Owners parade pets through downtown

Despite the rain, wind and cold, pet owners strolled with their dogs of all shapes and sizes through downtown New Bern on Saturday as part of a third annual holiday pet parade.

The parade was organized by the Nauti Paws Pet Boutique & Bakery at 223 Middle St. and was held as part of downtown business owners’ “A Dickens of a Christmas” festivities.

“It was very heartwarming to see all the people come together with their dogs, even in the cold, wind and rain,” said Amy Tyler, owner of Nauti Paws. “There are a lot of passionate pet owners in this area.”

Although Tyler had expected a larger attendance, there were about 30 people who came dressed in rain coats to walk dogs of breeds ranging from yellow, chocolate and black Labradors, poodles, cocker spaniels, Chihuahuas and Australian shepherds.

They started at the corner of South Front and Craven streets and then traveled Craven, Broad and Middle streets before finishing on Front Street. Some of the dogs were dressed in festive collars, Santa Claus hats, long white beards, coats or bandannas.

Tyler said the parade is the finale to Nauti Paws’ bi-monthly walks called “Strut Your Mutt.” Those walks are held on Tuesdays from February through December. The store has also organized a “Yappy Hour” walk that culminates at the Sheraton Hotel & Marina for drinks and cheesecake.

Saturday’s parade went well, Tyler said, and the pet owners were upbeat despite the rain.

“For the most part, everyone here has dogs that were well-behaved,” she said.

River Bend resident Beth Anderson walked her five-and-a-half-week-old pit bull named Turga in the parade to help socialize her dog.

As she meandered through the Nauti Paws store looking for toys for Turga after the parade was over, she said she has always adopted pit bulls since they are “wonderful dogs” that tend to have a bad name. She rescued Turga from the Craven-Pamlico Animal Services Center.

“Pitt bulls are the dogs I choose to love,” she said, adding that Turga enjoyed Saturday’s parade.

He “jumped and sniffed and tried to play with any dog he could,” she said.

Jeanne Crockett walked the black standard poodle Chantilly in the parade. Crockett said she is pet-sitting Chantilly while her owners are on vacation.

“At six months as a poodle, this was over the top,” she said. “She was prancing.”

Laura Oleniacz can be reached at 252-635-5675 or at loleniacz@freedomenc.com.