Pooches, Pachyderms and Parades, Oh My!

Spring is in the air and that can mean only one thing: it’s time for a parade…..and a sale! So grab your pet and your pocketbook and hightail it over to one (or more) of these exciting events.

FIRST ANNUAL LITTLE DOG PARADE
When:  Saturday, May 19, 9:00 am-Noon
Rabies Clinic from 9:00 am-10:30 am, Parade begins at 10:30 am
Where:  Linden Field at State Beach in Carpinteria

Dogs of all shapes and sizes are invited to don their favorite outfits and join the social event of the spring season. $10.00 entry fee. Prizes galore. John "The Mustache" Palminteri shakes things up as Master of Ceremonies. Registration forms can be downloaded at www.carpinteria.ca.us or register the day of the event. Call 684-5405, ext. 408 for more information.

K-9 PALS FUNDRAISING YARD SALE
When:  Saturday, May 19 from 8:00 am-3:00 pm
Where:  Santa Barbara County Animal Shelter, 5473 Overpass Road, off Patterson Ave.

A sale of fun, interesting and useful “stuff” to raise money for the K-9 PALS Medical Fund and other needs to benefit dogs awaiting adoption at the Santa Barbara County Animal Shelter. To donate items for the sale, please drop them off in the K-9 PALS Agility Yard across the parking lot from the Shelter building or contact Sally at 963-8552 no later than Friday, May 18.

BIG DOG PARADE AND CANINE FESTIVAL
When: Saturday, June 2, Parade begins at 9:30 am, Festival begins at 10:30 am
Where:  State at De La Guerra Streets, Festival at Chase Palm Park on Cabrillo Blvd.

Join TV celebrities Ricky Schroder of “24” and Rachael Harris of “Notes from the Underbelly” as thousands of dogs strut their stuff in the largest costumed dog parade in the country. The Canine Festival follows at Chase Palm Park with live music from the disco band Boogie Knights, kids’ games, face painting, a bounce house, vendor booths, food and more. All proceeds from the event go to the Big Dog Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that helps dogs, children and dogs that help people. $15.00 per dog entry, free to parade spectators. Visit www.BIGDOGS.com/parade for more information.

Fido FYI:  Molly Inspires Foundation (MIF), which helps dogs with special needs, is looking for two- and four-legged participants to join in supporting their cause by walking with them in the Big Dog Parade. Don’t have a dog? Not to worry. MIF’s Founder, Mandy Evans, has plenty of pooches who are drooling to pound the pavement with you. To learn more about the foundation or to join the pack on parade day, visit www.MollyInspires.org or email Mandy at mandy@myspecialdog.com.

ELEPHANTS UMBRELLA FUND (EUF) ANNUAL SALE
When: Saturday, June 9 from 8:00 am-4:00 pm and Sunday, June 10 from 8:00 am-3:30 pm
Where:  2121 Mt. Calvary Road , Santa Barbara

Hundreds of plants (cacti and succulents) as well as “garden” plants, jewelry, imported rugs, scarves, clothing and purses, hand-painted gourds from Africa, furniture and much more. All proceeds from the EUF sale go toward helping save Asian elephants from cruelty, malnutrition and abuse. Call 962-3406 for more information or to donate items.

RUBY IS ON THE ROAD TO RETIREMENT
Speaking of elephants, you may remember my column a while back about Ruby, the 46-year-old captive African elephant. Ruby spent much of her youth with a traveling circus before her move to the Los Angeles Zoo in 1987. She spent a short stint at the Knoxville Zoo in Tennessee in 2003 before returning to the L.A. Zoo, where she has languished, alone, since her pachyderm partner’s death last year.

Zoo officials have finally agreed to allow Ruby to retire at PAWS (Performing Animal Welfare Society) Sanctuary in Northern California. Bob Barker, the soon-to-retire 83-year-old host of “The Price is Right,” has pledged up to $300,000 for Ruby’s continued care. As you read these words today, Ruby will be inside a huge truck, making the 350-mile journey to her new digs where she can meander through verdant pastures, visit with her elephant friends and take a mud bath whenever she fancies. Godspeed, Ruby. We’ll never forget you.

 

Know of an animal event taking place in Santa Barbara this summer? Let Karen know by emailing her at karenleestevens@cox.net.

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By Karen Lee Stevens,
Founder & President, ALL FOR ANIMALS, Inc.
Copyright © 2008. All Rights Reserved.

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