrior program. Page, a Great Dane, who was trained locally by Jackie Schmidt, has helped Jeremy recover from injuries.

Pamlico Animal Control Officer Berkley Hill with Lucy, a 13-year old dog who needs a home. (To adopt, contact Berkley at 745-3203 or animalcontrol@pamlicocounty.org)

That link between humans and pets works both ways and at the parade, Pamlico County’s Animal Control Officer Berkley Hill teamed up with Lucy, a 13-year old dog who needs a home.

Best In Show: Vanessa Vaage and her grandparent’s dog, Odie. Vanessa’s umbrella was not just for show; rains started falling before the dogs and their people had finished the first block of the parade.

Best in Show honors went to Vanessa Vaage and Odie, who lives in Oriental with Vanessa’s grandparents, Marc and Lynne Kaplan.

As has become the tradition, many dogs came to the parade in costume. Dogs in tutus. Dogs dressed as bugs. A dog as a fish – an Oriental Croaker in fact. Dogs dressed as crimefighters. Dogs in Easter motif and in baby carriage. Some dogs came just as themselves, too.

Jaden Wong pushed her friend’s dog, Joyzee in a carriage on the parade route. Joyzee, who is missing a leg, was a winner as a three-legged piano.
Under all the frilliness, a distinguished profile.
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Ben Reese with his entry Sammi, who was done up as a croaker. Behind Ben in line was Deb Khouri with a “Not All Bugs Are Bad” theme.
Deb Khouri’s dogs, dressed as a ladybug and a bee. The attractant nectar in the air at the parade was that of other dogs…
An Easter theme for Lynn Mattea’s dog, Andy required a bit of ear-propping. At the parade staging area near Lou Mac Park, there was a lot of posing and photo taking.
Lou Walker and Mozart, who came to the parade as Sherlock Holmes.
The other part of Lou Walker’s crime-fighting duo. Wearing the Underdog persona, is the beagle, Ella Fitzgerald. (So named, Lou says, because she scats when she bays.)
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Grand Marshal for the parade was the team of Jeremy Munsert of Clayton and his dog, Page, part of the Wounded Warrior Project. Jeremy, who served 15 months in Iraq, is recovering from some post-tour injuries and Page has been part of that recovery. They led the parade.
Page waits for the parade to start.
Per and Marian Erichsen and their canines in matching red white and blue. (It was a subtle promotion of the political musical, “For The People” which Per was starring in.)
Licking crime, Vigo the Pug. He entered the parade with Erin Staab (knees and flipflops in background.) .
Under all those umbrellas — wet dogs and their bipeds waiting for the results of the judging.
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Sometimes all you need is a neckerchief to accessorize.
One winning entry sported flowers fitting for a May Day celebration.
Best in Show team of Vanessa Vaage, her grandfather’s dog, Odie, and her grandfather, Marc Kaplan of Oriental.
Let sleeping dogs lie. Before the parade, Frick and Frack caught a nap in Bill Sternberg’s car.
Page, out of costume after the parade. Jeremy Muncert’s mother, Susan, is at the other end of the leash.
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Pete Zawasky shows the proper etiquette of dealing with the inevitable at a dog parade.
Some dogs were looking for more than a pat on the head, a treat or an award. Lucy, here with Pamlico County’s Animal Control Officer Berkley Hill (at right) was looking for a home. Berkley says her owner could no longer keep the “friendly, 13-year old dog.”
Dem bones were not dry bones. Dog treats left after the canines and their humans left the rainy parade and Lou Mac Park.

Posted Friday April 6, 2012 by Melinda Penkava


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