More than 140 dogs — itty, bitty ones, big or pretty ones, full-bred or Pamlico County multi-mutt — paraded by the waterfront in Oriental, during Saturday’s sunshine. Some of the nearby residents talked about the parade, and said “Oriental had gone to the dogs!”
And it had, though most were owned, loved and hooked to leashes of 120 official entrants in the second annual Pamlico County Pet Welfare Society’s Dog Parade and Pet Festival at Lou Mac Park. A few local dogs wandered in to watch the action of more than 250 people, participants and spectators.
The parade kicked off a daylong awareness and fund-raising effort by Pamlico PAWS. PAWS is an organization which helps with the cost of care for those who adopt animals and need help with the cost. PAWS members have been working several hours a week for six weeks on the parade and festival and praised local businesses for participating with publicity and other assistance for the event and the group’s mission.
Many people were expected at an afternoon barbecue fund-raiser to help pay for spay and neuter, veterinary care and even feeding Pamlico County animals in need.
