Big Dog Parade Attracts Big Crowd for Charity
Description
By Joey Wahler
June 24, 2008
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Rather than the beach, the usual hot spot here, State Street was the place to be earlier this month for the annual Big Dog Parade, which has raised money for the non-profit organization, the Big Dog Foundation for the past 14 years.
More than 1,200 dogs and in excess of 16,000 spectators turned out. There were dogs riding on floats and others marching while wearing elaborate costumes. Among the highlights was a contest for best dog costume -- with a dog seated with the judges “serving” as part of the panel.
“One-hundred percent of the proceeds go to the Big Dog Foundation, which is our charity that helps dogs, children, and dogs that help people,” said parade coordinator Jamie Gillis.
“So we have several beneficiaries of the foundation that come out every year. And they are kind of representatives of what the Big Dog Foundation has been able to do, which is raise over a million dollars for these charities that help those groups.”
Just a few of the charities receiving proceeds from the event are the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Humane Society of the United States and Canine Companions for Independence.
The parade Grand Marshall was Cesar Millan from the TV show, “The Dog Whisperer.”
“So many ways that we can help to create good energy around the world,” Millan said. “And one way is to help animals.”
Some dogs were made up as superheroes and one marched with characters from the classic, “The Wizard of Oz.”
“The block party has just grown into an entire huge parade and a festival that takes up all of State Street in Santa Barbara, and an entire park down by the beach,” Gillis said. “So it’s really grown throughout the years.”
Something of a misnomer, the Big Dog Parade featured more than just big canines. Great Danes and the like were joined by plenty of miniature pooches.
Millan says the intentions of the Big Dog Foundation are in line with his own.
“We both have the same common goal, which is helping people, and especially helping people with dogs,” he said. “Or helping dogs to have a better life, a more balanced life.”
The event also brought out Harrison Forbes, host of the newly nationally-syndicated radio show, “Pet Talk.”
“Everybody was getting along, all these strange dogs that don’t know each other in a strange place,” Forbes said. “It’s really pretty amazing.”
With Forbes was Dina Zaphiris, television host of Animal Planet’s “Pet Finder,” who also noted how well behaved the dogs were.
“And that’s what you get when you have people who love dogs and love animals,” she said. “They all have really well socialized dogs, and they are just used to be around events and people.”
While thousands of dogs and people attended, there was no question who this shindig was really about.
“This is the party for dogs,” Gillis said. “The people who own the dogs love it as much as the dogs do, but it really is just a big celebration of dogs.
“Because I think we all appreciate the love and companionships that they give us.”
For more information, visit bigdogs.com
June 24, 2008
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Rather than the beach, the usual hot spot here, State Street was the place to be earlier this month for the annual Big Dog Parade, which has raised money for the non-profit organization, the Big Dog Foundation for the past 14 years.
More than 1,200 dogs and in excess of 16,000 spectators turned out. There were dogs riding on floats and others marching while wearing elaborate costumes. Among the highlights was a contest for best dog costume -- with a dog seated with the judges “serving” as part of the panel.
“One-hundred percent of the proceeds go to the Big Dog Foundation, which is our charity that helps dogs, children, and dogs that help people,” said parade coordinator Jamie Gillis.
“So we have several beneficiaries of the foundation that come out every year. And they are kind of representatives of what the Big Dog Foundation has been able to do, which is raise over a million dollars for these charities that help those groups.”
Just a few of the charities receiving proceeds from the event are the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Humane Society of the United States and Canine Companions for Independence.
The parade Grand Marshall was Cesar Millan from the TV show, “The Dog Whisperer.”
“So many ways that we can help to create good energy around the world,” Millan said. “And one way is to help animals.”
Some dogs were made up as superheroes and one marched with characters from the classic, “The Wizard of Oz.”
“The block party has just grown into an entire huge parade and a festival that takes up all of State Street in Santa Barbara, and an entire park down by the beach,” Gillis said. “So it’s really grown throughout the years.”
Something of a misnomer, the Big Dog Parade featured more than just big canines. Great Danes and the like were joined by plenty of miniature pooches.
Millan says the intentions of the Big Dog Foundation are in line with his own.
“We both have the same common goal, which is helping people, and especially helping people with dogs,” he said. “Or helping dogs to have a better life, a more balanced life.”
The event also brought out Harrison Forbes, host of the newly nationally-syndicated radio show, “Pet Talk.”
“Everybody was getting along, all these strange dogs that don’t know each other in a strange place,” Forbes said. “It’s really pretty amazing.”
With Forbes was Dina Zaphiris, television host of Animal Planet’s “Pet Finder,” who also noted how well behaved the dogs were.
“And that’s what you get when you have people who love dogs and love animals,” she said. “They all have really well socialized dogs, and they are just used to be around events and people.”
While thousands of dogs and people attended, there was no question who this shindig was really about.
“This is the party for dogs,” Gillis said. “The people who own the dogs love it as much as the dogs do, but it really is just a big celebration of dogs.
“Because I think we all appreciate the love and companionships that they give us.”
For more information, visit bigdogs.com
