Kirstyn Bradshaw, 9, of San Juan Capistrano, pets her golden retriever, Callie, before the parade. Photo: Allison Jarrell
Dressed up dogs participate in the annual pet parade at Los Rios Park. Photo: Allison Jarrell
Madeline Salinas walks her bichon shih tzu, Teddy, during the parade. Photo: Allison Jarrell
Megyn Whitbeck walks her papillon, Shelby, during the pet parade. Photo: Allison Jarrell
Kirstyn Bradshaw, 9, of San Juan Capistrano, walks her golden retriever, Callie, during the pet parade. Photo: Allison Jarrell
(From left) This year’s Pet Parade judges were Jennifer Agostini, of San Clemente Veterinary Hospital; Junior Miss Fiesta Kate Pointer; Junior Señor San Juan Sami Salado, Señor San Juan Edward Beyer; and Miss Fiesta Erin Kutnick Beyer. Photo: Allison Jarrell
Maliah Casillas and her blue nose pitbull, Bella, show off their Dodgers pride at the pet parade. Photo: Allison Jarrell
Gavin Frank and his dog, Tia, “the orange crusader,” walk toward the judges. Photo: Allison Jarrell
Gavin Frank shows off his terrier mix, Luna, dressed as a street taco. Photo: Allison Jarrell
Mia DeAnda and her terrier mix, Chappy, chat with parade emcee Jim Taylor. Photo: Allison Jarrell
Savannah Erca and her Australian cattle dog, Charlie, take a stroll in front of the judges. Photo: Allison Jarrell
Madeline Salinas has her bichon shih tzu, Teddy, do a trick for the judges. Photo: Allison Jarrell
Chicken Little the teacup Chihuahua prepares for her moment in the spotlight. Photo: Allison Jarrell
Kate Hoskin holds up Chicken Little the teacup Chihuahua while “The Circle of Life” from The Lion King plays in the background. Photo: Allison Jarrell
(From left) This year’s Pet Parade judges were Jennifer Agostini, of San Clemente Veterinary Hospital; Junior Miss Fiesta Kate Pointer; Junior Señor San Juan Sami Salado, Miss Fiesta Erin Kutnick Beyer; and Señor San Juan Edward Beyer (not pictured). Photo: Allison Jarrell
Megyn Whitbeck walks her papillon, Shelby, during the pet parade. Photo: Allison Jarrell
Shelby the papillon checks out a nearby camera. Photo: Allison Jarrell
(From right) Lauren Price, 12; Isabelle Cota, 12; and Emily O’Brien, 12, all of San Juan Capistrano, escort Caramel the alpaca to the judges’ table. Photo: Allison Jarrell
(From right) Lauren Price, 12, and Isabelle Cota, 12, of San Juan Capistrano, with Caramel the alpaca. Photo: Allison Jarrell
Caramel the alpaca took home the top prize —a spot in the Swallows Day Parade on March 25. Photo: Allison Jarrell
Caramel the alpaca took home the top prize —a spot in the Swallows Day Parade on March 25. Photo: Allison Jarrell
(From left) Fiesta Association dignitaries: Miss Fiesta Erin Kutnick Beyer, Señor San Juan Edward Beyer, Junior Señor San Juan Sami Salado, and Junior Miss Fiesta Kate Pointer. Also pictured far left is the Beyers’ dog, Teddy, a.k.a. Señor Pero. Photo: Allison Jarrell
San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association members gather for a photo at the end of the parade. Photo: Allison Jarrell
By Allison Jarrell
After squeezing into her family’s Volkswagen van and cruising over to Los Rios Park, a 6-year-old alpaca walked away with the top honor at the Fiesta Association’s Kids Pet Parade on Feb. 25.
This year’s pet parade had 11 entries, including nine canine competitors and a pair of parakeets, but it was Caramel the alpaca who won first place and will appear (with her human escorts) in the annual Swallows Day Parade on March 25.
Caramel lives with her owner Lauren Price, 12, and her family in San Juan Capistrano. Price said they adopted Caramel from a rescue in Temecula and have had her for three years now. The Price family shared some fun facts about Caramel, including that she’s potty trained (she has her own designated area), she makes a humming sound to communicate with their other alpaca, and she eats a healthy diet of weeds, Bermuda grass and a special blend of Purina alpaca chow. (Caramel rides in their VW van because they don’t have a trailer.)
Price and two of her closest friends, Emily O’Brien, 12, and Isabelle Cota, 12, both of San Juan Capistrano, participated in Saturday’s pet parade and are now invited to walk in the 59th annual Swallows Day Parade.
This year’s pet parade judges included Jennifer Agostini, of San Clemente Veterinary Hospital; Junior Miss Fiesta Kate Pointer; Junior Señor San Juan Sami Salado, Señor San Juan Edward Beyer; and Miss Fiesta Erin Kutnick Beyer. Emcee Jim Taylor also gave a shout out to special celebrity judge Señor Pero (the Beyers’ dog, Teddy).
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