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ixty three dogs — and about as many of their humans — took part in the Pamlico Animal Welfare Society’s 8th Annual Pet Parade on Saturday April 13. Top prize this year went to a poodle

Volare, a French poodle who won Best in Show at PAWS 2013 Pet Parade. Owner Pat Ashburner says she planned the costume for months.

Many dogs were dressed in costumes — pirates, grass skirts, flouncy dresses, though some came unadorned save for a leash. The show saw many children taking part as dog handlers, as well.

Marguerite Garrett sported an eye patch in solidarity with her one-eyed dog, Bertie. Together, the team won the Most Lookalike award.

Perhaps the most enthusiastic winner of the day was Autumn Hardison whose dog, Mako, was dressed as a propane tank. (Autumn’s family owns Eastern Propane.)

Some scenes from the event which took place in Lou Mac Park and featured a one square block walk around Freemason, First, Neuse and South Avenue:

Neil Landau with Simon, a dog belonging to his family’s friend, Carolien Coulter. She couldn’t attend, so Neil took Simon to the Pet Parade, and Simon took young Neil on a walk-run that made for a strenuous workout. That caught the attention of the judges and Neil and Simon won for “Best Story”.

True to form, after Neil came forward to pick up the award, Simon wanted to linger with the judges, despite Neil’s best efforts to pull him away.

Daisy, a New Leash on Life graduate who took honors in the Pet Parade for Best Costume. She now lives with Lee and Ed Duer.

Ben Reese and his chihuahua’s Sofie and Sammi, who made up a scuba tableau — he as the scuba diver, they as waterlife. The team won Best Theme.

Ahead, more photos and the list of winners.

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Abby, who, dressed as a bee (say that out loud) won in the Best Costume/Dog Fit category. Abby is veterinarian Sherri Hicks’ dog, one of two she brought to the pet parade.

Doctor Hicks’ other dog at the Pet Parade was Shiloh, who seemed a bit abashed to be outfitted in a ripping bodice dress. (We have it on good authority that Sherri knows a good dog psychologist should one be necessary…) .

Bailey, an Irish Setter, finds a little space on South Avenue away from the scrum of dogs in Lou Mac Park. Bailey’s a daily presence in town, on walks with owner Cheryl Crowley.

An impeccable sense of timing. Alden Kenney and his dog, Jack Daniels, were making their walk before the crowd when Jack Daniels decided that nature called. Alden and his mom, Sarah Kenney at right, had no choice but to laugh.

The winning team, Best In Show finisher, Volare and Pat Ashburner.

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Aaargh..Bonnie Briggs’ pirate, Toby, preferred being held than kept down on the ground.

Hula skirts on dog and dog’s best friend.

Jaden Wong and her dog, Raven, which won for Cutest Dog (Accompanied by Child.)

Winners

Best Behaved – Sammy – Ursula Stevenson

Funniest – Mako – Eastern Gas Propane Tank – Autumn Hardison

Friendliest – Wasabi – James Ignatieff

Most Lookalike – Bertie – Marguerite Garrett

Best Theme – Sammi Sofie – Ben Reese

Most Bribed – Rocky – Isabele Wilkinson

Cutest Dog (Accompanied by Child) – Raven – Jaden Wong

Cutest Dog (Accompanied by Adult) – Buddy & Momma Mia – Michelle Davis

Most Unusual – Cosmo and Lola Wedding Party – Sally Belangia

Best Costume – Daisy – Lee Duer

Best Oriental Theme – Bennie – Jill Paulik

Best Costume/Dog Fit Theme – Abby (the bee) – Sherri Hicks

Best in Show – Volare Pat Ashburner

Best Story – Simon – Neil Landow brought his friend’s dog.

The judges: Meteorologist Skip Waters of Channel 12 returned to judge another pet parade. Also judging this year were Pamlico County Librarian Kat Clowers and Sandy Trest, programs coordinator at Pamlico Correctional Institution, where inmates train dogs in the New Leash On Life program. Emcee Jeff Aydelette worked the stage.

Lee Duer and Daisy, who won for Best Costume. Daisy, a recent graduate of the New Leash on Life program at the Pamlico prison, wore a “mug shot” number. It was taken from the badge number that Ed Duer wore in his 29 years on the Long Beach, California police force.

Jill Paulik’s dog, Bennie — and the combined dragon costume — won for Best Oriental Theme.

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Bill Sternberg entered the Pet Parade — and walked the Lou Mac viewing area — with his dogs, Frick and Frack.

Toto as Dorothy.

Residents of Homeplace, a New Bern retirement center, came to see the pet parade.

Maggie, Missy Tenhet’s dog, opted for a simple red rosette on her collar.

One of the judges was Barbara Venturi, who was tasked with being the “Bribing Judge”. The goal was to raise more money for PAWS work.

Go Packers. Angus wears the Green Bay football jersey. That’s Packers fan, Torrey Neill, at right.

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Judge Skip Waters takes note of one of the entrants.

Jim Root and his Great Dane puppy, Lilly. She is, he says, a lap dog.

Sally Belangia, with Lola and Cosmo. They rode the parade route in a wagon with Sally’s 2-month-old granddaughter.

One of many encounters at the Pet Parade. Here, past Best in Show winner, Nancy Hiller’s three-legged Joyzee meets Carol Small’s Bonnie.

A dog’s eye view.

.. and from forward.

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Skipper, a rescue pup who was recently adopted by Tom and Liz Lathrop. Skipper is not a Spitz, but Liz says, his kerchief is made of the same material Mark Spitz’s swim suit was made of in the 1972 Olympics. Here, Skipper practices the breathing for the butterfly…

Mako, dressed as a propane tank, took Funniest honors at the 2013 Pet Parade.

Nelda Coats and her dog, Molly.

Buddy and Momma Mia had an extra degree of difficulty in picking up their medals — a walk through what was for them, high grass. Dressed as a policeman and prisoner, they won for Cutest Costume in the Adult Category. Those are Michelle Davis’s feet at right.

Gay Webster and Theo, who is a Bouvier.

King, Evie Chang Henderson’s dog, came as a knight from the round table, but a helmet awry had him seeing night.

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No costume for Belle, but Grace Evans’s trusty companion (who showed up after and was named for Hurricane Isabel) crossed from the canine to the feline in striking a lion-like pose.

Elaine Benedict chose a cat motif while accompanying her dog Autumn to the show.

Holly Gelberg dressed her dog, Osito in a scuba outfit. Osito (Spanish for Little Bear) is a Cuban breed, a Havanese, says Holly.

A veteran of Oriental Pet Parade’s from the start 8 years ago, Mary Clyde Dunn and her dog, Lulu.

Chrismtas in April with Racer, dog trainer Alecia Williams’ canine..

Just before the parade Karen Van Gamper and… “We interrupt this photo op for an important sniff..”… her dog Jessie..

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Superman.

Musical accompaniment by the Pamlico Community Band under the live oak near at Freemason Street and South Avenue.

The player to be named later. Bella Grace, with Yankee fan, SJ Bennett.

Amid the hubbub of the Pet Parade and the awards presentation, a dog doing what many dogs do best – staying with their owners. In this case, Mycoo, was not venturing far from Yvonne and Russ Stevenson.

Mycoo, finding refuge, under the Stevensons’ chairs.

Posted Monday April 29, 2013 by Melinda Penkava