Thanks to all the Somerville dogs and their owners who marched with us! On behalf of the fourteen people who marched with us, the Someville Dog Owners Group has made a $70 donation to the City of Somerville Parade Fund.

Khalid and Marshall carried our banner and led our group in the parade. Starting the parade with us were Maribeth and Khalid with Apple, their wheaten terrier; Jean who left Victor, her greyhound, and Neru, her Japanese Chin, home; Ivona with Aninka, her miniature schnauzer; Jennifer with Cash and Max, her pugs; and Marshall, Michele and Kate, whose standard poodle, Strummer, also stayed home.

Thanks, too, to our sponsor for the Memorial Day Parade, Riverdog, the new pet supply store, day-care, groomer and do-it-yourself dog wash in Union Square. Owners Priscilla and Peter walked the whole route with us handing out goodie bags—including som|dog buttons—to spectators. Their dog, Rastah, a toy poodle, stayed home.

On warm days like yesterday, it is hard for the dogs to walk in the parade: The asphalt gets very hot in the sun (the dogs walk barefoot), and with the sun high in the sky there is little shade in the street where we walk. We always instruct people with us to remove their dogs from the parade if they get too hot or tired. When Aninka had had enough, she lay down in the shade; Ivona took her away to rest and cool off. Cash and Max made a beeline for the shady sidewalk when they were done, pulling Jennifer along with them.

Despite the hot weather, however, there were dogs walking with us for the entire route! Susan and Walter joined us at Benton Road with their miniature poodle, Benny. Kate helped Benny stay in the parade all the way to Teele Square by letting him ride in her stroller! Justin and Lisa joined us in Davis Square with their husky, Circe, and husky mix, Prospero; Lisa and Prospero finished the parade with us.

Special thanks to the "reinforcements" who joined us en route so that we were a strong group when we greeted the Grand Marshal, World War II veteran John W. Mattuchio and special guests at the end of the parade!

One dog made it the whole way from City Hall to Veteran's Memorial Cemetery on Clarendon Hill. According to Maribeth, Apple "paced herself." Her wheaten terrier led her from shady patch to shady patch along the parade route and took several breaks. They'd pull out of the parade and, a little while later, would catch up with us and file in behind our banner. Thanks Apple! You were the parade MVP (most valuable pet)!

Posted by Michèle on May 31, 2010 3:45 PM