Sunday, April 23, 2000

Dogs strut their stuff in parade for cause

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BY Patrick Crowley
The Cincinnati Enquirer

        FORT THOMAS — People always tell Jennifer Quammen that her Great Dane Anna looks so much like a horse that she should put a saddle on her.

Kathy Santoro and Muffin (STEVE SHAFFER photo) | ZOOM |

        Saturday, she did.

        Anna was one of about 30 entrants in the Animal Welfare of Northern Kentucky's first Easter Parade for dogs, which was held under cloudy skies in Fort Thomas' Tower Park.

        “Everybody says Anna looks like a horse so I thought that would be the perfect outfit,” said Ms. Quammen, a veterinarian technician at Fort Thomas Animal Hospital.

        Anna, who comes up past Ms. Quammen's waist, had a saddle strapped to her back with a stuffed Easter bunny as a rider. She also had a makeshift mane and some faux hoofs made of plastic.

        “She's a horse today,” Ms. Quammen said, “but she still wants to be petted.”

        The organization used the event to raise about $200, said president Virginia Collins of Taylor Mill.

        “We're not going to raise a lot of money today, but we get people involved and get some awareness about our group and what we do,” Ms. Collins said.

        The group, which claims a membership of about 600, doesn't operate a shelter but tries to find homes for abandoned or unwanted pets. It offers spaying and nuetering and will not take the life of any animal.

        Ms. Collins said organizers for Saturday's event, which they hope to repeat, got the idea from an annual contest in Cincinnati's Mount Adams neighborhood where dogs are dressed up as reindeer.

        Dogs at the Easter parade were sporting an array of bonnets, hats, costumes and clothes, such as Matilda the bulldog, who was wearing a cape and pink hat while owner Susan Girard of Fort Thomas pulled her in a wagon.

        “I can't really stop to talk,” Ms. Girard said. “She likes to keep moving.”

        There were dogs pulling wagons, a pooch dressed up as an alligator and a poodle mix named Tippy wearing a red sweater and pink rabbit ears.

        “She likes it,” said owner Roberta Duong of Covington. “At least she acts like she does.”

        While the parade moved through the park's grounds a saxophone quartet from Cincinnati played a number of songs, including “Sentimental Journey,” as the dogs passed.

        The only dog not in the parade was Buddy, a beagle who was in the Doggie Kissing Booth. By midafternoon Buddy had licked his way to $12.

        “Throw in a dollar,” said Buddy's owner, Sandy Archelle of Walton. “He'll give you a kiss.”

        Lucky dog.

       

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