Bend again embraces its unique Pet Parade

(Update: Comment from Humane Society, parade-goer)

Since 1932, the Fourth of July Bend Pet parade has been one of the city’s biggest celebrations.

This unique event has a lot of history with Bend. Back in the 1930s, it was reported that around 5,000 people would attend that parade each year.

The executive director of the Humane Society, Sabrina Slusser, was in attendance Tuesday and views the parade not only as a great community event, but a chance to educate people on the danger that could come along with the holiday.

“It brings awareness around issues around Fourth of July, with all the fireworks and all the activities in town,” Slusser said. “It brings some time for education around heat safety for animals, and then its just a great community event that has a lot of participation.”

Like just about everything else in Bend, it’s grown: An estimated 8,000 participants and spectators are a part of the event each year.

Bend Parks and Recreation took over running the event in 1949, and it has been a staple in the community ever since.

This event is the largest parade in Bend, in sheer participation numbers, and all sort of animals take part in the event, including lizards, goats, dogs and even snakes. (The only ones organizers ask you to leave home: cats, rabbits and aggressive dogs).

This fun event is embraced each year by Bend residents who love to take part in (or watch) the interesting parade of people, pets and fun costumes for both.

Bend resident Matt Gruber enjoys the community atmosphere that goes along with this event.

“Lots of community here,” Gruber said. “We just love the fact that everyone can just come together and kind of unite like this, and just have fun and bring their dogs and their animals and their gophers, their horses. And I just think it’s great.”