Hi, it’s Skipper here, Discovery West’s Spokesdog. I’m so excited to invite you to the Bend Pet Parade – set for Thursday, July 4 at 10 a.m. Dogs and humans will gather at 9 a.m. at Harmon Park to get ready for the start of the parade an hour later.
Here are my tips for being on your best behavior, while also beating the heat:
- Be sure your human brings your leash as off-leash roaming is not allowed. Also be sure they bring ample clean-up bags!
- Make sure you’re well hydrated before leaving your house, and ask your human to bring water and a portable bowl for you during the parade.
- Keep an eye out for the tall orange bicycle flags, which will indicate there is water for you along the parade route, at Harmon Park and Drake Park.
- The asphalt will be hot, so see if your human can put some doggie booties or socks on your paws! Watch for grassy patches and shade along the way.
- Most important of all, be sure not to be left in your car before or after the parade for any length of time. It gets too hot in there!
- If you’re the nervous or aggressive type, why not sit this one out, stay home and ask to see the video footage your human will inevitably capture, after the event?!
The route runs from Harmon Park north on Harmon Boulevard to Newport Avenue, then turns east to Wall Street, and finally finishes at Drake Park.
Dogs and their humans are encouraged to dress up in their best reds, whites and blues and walk or ride their equally decorated bikes and pull wagons or carts.
You can let your human know that the best way to get downtown on this busy day is to walk or ride their bikes. If they must drive you, carpooling is encouraged! While major downtown streets will be closed for the parade, they can find parking just outside downtown and in the parking garage on Lava Street. Accessibility-approved parking is at Highland school on Newport Avenue, in the downtown parking garage, and the City of Bend parking lot on Franklin Avenue. An accessibility-approved viewing area will be west of the intersection at Franklin Avenue and Wall Street.
