Kids' Pet Parade Sniffs Out Adorable Pets and Their Young Owners

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By Emily Rasmussen, The Capistrano Dispatch

Some 60 kids, pets and onlookers crowded the Los Rios Park in San Juan Capistrano for the annual Kids’ Pet Parade on Saturday, Feb. 17.

The parade, hosted by the Fiesta Association, featured a variety of categories that brought parade contestants that ranged from finger-sized beetles to a 220-lb mastiff.

The categories, which allowed for two winners, included Domestic Pet, Best Team Costume, Exotic Pet and Kid at Heart. An overall winner of the parade was also chosen, who now has a guaranteed spot at the upcoming 60th Swallows Day Parade on Saturday, March 24.

Take a look at the furry contestants and their young owners here:

Photo Gallery

Tinkerbell, a young Chihuahua, sports a bumblebee costume at the Kids' Pet Parade at Los Rios Park on Saturday, Feb. 17.

Rowen Belmont, 5, walks his dog Tinkerbell in a bumblebee costume at the Kids' Pet Parade at Los Rios Park on Saturday, Feb. 17. The duo won second place for the Domestic Pet category in the competition. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

Rowen Belmont, 5, walks his dog Tinkerbell.

Haven Harris, 4, won the overall award for the Kids' Pet Parade with her dog Ava. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

Haven Harris, 4, won the overall award for the Kids' Pet Parade with her dog Ava.

Ava, the dog with a pink tutu who won the overall Kids' Pet Parade, wore pink nails to match her outfit. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

Haven Harris walks her dog Ava during the Costume Contest portion of the Kids' Pet Parade. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

Rhianna Dodd displays her four pet beetles, which she saved from her sister's lizard, during the Exotic Pet section of the Kids' Pet Parade. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

Rhianna Dodd displays her four pet beetles.

Fiesta Association second vice-president Leanna Bradshaw (right) asks Rhianna Dodd about her unique pets in the Exotic Pets section of the Kids' Pet Parade. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

Judges of the Kids' Pet Parade included Ms. Fiesta, Señor San Juan and 2018 parade grand marshal Steve Oedekerk. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

Judges of the Kids' Pet Parade.

Two boys walk their dog, Thom, for the Domestic Pet category of the Kids' Pet Parade. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

Roxana, 12, is Little Red Riding Hood with her 'grandmother' Kona, who entered the Best Costume contest of the Kids' Pet Parade. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

Little Red Riding Hood and her 'grandmother.'

Keilani Harris, 7, talks to host and Fiesta Association Jim Taylor, about her dog Boris. The duo competed in the costume contest as Beauty and the Beast. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

This duo dressed as Beauty and the Beast.

Keira, 5, walks her high-energy, multi-colored pups named Zoey and Scout, who entered the Best Costume contest. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

Splashes of blue and pink colored this small dog for the Best Costume portion of the Kids' Pet Parade. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

Jenna (right) holds one of her two rats that she entered into the Exotic Pet section of the Kids' Pet Parade, next to a curious boy who was interested in the small, furry animals. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

Jenna (right) holds one of her two rats that she entered into the Exotic Pet category.

Kirstyn walks her dog Callie during the Domestic Pet section of the Kids' Pet Parade. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

Jackson, 8, a 'scuba diver' with his 'shark,' Lil Bear, at the Kids' Pet Parade on Saturday, Feb. 17. The duo competed in the Best Costume contest. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

Daniel, 9, walks his bulldog, Bella, in the Domestic Pet category of the Kids' Pet Parade. The duo won second place. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

Savannah Erca, 9, a 'cowgirl' walks her dog, Jojo, sporting a pink bandana, at the Kids' Pet Parade. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

John “Fish” Fischle presents the Deputy Dog Spirit Award, in honor of the late corgi who came to the Kids' Pet Parade, to Tatum, 8, and her dog Max. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

John “Fish” Fischle presents the Deputy Dog Spirit Award to this western duo.

This duo, a cowgirl and her 'horse,' competed in the Best Costume contest - but ultimately won the first-ever 'Deputy Dog Spirit Award.' Photo Emily Rasmussen

Ann Stone entered her 'horse' Vaquero into the first-ever Kid at Heart section of the Kids' Pet Parade. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

Lleanna Bradshaw (left) and Steve Oedekerk (middle) present the first-place award for Kid at Heart to Boots (right) and his dog who dressed as Batgirl. Photo: Emily Rasmussen

Judges present the first-place award for Kid at Heart to Boots (right) and his dog who dressed as Batgirl.

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Kids’ Pet Parade Sniffs Out Adorable Pets and Their Young Owners