2010 Pet Parade

GRAND PRIZE WINNERS – The judges decided to award TWO GRAND PRIZES: one to “Eight Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed” by children affiliated with the Burlingame Mothers Club and the other to the Graczewski family of Burlingame, who were dressed in U.S. Navy uniforms with their lab mix dog, Diggs. Each winner received a professional pet portrait valued at $450 from Pet Food Express.

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Tim Graczewski, who had just returned from serving in Afghanistan the day before the parade, marched with his wife Cheryl and son Will. “Monkeys” in the group were Cora and Mika Haggarty, Amelia Krakow, Kohtaro and Kana Fukuda, Ella Chatterjee and Dylan Vaughn. Sheila Krakow played the role of “Mama” and Calvin Hanson was the doctor who said, “No more monkeys jumping on the bed!” All of the children live in Burlingame. They were accompanied by Cooper, a chocolate lab.

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BEST DRESSED PET – Sienna, a brown standard poodle dressed as a flapper, won the Best Dressed Pet ribbon. She was dressed in a red-fringed outfit and had a feather headdress. Her owner is Joanne Palko of Redwood City.

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MOST UNUSUAL PET – 9-year-old Max Leininger and 6-year-old Kate Leininger of Burlingame won the Most Unusual Pet award for their three reptiles: a king snake, a corn snake and a tortoise named Little Bud.

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BEST DRESSED PET-OWNER COMBO – Jenn Mandel of Burlingame and her 11-year-old Maltese poodle, Sparky, won the Best Dressed Pet-Owner Combo award for their matching shower outfits. Both wore shower caps, shower curtains and yellow duckies. They had shower heads affixed to their heads with glittery “water” made of pipe cleaners.

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MOST UNUSUAL FLOAT OR GROUP – “Space Pets” won the Most Unusual Float or Group ribbon. Dressed for outer space were the Diodati family of Burlingame, accompanied by Taz, a Pomeranian; Lady, a Westie; and Max, a Cavachon.

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BEST PET TRICK – Fiona, a miniature schnauzer owned by Kathy Kellman of Stockton, won the Best Pet Trick award for bringing her owner a Kleenex every time she sneezed.

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OTHER PARTICIPANTS

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Among the other interesting participants in the parade included:

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• Burlingame Police Department “K-9” Ivan marched with his handler, Officer Roy Bryson. Ivan is the first Burlingame police dog purchased with donations by the public. A German shepherd, Ivan is approximately 4 years old.

• A Yorkie was dressed as a yellow submarine.

• Liza Wardell’s Boston terrier, Whoopsie, bounced a balloon off her nose as though playing volleyball. Liza and Whoopsie live in Burlingame.

• Ann Johnson of San Leandro and Carla Dunlap of Hayward and their two Boston terriers and French bulldog dressed up as insects for their “Love Bug Brigade” entry.

• The Lo family of Burlingame adorned their bichon and two Boston terriers in elegant lace ruffled collars decorated with hearts.

• An unusual breed, a Bouvier de Flanders poodle, came from Mountain View.

• Kim Rothchild of Burlingame dressed her 4-1/2-year-old Chihuahua in a school girl outfit, complete with a plaid pleated skirt and plaid tie.

• Two Scottish terriers wore kilts and tam o’shanters.

• There were several dogs dressed as Giants fans, a Giants cheerleader, a Raider fan and a 49er fan.

• A large Maine coon cat rode in a cage on a red wagon labeled “Stop Beware Caution Wild Cat”

• Bellatrix, a hermaphrodite black pug owned by Chris Aschero, was a finalist in the Most Unusual Pet category.

• Nippett, a black shih tzu owned by Wendy and Dan Boutell of Burlingame, was dressed as a queen.

• Jasper, a 23-year-old yellow-naped Amazon parrot, rode in a cage on the back of his owner’s bicycle.

• Lil Oscar, a tan shih tzu owned by Elaine Lam, carried a covered wagon on his back.

 

ENTERTAINMENT

Carrying the American flag at the beginning of the parade was Kate Rose Keighran.

The families marching at the front of the parade were affiliated with the Burlingame Mothers Club.

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Participants marched to music provided by the Burlingame High School Band and the Los Trancos Woods Community Marching Band.

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The San Mateo Elks Concert Band and the Burlingame Show Choir performed for the crowd before and after the parade.

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Parade commentary was provided by Stephen Hamilton.

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JoAnn Deal helped children create animal wind socks, while Nancy Torres of Art Attack invited children to decorate pet rocks.

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The Peninsula Humane Society had its mobile spay-neuter van and adoption van on display.

The Broadway Grill invited people to “Dine With Your Dog” at tables outside, Paris-style, while Preston’s Candy and Ice Cream offered free chocolate tours.

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VOLUNTEERS

 

Special thanks to the hardworking members of Burlingame Parade Steering Committee, who organized the parade:

• Brian Probst of the Peninsula Humane Society

• Ross Bruce of the Broadway Merchants Association

• Vice Mayor Terry Nagel

• Councilwoman Ann Keighran

• Stephen and Fiona Hamilton

• Rudy Horak

• Muffie Calbreath

 

In addition we want to thank:

• Mark Hundley, for serving as the official parade photographer.

• Russ Cohen, for creating the flyers and advertisements

• Jennifer Pfaff, for distributing flyers to many schools and preschools

• The many fine volunteers from the Peninsula Humane Society