2015 Pet Parade

More than 1,700 spectators and 800 participants turned out for the 12th annual Burlingame Pet Parade, which took place on September 26, 2015. The parade was led by the Burlingame Mothers’ Club, whose members offered a free art project. 

Gandalph the Duck was the Grand Marshal of the parade. He is a Pekin Raune white duck who was adopted from the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA by Matthew O’Connor of Concord. Gandalphwore a tuxedo and Matthew wore a top hat. They were chauffeured by Timothy Hooker in a 1948 WillysJeepster, courtesy of Highway One.

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AWARD WINNERS

 

GRAND PRIZE: “Superman” featuring Odie, a 5-year-old Chihuahua mix owned by Pablo Melendez. Both wore Superman capes, motorcycle helmets and googles. They rode via motorcycle their home in San Jose for the parade. (Odie had a safety harness on.) Odie has been riding with Pablo for four years.

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BEST SCHOOL FLOAT: Roosevelt Elementary School took the honors in this new category, earning $500 from the Broadway Merchants Association for a float promoting their Chili Cookoff. Group members wore bright orange T-shirts, one was dressed as a chili pepper and their float featured a cauldron and oversized chili peppers.

MOST UNUSUAL ANIMAL: Amelia Krakow, age 10, with her 5-year-old cornsnake, Jayne. Amelia wore a headdress of rubber and fabric snakes and marched with Jayne entwined around her arm. They live in Burlingame.

BEST DRESSED PET: For the second year in a row, Chewy, a 4-year-old Pomeranian, won the “Best Dressed Pet” category. This year he was dressed as the Pope. His owner is Francesca Ty, shown with her mother, Marie Ty of Burlingame.

MOST ORIGINAL FLOAT, GROUP OR WAGON (NON-SCHOOL CATEGORY): The winning group was “Dawning of the Age of Asparagus,” with Bill and Barbara Kelsey of Burlingame and friend Helen Hansma, who wore flower child outfits. Their dog, Sophie, a 6-year-old Shih Tzu, was dressed in her own tie-dyed T-shirt. The group was adorned with flowers and even had a bubble machine.

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BEST PET TRICK: Archie, a 7-year-old Silky Terrier, jumped through a circle made by his owner’s arms, shook hands with both paws, lay down, and did a spin on command. He is owned by Michelle Hoglund of Merced, whose daughter-in-law, Veronica Hoglund of Burlingame (in orange top in photo), persuaded her to adopt him from the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA, where Veronica is a volunteer.

 

BACKGROUND

The parade was started in 2004 by a group of volunteers who wanted to promote community spirit and have a good time. There is no charge to participate and all entertainment is free. It is a commercial-free event.

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The Pet Parade is entirely supported by volunteers and community organizations.

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We are grateful to the 2015 parade sponsors.

• The Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA

• The Broadway Merchants Association

• The City of Burlingame

• Pet Food Express

• The Daily Journal

• The Alan Canas Team of Realtors

• Korody Business Services

• The San Francisco Federal Credit Union

• Staples

 

Many thanks to our judges this year.

• Austin Walsh of the Daily Journal

• Alan Canas of the Alan Canas Team of Realtors

• Rick DeNike, Manager, PetFood Express Burlingame

• Denise Groebner of Gateways to the World, representing the Broadway Merchants Association

• Natalie Poletti of The Pawington, a 24-hour pet care service and sponsor of the Peninsula Humane Society’s gala celebration

 

We’d also like to thank our Pet Parade organizers, including:

• Ayn Gilmore of AVR Realty, who was in charge of the parade

• Brian Probst of the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA, who organized the PHS volunteers who helped at the parade

• John Kevranian, President of the Broadway Business Improvement District

• Burlingame Mayor Terry Nagel, who handled publicity

• Vice Mayor Ann Keighran

• Ross Bruce of the Broadway Business Improvement District

• Jeff Londer

• Jennifer Pfaff for publicizing the parade with local pre-schools

• Nicole Acquisti of the Burlingame Parks and Recreation Department

• Maureen Harber and Nirmala Bandrapalli, for handling the judges

• Rudy Horak

• Tom Gorrie of Boy Scout Troop 156, which posted American flags along the street

• Russ Cohen for designing the flier

• Jim Ford of the Burlingame Police Department

• Vince Falzon of the Burlingame Public Works Department

• Justin Schlesinger, official parade photographer

 

The Burlingame High School Band and the Los Trancos Woods Community Marching Band marched in the parade. The San Mateo Elks Concert Band played before and after the parade.