Pets, adorned in their red, white and blue finery, showed their patriotic spirit at the American Visionary Art Museum?s 10th annual “Pets on Parade” on Tuesday.
The event has grown from about 30 pets and owners in its first year to more than 100 from around the Baltimore area, said Maggie Muth, the museum?s education coordinator.
“It really appeals to pet lovers and people of all ages, shapes and sizes as well as families and anyone who likes funny costumes,” she said.
The event included various contests including best costume, most patriotic, most visionary pet and owner and pet look-alike awards.
Some highlights of the event?s talent portion included the kazoo-playing cat Angel and the dancing and singing dog Mia.
Many of the animals sported costumes, ranging from T-shirts and hats to pink tutus and fancy hair ribbons.
The contests were presided over by FiFi, the art museum?s 13-foot pink stuffed poodle, who towered over the stage.
Jocelyn Lynch, of Federal Hill in Baltimore, who brought her 5-year-old, three-legged dog, Chance, said this year is the first time she and her canine companion have participated in the Visionary event, but she plans to make it a yearly tradition.
“I?ve done the Maryland SPCA dog walk,” she said.
“Anything you can bring your dog to is a really fun event.”
For Terri Ball, of Hampden, her dog Boomer?s friendly demeanor was the deciding factor in bringing him to the parade, despite temperatures approaching 90 degrees by 11 a.m.
“He?s just very social, and he likes to come out to these things,” she said. “It?s a little warm, though.”
