Pets on Parade in Palmer

Frontiersman reporter

PALMER -- Animals great and small alike turned out Thursday for the Palmer Public Library's annual Parade of Pets, to show off their favorite furry friends.

More than a dozen cats, dogs, and other creatures gathered on the library's lawn to strut their stuff before a crowd of onlookers, under a sky clotted with a grayish mixture of smoke and clouds.

The Pet Parade is an annual event organized by the library in conjunction with its summer reading program. This year, the program's theme is "Westward Ho!".

Emily Mellin, nattily attired in a cowboy vest, hat, and jeans, cradled in her arms a diminutive miniature dachshund, also clad in cowboy gear. The sleek pup, named Vinney, poked around the grassy ground, but quailed when some of the larger, more rambunctious canines approached.

Nearby, two pugs named Freeda and Ralph, brother and sister to each other, rolled and tumbled on the lawn with gusto. The pair of dogs was obtained through the Pug Rescue Society, a nationwide organization dedicated to saving endangered members of the breed. Fred, a 7-month-old St. Bernard mixed breed, eyed the duo warily.

Sadie, a black Lab mix, veritably bounced around with excitement several yards away. Clad in a T-shirt from last year's Palmer summer reading program, Sadie was clearly having the time of her life.

Somewhat more reserved was a lean German shepherd nicknamed Brat, who shied away from many who approached her. Her owner commented that Brat had a troubled life before she was found in the local animal shelter.

Across a small stand of trees from the cavorting canines, some pets more accustomed to indoor life got a glimpse of some unfamiliar surroundings.

Cream Puff, a mottled black-and-white rabbit owned by Ashleena Roberts, loped around the area at the end of his homemade leash.

"We live up in the mountains, so we don't have much time to take her out," said Roberts of the skittish creature.

A more robust leash held Ivan, a large, 1-year-old orange tabby that mewed wrathfully at his sturdy tether when he wasn't glaring at the other animals in the area. But Libby Rempel, Ivan's caretaker, said the ill-tempered feline improved his manners when coaxed.

"Once he knows you're in charge of him, he's pretty calm," she said, stroking the fluffy beast.

Also in attendance was Walnut, a powerful American bulldog-boxer mix; a Shih Tzu named Tazz; Skeeter, an energetic black Lab, and two plastic containers filled with crickets.

All of the pets, despite being excited and sometimes frightened, were quite well-behaved, and no fights or other incidents broke out.

The pets were walked up to a podium on the lawn of the library where they could be viewed by all, and their owners were briefly interviewed by Chris Cruthers, a library volunteer. They were then led over to a table of two judges from the Palmer Veterinary Clinic, who regarded them with a critical eye.

Following a brief group parade around the library grounds, the pets and their owners were given door prizes and certificates praising the merits of their furry friends.

Coordinator Candy Kopperud said this year's summer reading program at the Palmer Public Library was designed to help young people "discover new trails at your library."

The seven-week program lasts until the end of July, and registration remains open through July 16, Kopperud said.

Participants travel along a number of pioneer routes, which include the Wilderness Road, Lewis and Clark Trail, Santa Fe Trail, California-Oregon Trail, and Alaska's own Dyea Trail -- learning about the land, its Native American inhabitants and the pioneers as they go.

The library holds crafts sessions for students in the third grade and above every Tuesday at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., as well as story hours for younger children every Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

"We're trying to do a variety of things to encourage reading all summer long," Kopperud said.

Contact Daniel Spoth at daniel.spoth@frontiersman.com.