As part of the weekend's "Larimore Days" events, we went downtown this evening for the "Pet Parade."

Of course, we entered the Harry-Boy. He was amazed and overwhelmed by the crowds of new people (each and every one of them, including the Priest, was his very bestest new friend) and all the dogs (big, small, young, old, friendly and not)...and cats (we tried to steer clear of them)...and a ferret...and two geckos...and a horse...and a GOAT! He made buddies with a bull mastiff, Elvis, and a tiny mystery-dog. He fell in love with a dog in a hula skirt and laughed at a German short-haired pointer that was wearing a girl's basketball uniform with a strategic opening for his stub tail. Another dog was in a cheerleading outfit to match her person.

AND, best of all...Harry won a ribbon! He took second place in "Behavior and Tricks." Elvis took first place. The judges had all the animals, with their human escorts, line up abut 8 feet apart and march around the front circle of the museum grounds...a rather large area as long as a large city block. Harry pranced and smiled; you'd have thought he was at Westminster. He really did have a blast, in his doggie sense of the word.

He had no clue as to what was going on, but he was glad to be part of it. Several of the judges kept coming around with doggie-treats. They know the way to the heart of a Beast! They even had a large cooler of clean water and individual cups to scoop it out with. The dogs could get a drink that wasn't "slobbery." Harry won't drink from his own bowl more than once. (Of course, green slime-coated stock ponds are perfectly acceptable sources of hydration!)

The goat won "Best Eco-Friendly" pet! It was fun. We have some friends who have a mother and baby llama and several peacocks. I'm going to try to convince them to join the festivities next year.

The "Owner and Pet Look-a-Like" ribbon was awarded to a sweet "little ole lady" I've often seen around town. She's thin and lively with short, curly, peach-colored hair. Her lively little Lhasa Apso puppy also has curly hair in the same peach tone. The lady got such a kick out of her ribbon! I often see her walking to the post office, pup in tow. Now I will stop and talk to her.

Do you think I remembered to bring my camera???