Sophia Gray, 3, and her 9-year-old Yorkshire terrier named Tank ride in style Monday during the Pet Parade in Saxonburg. Sophia was dressed as a chef and Tank as a lobster, the main course at restaurant.

SAXONBURG — Animals ranging from horses to dogs, cats, fish, roosters, hermit crabs and even a chameleon paraded down Main Street in Saxonburg on Monday night in an annual event that brings hundreds of pet owners and lovers out to celebrate their furry, feathered or scaled companions.

For those who turn out to see what costumes and creatures will turn up this year, the question “why are you here” is easy enough to answer. Cute animals and children dressed up in matching costumes? Sign them up.

“It's just a small community coming together and sharing their pets,” said Todd Gray, who was pulling his 3-year-old daughter, Sophia, and 9-year-old Yorkshire terrier, Tank, in a wagon that proclaimed “Fresh Maine Lobster.” Tank, standing tall, was dressed as the main course.

Ask pet owners what keeps them coming back to the pet parade — it's the borough's annual Saxonburg Fireman's Carnival kickoff — year after year, and the response you're most likely to hear is that it's just tradition: something they want to pass on to their children.

“It's just a really nice event for the kids to get involved in,” said Susan Bergbigler, who spent the evening toting two kittens, Peanut and Donut, along in a patriotically themed wagon with her daughters, Emma and Ella, and 10-year-old Addisen Vargo.

Some families make an annual project out of preparing for the parade.

Saxonburg resident Lee Bartley spent about three weeks building a police cruiser-themed wagon that carried Gunner and Bucky, two rabbits that are being raised by his sons, Owen and Hunter, as well as the family dachshund, Paul. Last year the Bartleys won best-in-show with a similar, fire truck-themed wagon.

“My dad did it with me when I was a kid; this is what we did every year,” Bartley said. “I want to pass it along to (my kids).”

But the pet parade is more than just a tradition, say participants. Many first-timers said they found themselves drawn to this year's event for different reasons.

For Butler residents Tina Cardona and Lyeric Cousins, the parade was a chance for them to show off new additions to their family — a 9-year-old beagle named Chance and a 2-year-old shih tzu named Nala.

Both Cardona and Cousins dressed in outfits to match their dogs: a cowboy hat for Cardona and a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle shirt for Cousins, who had Nala dressed up as the TMNT character Rafael.

Alishia Cousins said the family decided to march in the parade to celebrate the dogs' addition to their lives, and called it a gathering of pet owners.“As animal lovers we just think of our animals as part of the family, so when we can bring them out with us, it gives us joy,” she said.Pride was evident on the face of Saxonburg resident Jacob Mele as the 14-year-old introduced his chameleon, Lucy — one of a pair he received as a Christmas president last year. Earlier this monthLucy laid her first clutch of eggs (about 30 in all), Mele said, and he plans to raise as many as will hatch.Why bring Lucy to Monday night's parade?Mele, marching down Main Street with the reptile perched on his left hand, said he wasn't sure; he just decided it sounded like the right thing to do.For Curtis Walbert of Cabot the parade was a bittersweet affair. Walbert and his son, 6-year-old Cooper, were marching with Hank the rooster and the family's two yellow Labs, Jackson and Dakota.For years, Walbert said, he's wanted to make it out to the parade, but something always got in the way.This year, however, Walbert learned he had run out of time.Eleven-year-old Jackson recently had cancer-removal surgery, but the procedure wasn't able to get everything, Walbert said. Veterinarians haven't been able to tell Walbert how much longer Jackson has, but he knows there won't be another chance for the family to all walk in the parade with him.“We've always wanted to come and have him in it,” Walbert said. “So this year I'm not letting anything stop me. Our point is simply: he deserves a parade.”

Here are the winners from Saxonburg's Pet Parade Monday night.Best in show — Hunter and Owen Bartley of Saxonburg with Bucky and Gunner the rabbits and Paul the miniature dachshund riding in a police car.Best in show runner up — Stephanie Karwoski of Jefferson Township with Scarlett the bloodhound.Most original — Melissa Wolf of Cabot with Stella the golden retriever.Most unusual — Doris Martynuska of Slippery Rock with Ozzy the skunk.Best groomed — Lyn Oswald of Butler with Remy the golden retriever poodle mix.Prettiest — Paige Marzullo of East Brady with Bryar the husky.Biggest — Doreen Blackburn of Sarver with Leah the Persian draft horse.Smallest — Rilee Wilson of Butler with four hermit crabs.Farthest traveled — Irene Kuntz of Willow Spring, S.C., with Chili the chihuahua.

Jacob Mele, 14, of Saxonburg proudly shows his chameleon, Lucy, shortly before the start of the Pet Parade on Monday night in Saxonburg.

Curtis Walbert of Cabot and his son, Cooper, 6, spent their first year at the Pet Parade with the family's yellow Labs, Jackson and Dakota, and a rooster named Hank.